Question I've got a fairly 'high quality' stereo system in my main listening area at home.
I've recently gotten back into playing vinyl. I sold my original (purchased new), technics sld3 turntable thinking I"d never play 'that game' again. Well, here I am. I've purchased like 5 different linear style (all technics), turntables, and finally have one that operates as designed.
My question (finally, eh?), is this. Being as it was a 'used' turntable, and it's been so long since I"ve listened to 'vinyl', how does one know when the stylus is worn out, and actually robbing you of music?
I mean, just comparing cd's to albums, is night and day, but I do remember albums sounding fairly good in their day.
I haven't got a microscope, or good magnifying glass to actually SEE the stylus, but just wondering if there's anything 'ear wise' to be on the watch for.
The sound sounds fairly 'muddled', is the best word I can describe. You can hear cymblals, and voices excellent, but the bottom end (bass/drums, etc), seem to also be lacking.
My system consists of 2 nad 2200 pe amps, (one each running each dcm time window (original series 1), speakers, OR for heavy hitting, some bose 701s, (also series 1's). Nad pre amp, nad tuner, Pioneer cd player, kenwood cassette deck, and the aforementioned technics linear turntable w/used stylus.
I've got another technics turntable coming via ebay in a week or so, so I could do back to back 'listening' between the two, but I thought maybe again, there were some 'clues' as to what to listen for.
All the music goes thru monster cable, everything is grounded properly, hard cables run down one side of system, and noise cables run down another, sheathed between each other with convolute, so I don't think it's a 'crossover' noise concern.
In either case, thanks for listening.
Steve
AnswerDear Steve,
Two things come to mind. First, make sure your are properly cleaning your LPs. Nothing will muddle the sound more than a dirty, dusty record.
Second, yes, replace the cartridge stylus. You can get a replacement at www.needledoctor.com. They've got everything.
It's hard to say from one 'table to the next what kind of clues to listen for. I'd simply take the two steps above and listen to the results. Further, after you've been conditioned to the static-less and crackle-and-pop-lessness of CDs, you've most likely forgotten just how compromised some LP playback could be. I'm in this business, play vinyl regularly, and I'm still surprised.
Take the remedial steps, and if they don't work, we'll figure out Plan B.
Good luck. And thanks for choosing allexperts.com!
Kindest regards,
Kevin
