I’m coming into this area as a practical and philosophical result of:

  1. me wanting to own my music
  2. CDs are barely being made
    2.1. If they are - they’re not being shipped to my corner of the world
  3. Torrenting often failed me in terms of variety.

However - I am absolutely ignorant about equipment, maintainance, and know-hows of the audiophile world.

  • Brkdncr@lemmy.world
    11·
    2 days ago

    Vinyl isn’t a cheap hobby.

    • You need a decent record player.
    • Used is fine.
    • It should feel heavy.
    • The arm should not be designed straight unless you’re a scratch dj.
    • It should use a standard head shell so that replacing the needle is simple.
    • “Direct drive” motors are nice but not essential.
    • Automatic stylus return is essential.
    • Technics brsnd “1200” series players will be overpriced but a lot of others are out there. I have a pair but use a Gemini brand player for listening.
    • Pitch control isn’t essential.
    • You should calibrate the counter weights and other settings to avoid excessive wear on your records.
    • You need to place the player on a solid surface that is not near speakers.
    • You need a line level converter and you must attach the ground.
    • You need a record cleaning brush.
    • You need space for the records. Lots of space.
    • Don’t leave records in a car or somewhere that gets hot or they will warp.
      • daggermoon@lemmy.world
        3·
        1 day ago

        vibrations from the speakers can cause unpleasant noise and distortion or even cause the record to skip.

      • Kolossos@lemmy.world
        3·
        2 days ago

        Most likely so that the vibrations from the speakers does not interfere with the records playback. As the needle should touch the LP as lightly a possible.

        • El Barto@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          1 day ago

          Oh okay. I grew up with vinyls. I never noticed anything of that sort, though I admit that the turntable wasn’t too close to the speakers. I’ve my clumsy 10-year-old ass did bump a few times into the player, causing it to skip. It was just part of life back then.

      • Brkdncr@lemmy.world
        3·
        2 days ago

        Speakers vibrate. You don’t want vibrations getting to the needle or you get feedback.

        You also don’t want the player moving around as it can cause the needle to jump.

      • Brkdncr@lemmy.world
        2·
        2 days ago

        yeah that’s probably fine, i don’t have any experience with it myself though. AT is known to be decent and deserves credit for staying in vinyl business even when everyone else was exiting it.

        I personally would check out the local 2nd-hand stores, pawn shops, and estate sales for a week or two 1st to see if there’s anything laying around though. I paid $75 for my old gemini from a vintage/antique shop 5 years ago and I think all it needed was a new cart and soldering of some new line-out leads. Anything Technics will be overpriced but i regularly come across gear from the 70’s and 80’s that probably work great. I suppose i should buy them up, fix them, and get them into people’s homes.