Post by michaelw on Apr 9, 2018 10:33:56 GMT 12
funny video.
he clearly did not read the manual lol
i suggested one to a friend pondering various analogue upgrades.
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Post by Owen Y on Apr 9, 2018 12:03:21 GMT 12
Incidentally, the Shigekawa TM-7 & the TM-8 & ProJect cleaning fluids are all surfactant (detergent)-based fluids, containing no alcohol. Fremer also refers to Tergitol S-15-7 surfactant used by US Library of Congress - this is similar to Triton X-100 surfactant, which I can say is very effective from the Ultrasonic cleaning reports that have been coming in. Alcohol can be useful for 'solubilising' heavily soiled records, but usually unnecessary & can accelerate the loss of plasticisers & the hardening of the vinyl that Fremer refers to. Hence I think that a lot of folks are moving away from traditional alcohol-based cleaning fluids.
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Post by cooksferry on Apr 9, 2018 12:13:20 GMT 12
Incidentally, the Shigekawa TM-7 & the TM-8 & ProJect cleaning fluids are all surfactant (detergent)-based fluids, containing no alcohol. Fremer also refers to Tergitol S-15-7 surfactant used by US Library of Congress - this is similar to Triton X-100 surfactant, which I can say is very effective from the Ultrasonic cleaning reports that have been coming in. Alcohol can be useful for 'solubilising' heavily soiled records, but usually unnecessary & can accelerate the loss of plasticisers & the hardening of the vinyl that Fremer refers to. Hence I think that a lot of folks are moving away from traditional alcohol-based cleaning fluids. At this stage it doesn't look like the importers are bringing in the Project fluid, once the concentrate that comes with the machine is used time to look else where. Strange that they import the cleaner but don't seem to have the consumables. Just got some replacement fibre tips for the wand from the UK. The Project fluid does clean well and as a bonus gets rid of static build up. Without a clean I get misc pops as I remove a lp from the platter, once through the Vac quiet as the grave. Might try L'art Du Son fluid next. Must look at Fremers review tonight, bit long for work place viewing.
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Post by Owen Y on Apr 9, 2018 12:34:02 GMT 12
Ah yes, you live in hot dry Southland Seriously, these surfactants mentioned above are also 'non-ionic', meaning that they have neutral pH & do not contribute either +/- charge to the vinyl. Washing itself tends to neutralise static charge, but some chemicals can leave a residual polarity on the vinyl. Of course, excessive brush contact during vacuuming could generate static charge, but apparently no problems with your technique.
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Post by cooksferry on Apr 9, 2018 12:50:26 GMT 12
Ah yes, you live in hot dry Southland We've had our moments this summer Owen. A couple of pics take on my morning stroll to work. Nice and green December, looking well parched late January. Same pathway taken from opposite ends.
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Post by cooksferry on Apr 9, 2018 16:32:08 GMT 12
Added a Project VCS vacuum unit today. Not too big so fits into a niche in my room and nice and quick in use. Two minutes tops for a clean and quieter than I thought it would be. I can see many more lps being cleaned now than the rigmarole using the manual KAB. A bit more than I wanted to spend but looking long term a worth while investment. cooksferry may be gratified to see this review of the ProJect VCS posted by Mikey Fremer just 3 days ago: (Although he digresses all over like a N Jerseyan.) I do like the platter-less design. www.analogplanet.com/content/pro-jects-most-excellent-499-vc-s-wet-vacuum-record-cleaning-machineWatched it in my lunch hour-too many minutes to cover ground that could be done in a quarter of the time. Just a couple of points. Like Fremer, I do clean in both direction of rotation and use either the supplied Project brush or a Clearaudio one. About 10 to 15 seconds seems to be fine. On the vacuum cycle I run the machine in both directions, about two complete rotations each way seems to give a complete dry. Just running the vacuum cycle in one direction does take more time to full dry. Shouldn't take any more than 90 seconds to clean both sides, maybe a bit longer on a really grungy oldie.
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Post by cooksferry on Apr 27, 2018 7:02:58 GMT 12
couple of quick updates. Replaced the Project Speedbox II which has done sterling duty for around 12 years with a new Speedbox S. The earlier version was starting to get a bit loose about selecting speed via the change button, flicking back and forth between 33 and 45 and necessitating several prods of the button. Once the speed was selected all was fine but for long term insurance I grabbed the S version while they're still around. If enough motivation occurs I may have a look inside the SpeedboxII and see if there's anything obvious for a cheap repair.
Also replace the HDMI cable from the Cambridge player to the TV with a Wireworld Chroma 7 . Hadn't recognised just how thick the new cable would be and it's taken some careful dressing to get a good run. Maybe should have got a longer cable, or just 'borrow' the house TV which has the HDMI input on the end nearest the audio rack unlike my current monitor. I only used the HDMI for video purposes as all audio goes to the amp via RCA cables.
Finally, I commented earlier about a faint hum from my newly acquired Swagman LPSU and was interested to find that during a couple of longer than usual sessions this last week the hum all but vanished after the unit had been on for 4 plus hours. If I used the music room more often I'd just leave it and the phono stage on all the time . Still to get some dampening material to fit under the hood but that's on the agenda.
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Post by cooksferry on Jul 1, 2018 16:20:06 GMT 12
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Post by deano1974 on Jul 1, 2018 16:37:50 GMT 12
Looking great cooks, but i learnt a long time ago never to say thats it set in stone, end game or im done lol But good luck with the idea 😁
Manager & Product specialist at Rapallo AV & HI-FI
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Post by michaelw on Jul 1, 2018 16:52:50 GMT 12
impressive collection of music. a man of catholic tastes
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Post by cooksferry on Jul 2, 2018 7:24:22 GMT 12
impressive collection of music. a man of catholic tastes Not as catholic as it could or should be Michael. I only have two Jazz records ,1 classical, and 1 rap/hip hop. Light in Metal and no modern pop, dance,trance etc. However there is an over abundance of music from 1966-1971 my best formative years.
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Post by cooksferry on Jul 2, 2018 7:27:56 GMT 12
Looking great cooks, but i learnt a long time ago never to say thats it set in stone, end game or im done lol But good luck with the idea 😁 Trying hard deano, almost got through two months without ordering any lps (cd/sacd dont count ) before I broke down at pre ordered the upcoming Tim Buckley live vinyl box. Getting better though, these days trips to Dunedin lean towards Dead Souls, Scribes, Hard To Find Books and the University book shop rather than Relics and JB HiFi. Could be swapping one obsession for another.
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Post by sub on Jul 2, 2018 10:57:05 GMT 12
Amazon have Gillian Welch’s next album on pre-order Cooks!
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Post by cooksferry on Jul 2, 2018 11:04:19 GMT 12
Amazon have Gillian Welch’s next album on pre-order Cooks! You spreading temptation in my path Sub- for shame
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Post by michaelw on Jul 2, 2018 14:00:38 GMT 12
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Post by Citroen on Jul 2, 2018 18:45:44 GMT 12
Tim Buckley Live vinyl?
Gillian Welch new album?
Tell me more.
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Post by sub on Jul 2, 2018 19:09:16 GMT 12
Hmm, the Gillian Welch issue turns out to be a reissue on vinyl of her 2003 album Soul Journey - according to the Acony website this is the first time on vinyl. I nearly ordered it off Amazon, but being a Pre order, it did not convert the US$ price to NZ$ - didn’t like the idea of buyin blind!
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Post by cooksferry on Jul 2, 2018 19:40:07 GMT 12
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Post by Citroen on Jul 2, 2018 19:51:00 GMT 12
DAMN! I know I'll just have to have this set now...damn you to hell! Ordered...
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Post by cooksferry on Jul 2, 2018 20:41:08 GMT 12
DAMN! I know I'll just have to have this set now...damn you to hell! Ordered... I live to be of service
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Post by cooksferry on Dec 5, 2018 6:51:52 GMT 12
Looks like one way or another a new cleaning setup is on the agenda. A couple of months back I knocked the Audeze LCD3 phones and their stand from their shelf onto the Project Vac when opening some curtains. While I couldn't find any physical damage to the phones or vac something has most definitely gone amiss with the vac unit. I no longer get a good vacuum right across a lp, quite often leaving the outer third damp or wet. The vac arm appears to sit at an angle with the tip touching the record near the centre clamp but rising to quite a noticeable gap by the rim. I've been over the unit several time with rulers and verniers and can't find anything major but suspect that the motor shaft that hold the mini platter is damaged in some way. After weeks of trial with no improvement I decided to make my first every personal effects claim with my insurance(not a bad record in 40 years). Things are not moving with much purpose however as they want me to send the project vac to an expert to have it assessed. At this stage I'm guessing that I probably know as much about the Vac as anyone but for now things are in limbo. I may just write the whole thing off at this stage and look seriously at the Real Groovy ultra sonic cleaner although I'll have to reconfigure some room in my garage if I go that way as it''s probably too big and awkward for the music room.
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Post by Owen Y on Dec 5, 2018 9:11:46 GMT 12
From whom did you buy the Pro-Ject VC-S
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Post by cooksferry on Dec 5, 2018 9:15:35 GMT 12
From whom did you buy the Pro-Ject VC-S Listening Post Chch. They would appear to be my default experts once the insurance company makes up their mind. If I had enough hair left I'd be pulling it out in frustration.
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Post by Owen Y on Dec 5, 2018 10:46:08 GMT 12
Good.... the retailer will of course be most helpful If insurance have agreed to have it assessed, then that's good, it should work out successfully for you....eventually!
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Post by cooksferry on Dec 14, 2018 6:04:33 GMT 12
Pleased to say I have a positive result with my damage claim against the Project Vac. Sent some video and photos to The Listening Post and they agreed with my assessment that there appeared to be damage to the motor shaft with enough run out to give rise to the cleaning problems I've had. I took another look at the Vac last weekend on the table in our conservatory where I have lots of natural light. Sat down with the verniers and an old lp and played with platter height a mm at a time and while I did find a "good" spot it still left me with moisture and streaks across the record and didn't solve the real problem of the variable gap between the lp and the vac wand. Look forward to getting a new unit next week and holiday job(one of many no doubt) will be some kind of stand to get the Vac off the floor. As I find space at a premium in my room I regularly kick myself that I didn't have it built full width of the attached garage. Another 4 or 5 square metres space would be a god send now. My 1989 self needs a bloody good talking to.
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Post by cooksferry on Jan 15, 2019 20:01:34 GMT 12
I've no doubt bored everyone enough harping on about my dissatisfaction with aspects of my Tannoy XT6f and no amount of swapping cables, tubes speaker position etc has rectified things. Cruising online today I came upon a thread on another forum with someone having similar troubles which were helped greatly by a change of amp from valve to SS. This has prompted the thought that perhaps my Melody SP9 just isn't meshing with the speakers. Getting playback volume isn't a problem, anything past 9 on the dial is getting more than loud enough. I would have thought that Tannoys would be fairly valve friendly but I don't have the technical knowledge to see if there's anything in the design of the Melody that may not mesh with some speaker designs. Anyway now having thoughts about getting a good 2nd hand ss amp, something like a Plinius 8150, and seeing how things pan out.
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Post by Owen Y on Jan 15, 2019 20:59:51 GMT 12
If the Melody has alternative output lskpr 'taps', then you could try them. eg. connecting 8 ohm lspkrs to a 4 ohm output transformer tap would apply double impedance 'load' on the output valves & may audibly lower distortion, 'tighten' up the bass (possibly also reduce output watts a little). 16 ohm tap connection would do the opposite, but also worth a try to test any audible effect.
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Post by colinf on Jan 15, 2019 22:41:07 GMT 12
Most SS amps have very low output impedance, lower than 0.1 ohm. With an 8 ohm speaker that’s a damping factor of 80. Most valve amps with negative feedback have an output impedance in the order of 1 ohm or less, making the damping factor around 8 with an 8 ohm speaker. Valve amps with little or no negative feedback have very low damping factors of 1 or more, ie, the output impedance is similar to that of the speaker it’s driving on the impedance tap you’re using, in this example 8 ohms. As Owen says, running an 8 ohm speaker on the 4 ohm tap would double the damping factor, at the cost of output power from the amp, which now has to swing 1.4 times the audio voltage across the valves for the same power output as before. The circuit might run into clipping early. Most speakers have preferred damping factors in the amplifiers they’re driven with. At one extreme there are Lowthers with extremely high electromagnetic damping and a SS amp would make them bass shy as now the cone is overdamped. Amps with low damping factors are preferred in this case. On the other hand my Focals need a SS amp to dampen the woofer in the bass just right. Low damping factor amps tend to make them sound bloated and less controlled. That’s why I use a hybrid amp with them, the sound of a valve input stage with the high damping factor of a transistor output stage. You could try a good transistor amp on your Tannoys and see what you think. Try before you buy! Also be aware there could be impedance matching problems with a particular SS amp connected to a valve preamp. What are you driving the poweramp with?
AMR-iFi R&D
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Post by cooksferry on Jan 16, 2019 5:33:49 GMT 12
Thanks for the reply Colin. The Melody is an integrated amp. Any SS amp i considered would have to be the same. Some good internal shots of the Melody amp on 2nd page of the 6 Moons review. 6moons.com/audioreviews/melody5/sp9.htmlOwen, Think I have tried the 4 ohm taps but will have another crack this weekend. Driving my wife to the divorce court with my talk of hifi, she thinks it's all down to my crappy hearing. Could be right but a man has to try.
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Post by foveaux on Jan 16, 2019 8:47:56 GMT 12
Hey Cooks As you know ( ) I have my SS system (and others) temporarily gathering dust in my garage, pending the 'sort-out/re-set-up'. When I get to Invers (soonish) I can happily bring my SS system down for you to insert upstream of your Tannoys, for a listen. The Magtech monos should certainly wake the Tannoys' bass up. (and I can bring down a valve pre for comparison too). Cheers
"I see music as a lifetime affair." [Rory Gallagher]
"Free - I miss that band, but when I look back, we were very young" [Paul Rodgers]
848 posts
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