Red Mosquito

Picked up Not For You b/w Out of My Mind on a whim.

Might be my fav bside.

Teach me about the benefits or non benefits of upgrading your cartridge. Does it matter in the grand scheme of things?

Strat wrote:Teach me about the benefits or non benefits of upgrading your cartridge. Does it matter in the grand scheme of things?

Depends what you have there now, how old it is, and what type of table you have.
No point putting a $500 cart if you've got a $75 turntable from walmart. Additionally, you can often just replace the stylus on the cart if it's matter of being old and worn out.

southp wrote:

Strat wrote:Teach me about the benefits or non benefits of upgrading your cartridge. Does it matter in the grand scheme of things?

Depends what you have there now, how old it is, and what type of table you have.
No point putting a $500 cart if you've got a $75 turntable from walmart. Additionally, you can often just replace the stylus on the cart if it's matter of being old and worn out.

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT ... +turntable


its only about 2 years old and I was just wondering if upgrading a cartridge would significantly improve sound quality.

I'm spinning "Benji" while grading papers, but tomorrow I'll have to just sit and read the lyrics for all 4 sides.

Strat wrote: http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT ... +turntable

its only about 2 years old and I was just wondering if upgrading a cartridge would significantly improve sound quality.

You have the AT95E on that Table, which is on of the lower-end Audio-Technica carts at $50. And it really doesn't have much output volume at 3.5mV (acceptable range of a Moving Magnet cart is like 3-6mV) http://www.needledoctor.com/Audio-Techn ... tegory=363

Specifications
Output voltage at 1000 Hz, 5cm/sec. 3.5 mV
Frequency response 20-20.000 Hz
Stylus type 0.4 x 0.7 mil elliptical diamond stylus
Tracking force range 1.5 -2.5 g


If you want to stick with AT, the AT120E would probably be a nice upgrade, that isn't ridiculously over-priced for your table at $130. You can see the frequency response is wider, and the output voltage is better. http://www.needledoctor.com/Audio-Techn ... tegory=363

Specifications
Output: 5.0 mV
Stylus Type: .3 x .7 Elliptical nude round-shank stylus
Frequency Response: 15~25,000 Hz
Tracking Force: 1-1.8

Also, just a little below that price is the Ortofon 2M Red which gets tons of praise amongst budget-conscious audiophiles. You can get one for like $100. I had one for a long time and I thought it was incredibly detailed and transparent. http://www.needledoctor.com/Ortofon-2M- ... tegory=378

Send me a PM if you're serious about this, I may be able to help you out.

Strat wrote: http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT ... +turntable

its only about 2 years old and I was just wondering if upgrading a cartridge would significantly improve sound quality.

One other question... do you use the built-in preamp of the AT turntable or do you run it into a proper phono pre-amp or receiver with phono inputs? If you're using the built-in one, that may be your weakest link.

Read this when you get a chance:
Technics SL-1200MK2 vs. Audio Technica AT-LP120 Blind Test
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showth ... p?t=444759

How much difference will the quality of pre-amp actually make. I've got a relatively cheap one - looking at maybe upgrading, but not sure if it's worth it.

Rangi Guy wrote:How much difference will the quality of pre-amp actually make. I've got a relatively cheap one - looking at maybe upgrading, but not sure if it's worth it.

Every step along the signal path is a point where your sound quality can be compromised. If you have a $1000 table/cart and you're running it through a radioshack pre-amp then you're probably not getting the most out of your setup. For this reason you see a lot of people stick with vintage receivers from the 60's-80's that came with pre-amps built-in. Back in the day, this was the most important part of your stereo, so there was more effort/dollars put into good phono inputs. I don't know what you have for an amplifier, but scrapping everything and getting an old Marantz, Pioneer or Yamaha with built-in phono inputs can be better than a cheapie preamp and a modern amplifier. Otherwise, the rule of thumb is that the investment in your phono pre should be in line with the investment in your amp and turntable.

I haven't used a separate phono-preamp for years. If I had to get one on a budget, I go out and get one of these:


http://www.needledoctor.com/Rega-Fono-M ... gory=35249


http://www.needledoctor.com/Pro-Ject-Ph ... gory=35249

southp wrote:

Strat wrote: http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT ... +turntable

its only about 2 years old and I was just wondering if upgrading a cartridge would significantly improve sound quality.

One other question... do you use the built-in preamp of the AT turntable or do you run it into a proper phono pre-amp or receiver with phono inputs? If you're using the built-in one, that may be your weakest link.

Read this when you get a chance:
Technics SL-1200MK2 vs. Audio Technica AT-LP120 Blind Test
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showth ... p?t=444759

I plug it into a receiver but I dont think I actually plug it into the phono section of the receiver. Ill have to double check now.

Thanks for the advice, ill definitely be sending you a pm1

southp wrote:

Rangi Guy wrote:How much difference will the quality of pre-amp actually make. I've got a relatively cheap one - looking at maybe upgrading, but not sure if it's worth it.

Every step along the signal path is a point where your sound quality can be compromised. If you have a $1000 table/cart and you're running it through a radioshack pre-amp then you're probably not getting the most out of your setup. For this reason you see a lot of people stick with vintage receivers from the 60's-80's that came with pre-amps built-in. Back in the day, this was the most important part of your stereo, so there was more effort/dollars put into good phono inputs. I don't know what you have for an amplifier, but scrapping everything and getting an old Marantz, Pioneer or Yamaha with built-in phono inputs can be better than a cheapie preamp and a modern amplifier. Otherwise, the rule of thumb is that the investment in your phono pre should be in line with the investment in your amp and turntable.

I haven't used a separate phono-preamp for years. If I had to get one on a budget, I go out and get one of these:


http://www.needledoctor.com/Rega-Fono-M ... gory=35249


http://www.needledoctor.com/Pro-Ject-Ph ... gory=35249

Also, I should really go in and get my Marantz serviced up so that It is usable!

southp wrote:

Rangi Guy wrote:How much difference will the quality of pre-amp actually make. I've got a relatively cheap one - looking at maybe upgrading, but not sure if it's worth it.

Every step along the signal path is a point where your sound quality can be compromised. If you have a $1000 table/cart and you're running it through a radioshack pre-amp then you're probably not getting the most out of your setup. For this reason you see a lot of people stick with vintage receivers from the 60's-80's that came with pre-amps built-in. Back in the day, this was the most important part of your stereo, so there was more effort/dollars put into good phono inputs. I don't know what you have for an amplifier, but scrapping everything and getting an old Marantz, Pioneer or Yamaha with built-in phono inputs can be better than a cheapie preamp and a modern amplifier. Otherwise, the rule of thumb is that the investment in your phono pre should be in line with the investment in your amp and turntable.

I haven't used a separate phono-preamp for years. If I had to get one on a budget, I go out and get one of these:


http://www.needledoctor.com/Rega-Fono-M ... gory=35249


http://www.needledoctor.com/Pro-Ject-Ph ... gory=35249

I've got a newer Marantz that doesn't have built in Phono - picked up a $25 preamp - which I think is quite shit, but again wasn't sure how much difference does it make?

Strat wrote:

southp wrote:

Strat wrote: http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT ... +turntable

its only about 2 years old and I was just wondering if upgrading a cartridge would significantly improve sound quality.

One other question... do you use the built-in preamp of the AT turntable or do you run it into a proper phono pre-amp or receiver with phono inputs? If you're using the built-in one, that may be your weakest link.

Read this when you get a chance:
Technics SL-1200MK2 vs. Audio Technica AT-LP120 Blind Test
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showth ... p?t=444759

I plug it into a receiver but I dont think I actually plug it into the phono section of the receiver. Ill have to double check now.

Thanks for the advice, ill definitely be sending you a pm1

I looked up your TT manual and there is a switch on the back to bypass the internal phono preamp. Have a look in the back, and go with the phono section of the Marantz if you can. If the marantz is partially working you can run the TT through the marantz as a preamp and then send the line out to your other amplifier. If it's working, this will sound better than direct from the TT to your amp.

I've got a newer Marantz that doesn't have built in Phono - picked up a $25 preamp - which I think is quite shit, but again wasn't sure how much difference does it make?

How about if you scream your lungs out till it fills the room? Any difference?

So, I bypassed the TT's phono section and went into my receivers VAux. Thus completely negating have a TT yea?

I have now switched the phono input on the TT on and put it through the receiver.

This is happening:



If anyone is able to pick one up for me, I'll GLADLY pay you for the item and your services.

Thanks, team.

i'll see what i can do. just get me a reminder post/pm about a week beforehand.

AndySlash wrote:i'll see what i can do. just get me a reminder post/pm about a week beforehand.

I absolutely will, friend. Thank you!

Weak RSD list for Black Friday huh?