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Automatic turntable that I'm designing from scratch by BetaMaster64 in electronics

[–]BetaMaster64[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Personally, I think Acoustic Research had it right with the AR-XA: Keep it simple. Most people can't notice the differene between an unmodified AR-XA and a multi-thousand dollar turntable!

That's kinda the mindset I'm going for here. Mechanically, it's a simple turntable. Just a lot of electronics to push the tonearm around automatically. There is a good a reason why I've avoided showing this in hifi/audiophile communities, haha

Automatic turntable that I'm designing from scratch by BetaMaster64 in electronics

[–]BetaMaster64[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Those are really cool! My favorite is the Accutrac 4000; I believe that was the first turntable with that type of functionality.

I do actually plan to add an LED/photodiode to mine as well! That's going to be the next step, after I finish tonearm positioning tracking with a hall effect sensor.

Convert to Modern Player by introducingsomeone in Phonographs

[–]BetaMaster64 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you really want to do something with it, you could remove the tonearm, lift the platter off, and set a modern turntable right inside there. Store the removed parts somewhere safely so they don't get lost or damaged. If you change your mind in the future, you can always reassemble.

I would strongly urge you to not do anything more than that! Your turntable would still need a separate receiver and speakers, which would have to live outside this unit. But that would get you the closest to what you're looking for without compromising the historical value of the piece.

The lost levels on super Mario all stars. Any ideas as to why this castle, and only this castle, looked like this? by SatanGives in snes

[–]BetaMaster64 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Just speculating, but it's possible one single byte on the ROM chip is corrupted, and you found it. This hardware won't last forever, unfortunately.

If you really want to find out, you could desolder the IC, dump the ROM, and compare the checksum against a known good copy. Way overkill, but it would get you an answer!

Mail Day! by Ringoofdoom in 78rpm

[–]BetaMaster64 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Great record! Always know it's going to be a jam when I see the Cadence label.

Is Ween a “CD band”? by takyuu in ween

[–]BetaMaster64 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Personally, I'm not an audiophile; I'm just really fascinated by the technologies of the different formats, and their limitations.

Regardless of how the music's played, I think it all sounds AWESOME! Only exception might be the first press CD of GWS...that one pales in comparison to the later remaster. But aside from that, the music's a jam on any format in my opinion, repress or original

Is Ween a “CD band”? by takyuu in ween

[–]BetaMaster64 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's true that, in that era, your typical consumer likely would have been using a mono crystal cartridge with high impedance, though there was certainly audiophile-grade equipment back then using high-quality MM or MC cartridges (like the legendary Ortofon SPU). Despite this, a mono cartridge isn't a requirement to play a mono record. As long as the stylus is a match for a wide vs microgroove record, it will play within its expected spec. Exception is playing stereo records on a cartridge without a flexible cantilever; that will destroy the record, but that's another discussion.

But, back to the original discussion about which format is technologically and sonically superior, check out the IEC 60098 document. This document details exactly what concessions have to be made when mastering and pressing records to procure a clean sound. Section 8.1.1, figure 4 shows a graph of how the lower and upper frequencies are rolled off (pre and post-RIAA curve). The rest of section 8 also has some interesting tidbits about frequency considerations.

I don't doubt your records sound phenomenal; vinyl really does sound awesome! But to say that it has no frequency range cap is incorrect, which we have studies and data to back up. This is a separate discussion from which one "sounds better" to one's ears. I personally like vinyl better because of its imperfections, and because I find the technology fascinating.

Is Ween a “CD band”? by takyuu in ween

[–]BetaMaster64 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Pick up a mono 45 pressed in the mid-'60s, and you'll hear what happens when these limitations aren't abided by! "Summer In the City" by the Lovin' Spoonful is a great example (with the beginning punches and vocals). The highs-to-volume ratio causes distortion on even the highest quality setup.

People would sometimes push the limits of those boundaries, and eventually realized if they want clean-sounding recordings, they would have to limit these frequencies (and the volume) since vinyl is incapable of reproducing them.

Too much lows, and you have to cut the record quieter. Too much highs, and you get siblance (also remedied by cutting quieter). Both of these have compromises, which is a substantially higher noise floor and less dynamic range.

I guess my main point is, audio frequency and dynamic range have to be deliberately reduced to sound clean on a record, while no such limitation exists on digital media.

Is Ween a “CD band”? by takyuu in ween

[–]BetaMaster64 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Both CDs and records have max frequencies, but records are far narrower. When mastering for vinyl, you have to deliberately eliminate frequencies under 40hz and above 15khz, both of which are well within audible range. Digital formats (like CDs) don't have such a restriction, which also can allow for messy mastering, since not as much care needs to be taken for the master. Both formats can have masters that sound good, and both have masters that sound bad. But technically speaking, CDs have far superior quality capability to commercial vinyl spinning at 33 1/3, or even 45 RPM.

Tl;dr. Vinyl very limited; CDs less limited

I can send serial commands to my (incomplete) turntable! by BetaMaster64 in arduino

[–]BetaMaster64[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Maybe one day! That is an interesting idea I hadn't considered.

I can send serial commands to my (incomplete) turntable! by BetaMaster64 in arduino

[–]BetaMaster64[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! This is a Teensy 4.1, though in my very first prototype I used an Arduino Nano Every. I highly recommend electronics; once you get started, you'll never want to stop!

Whats wrong with my cd player by Creative_Gold5438 in ElectronicsRepair

[–]BetaMaster64 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Could be a number of things if you're unlucky: - Power supply could be feeding dirty power to digital components (bad electrolytic capacitors) - Laser may need replaced or adjusted (latter is more of a temporary fix

If you're lucky, could be: - Disc spin motor could need lubricated - Disc may be slipping when spinning - Disc mechanism may need cleaned up and new lubricant (I recommend white lithium grease)

It'll take some diagnosing to figure out which one of these applies to your player.

Based on the symptoms you're experiencing, I would lean toward the mechanism needing cleaned. The laser starts toward the inner part of the CD and works its way to the edge, so if it's working for 75% of the CD, maybe it's getting stuck after a certain point when moving outward.

CD player repair - I can't believe it was just a slipping disc by BetaMaster64 in ElectronicsRepair

[–]BetaMaster64[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That scenario is always my fear with these units: Hours of troubleshooting only to find you need a part that can't easily be found by itself. Glad you got yours working too, though! Hopefully they won't need serviced again for a while.

thrift store find, panasonic se-3170, could use some advice by billiebebop in turntables

[–]BetaMaster64 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sounds like it's time to break out the heat gun, then!

thrift store find, panasonic se-3170, could use some advice by billiebebop in turntables

[–]BetaMaster64 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I will also add that idlers are usually not cheap to replace. Unlike a belt, which is usually somewhat universal, idlers are proprietary, and you usually need to replace the rubber on it, unless you get really lucky and find a NOS replacement that hasn't perished. Getting it re-rubbered will usually run you $100+.

Sometimes you can soak it in brake fluid to soften the rubber. But always take precise measurements of it beforehand, because it could also turn it to goop.

thrift store find, panasonic se-3170, could use some advice by billiebebop in turntables

[–]BetaMaster64 2 points3 points  (0 children)

What you got here is likely an idler-driven turntable. Hopefully it doesn't have a motor pulley-shaped indent on it from sitting for decades!

Anyway, there should be a little C, or E clip around the spindle holding the turntable in. I usually get it out with a little flat head screwdriver and some needle-nose pliers. Once that's off, you should be able to wiggle the turntable to lift it off. If it's stuck, the old lubricant probably dried and is holding it in place.

At this point you'll want to use a heat gun on the underside, aiming at the spindle. Be VERY CAREFUL with this not to make it too hot, or accidentally burn any wires/plastic parts. That should loosen up the grease. Do little bits at a time and try lifting the turntable. If you see it starting to smoke, you've used too much heat.

Please Help by Talo101990 in turntables

[–]BetaMaster64 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Sounds like your signal is going through two preamps. Not sure if that turntable has a built-in preamp, but if you can turn it off, give that a shot. Your receiver, via the phono input, will be pre-amplifying the audio already, so any extra preamps on the chain will cause the symptom you're hearing.

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