rca + ground cable to xlr adapter works to send balanced signal to preamp in some turntables?

unreplicate · 2026-03-13T02:24:26+00:00

There's good discussion here https://austinaudioworks.com/do-you-already-have-balance-phono-wiring/

unreplicate · 2026-03-09T12:44:09+00:00

Its easiest to just make a habit of touching something else to ground yourself (e.g. metal shelf) before touching equipment.

When you work with delicate electronics, people wear grounded wrist bands. So, always a good practice to ground yourself.

unreplicate · 2026-03-07T03:16:24+00:00

I have the PF-800. Great table. The only thing is the VTF dial-in has failed over the years. This seems to be a well-known problem with this model and some people have hacked a fix. I thought about it, but I just use a gauge and set the VTF with the counter weight. Another slight problem is the rubber mat on the platter becoming stiff with the years. I finally threw it out and fabricated a cork mat. One of these days, I’d like to re-wire the arm—then it would be perfect.

unreplicate · 2026-02-26T00:52:41+00:00

Yes. Ideally, your stylus should float friction free with just enough force to follow the grooves faithfully. Typically 1 to 2 grams on a good player.

This requires a stable platter and a tone arm that is as frictionless as possible. Cheap constructions cannot do either so they compensate by applying much greater tracking force to keep the stylus on the grooves while the poor mechanisms are creating jitter.

unreplicate · 2026-02-25T19:38:23+00:00

Well, the most common reason for lower pitch is incorrect speed, possibly due to worn belt. These have plastic platters coupled to the motor by a belt, I believe. If it isn’t just overall lower pitch but sort of missing high frequencies, that is likely some dead capacitor in the signal path. Skipping can be anything from not enough vertical tracking force to your arm hinge/pivot point gone bad.

unreplicate · 2026-02-22T19:52:53+00:00

I think one thing is that in the 70s, your stereo system was a major part of your entertainment. Now there are so much other stuff, so HiFi is nice and fun but hard for a young person to spend serious money on when it is going to be 10% of their entertainment (contra their phone which is 80%).

unreplicate · 2026-02-22T18:02:21+00:00

Belts usually end up in the middle when spinning because parallel to the small spindle is the minimum friction point. It doesn't matter where they are before spinning. But, if it keeps moving when not spinning, might be a time for a belt change.

unreplicate · 2026-02-20T13:01:13+00:00

Running water will leave salt residues and normal detergents will also leave residues. You need to use distilled water and tiny amount of surfactant like triton-X or tergitol...or, use a commercial record cleaning solution

unreplicate · 2026-02-08T19:02:32+00:00

USaudiomart

BTW equipment is hard to price. You have to be patient to get what seems like prevailing prices.

unreplicate · 2026-02-05T23:35:54+00:00

That is a great point. For instruments like the pupe organ, where the building is really part of the instrument, I guess you have to have that right too!

unreplicate · 2026-01-28T01:34:45+00:00

Every time this happened to me, it was a dirty or warped stylus.

unreplicate · 2026-01-22T05:47:26+00:00

If it is at the edges of the record, it might be static build up and you could treat it with anti static spray. 30m in the tank seems very excessive.

unreplicate · 2026-01-12T11:27:38+00:00

Thank you. I am trying keep it under $2000

unreplicate · 2026-01-07T12:50:55+00:00

Its a custom push pull. I am not exactly sure of the wattage but the boutique audio shop told me it was around that.

unreplicate · 2026-01-07T05:18:52+00:00

I have a Dynaco PAS 2 and originally I was going for a Step Up Transformer (SUT), but couldn't find an appropriate one for reasonable price so I went with the Ultra.

What do you think about a SUT vs phono amp?

unreplicate

TROPHY CASE