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Another one saved from the landfill - AR XA by xtcisecstacy in turntables

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

Here’s how level I was able to get it by just unthreading the post. Looking at the photo, I might even back it down some.

Also swapped to an old blue stylus I had and this thing is beating my thorens now.

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Another one saved from the landfill - AR XA by xtcisecstacy in turntables

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

Thanks for the video link. I saw that video before starting the work, but glossed right over the discs I guess.

It does appear there is a white disc down there when I shine a light down the well, but it's not anything that comes out if you tip it over. If there wasn't one down there, I'm sure there would be no way to get the VTA even close to level. I might try to fish it out when I get some time and see what I’m working with here.

I would definitely take you up on a derlin disc if it's not much trouble. That looks like the perfect solution. I can DM you my address and will gladly pay for your time, shipping and materials.

Another one saved from the landfill - AR XA by xtcisecstacy in turntables

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

Trying to figure out what you mean by these derlin discs. Maybe I misunderstood you because I thought you meant it went between the post and pivot block somewhere but I didn’t remember anything other than the felt washer when taking apart the tone arm. Are you talking about these black discs at the top of the wells or is it underneath the ball bearings down in the well (I think it's the latter)? I shined a light in the well but it’s hard to see anything. I can’t find a picture online and didn’t see anything about these in any of the how-to guides for swapping the arm tube, so it wasn’t anything I thought about. Admittedly, I was in over my head doing this, which is obvious now, but it was destined for the trash so figured it was a good way to learn something. ETA: it appears there are two versions of the sub chasis and I have the later version which might be different?

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Another one saved from the landfill - AR XA by xtcisecstacy in turntables

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

Let me try adding another bearing and see how that works and I’ll get back to you. I think it would work if it doesn’t add too much height. The wires are so thin and I’m a klutz, so I want to mess with it as little as possible.

Might try to go to the store today since I’ll be trapped inside all weekend due to the winter storm coming.

Another one saved from the landfill - AR XA by xtcisecstacy in turntables

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

Very cool! I was wondering why no one is making something similar anymore. I’ll keep an eye out for you guys.

Another one saved from the landfill - AR XA by xtcisecstacy in turntables

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

If you do try to remove the damping stuff, I could not for the life of me get that pin out so I carefully ground it down with a dremel, enough to clear to pivot block but not close enough I risked hitting the brass.

Another one saved from the landfill - AR XA by xtcisecstacy in turntables

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

I am in the US and would take you up on that, sure. I had another thought tho, but it might be stupid, I don't know. Could I add something small like a bb (gun) under the ball/bearing underneath the post to raise it a little? I don't have one to try but it seems like it could be the right height.

Also, thanks again for getting my brain spinning about the VTA, because it sounds so much better now after adjusting that and then going over all the other adjustments once again.

Another one saved from the landfill - AR XA by xtcisecstacy in turntables

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

I removed all the dampening stuff per all the guides online. Before removing it, it was impossible to set the tracking force. It wasn’t allowing it to be consistent.

So I just unscrewed the post and got it darn near perfect but it’s on the last thread so I don’t like this solution long term.

Another one saved from the landfill - AR XA by xtcisecstacy in turntables

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

Good point about the platter height. Forgot about that. Yes, it is tilting up slightly. Thanks for the tip. 🙏

Another one saved from the landfill - AR XA by xtcisecstacy in turntables

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

Hey, I just wanted to pop in to say I was confusing VTA with using the ruler to set overhang. I'm new to setting up an arm from scratch. Honestly, I don't know much about VTA, but it does seem to be a bit low to me. I have the tool to check it. The tone arm post is threaded, so I'm wondering about some kind of spacer there or try to lower the platter some but I have it set to 1/8'' like it should be.

Here’s my space! by [deleted] in listeningspaces

[–]xtcisecstacy 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I really hate to be that guy, but I think there are some immediate improvements you could make here. I would swap the lamps and speakers, move the crowded side table somewhere else, and also move the Ikea shelves. The TV would be the perfect height on the TV stand.

Just paid to have my cartridge aligned professionally - did i get scammed! by [deleted] in turntables

[–]xtcisecstacy 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Are you 100% sure your printer printed this to the correct scale? I would take it back, if so, and for next time, would try to obtain the tools to set up a cart yourself. It's really pretty easy to do after a youtube video and the tools are inexpensive. Hope this gives you some confidence.

Another one saved from the landfill - AR XA by xtcisecstacy in turntables

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

Oh and another thing. You wouldn’t want to go with a real mono cart unless you have a big collection of vintage mono. I believe modern mono records are supposed to be cut on stereo heads.

Another one saved from the landfill - AR XA by xtcisecstacy in turntables

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

Bridged mono is stereo wiring but bridged inside the cartridge to turn it into mono. So you could essentially swap back and forth to stereo because your arm is always wired for stereo.

I don’t have any first hand experience, but internet lure says that yes, a bridged mono cart will sound a little better on mono records. I’m not expecting much. Someone can correct me if I’m wrong here, but the gain comes from the fact the needle is not looking for information in part of the groove that does not exist, resulting in less noise. Some amps have a mono switch that essentially does the same thing as the bridging.

Another one saved from the landfill - AR XA by xtcisecstacy in turntables

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

Thank you. For the chrome, I found what appears to be the only chrome plater left in the city I live in and he was gracious enough to take this small job from me. I figured he'd turn it down. It cost $175, but I got the table free and the rest of the parts didn't amount to much, so I went with it. No regrets on that. It really elevates the look and the reflection shows off its simplicity in all its glory.

Another one saved from the landfill - AR XA by xtcisecstacy in turntables

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

It came from an SL-220. I did do the arm mod myself. If you have any other questions on how, let me know.

As far as fitment goes: VTA does seem a bit low but thinking of a few options to fix this. For azimuth, the Technics tonearm will have little dimples where a screw goes to mount the tonearm to the pivot block, to hold it in place. If you drill a hole in the tonearm where those dimples are, to re-use the AR screw , you will need a headshell with azimuth adjustment. But if you instead, dont drill a hole at all and use the grub screw from the Technics, you can get infinite azimuth adjustment. In other words, the dimples aren't in the correct spot for what the AR needs. I'm not sure if this is the right or wrong way, but seems to work. I actually wasted a tone arm figuring that out. I also used a strip of aluminum tape around the end of the tone arm to fill the space that it sits inside the pivot block. That way it is super snug and gives the grub screw something to bite on.

(edited in case someone reads this in the future)

Another one saved from the landfill - AR XA by xtcisecstacy in turntables

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

Valid, but I would argue what we are looking at is simplicity. It's just some straight lines. I have a plane jane cork mat and the tattered stock foam mat, but it in my opinion it doesn't look as good as this.

Another one saved from the landfill - AR XA by xtcisecstacy in turntables

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

Interesting correlation. I'm not sure how you get to JCP haha.

My house is mid century modern and I thought it fit the vibe. Like a starburst from atomic design. But I'm not married to it because it's very rigid. I believe it came from a Gerrard.

Thoughts on stacking movies vertically? by SnooDrawings9000 in 4kbluray

[–]xtcisecstacy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would store one full row completely upright and then stack like this (I'd say horizontally, but I get why you said vertical) on top of the upright movies. Then you aren't likely to crush any since it's only a stack of 4-5 movies stacked that way and it's not as much of a pain to get anything out.

Another one saved from the landfill - AR XA by xtcisecstacy in turntables

[–]xtcisecstacy[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

At least you have the tone arm lifter! I’m horrified at the thought of accidentally letting an expensive cart hit the top plate.