Playground for practical listening exercises

[beck]

I do not use any preamp. I go directly from linto to lk100. I have three volume levels at the moment. By using one set of input on the lk100 connected to any electric device (nintendo ds, preamp out, my ipad or something else) I change the output of my linto because of the extra device I introduce in the chain (so I have been told). Full blast is when nothing is connected.

Beware: experimenting with the above can cause damage to your system! :-)

[beck]

It should be fairly easy to make a device that could give me many different levels of volume using the same technic!

[ChrBea]

I do not use any preamp.

Wouldn't your system improve musically, by adding a pre-amp? Something simple like the Lejonklou Kikkin

[beck]

I have not tried since adding a linn kairn pro to my system just to sell it again. With the music I have I do not miss anything.

I will gladly answer more questions but I think they should be moved to my system tread.

[beck]

I feel like I am finding gold again and again within my little system. I am always afraid of losing the "live" feel of my system but each change to my setup ends up very musical. I am not a sucker for "fidelity". I just love the way I now can play any record and enjoy the music.

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[beck]

A comparison between my old stereo and new stereo Abbey Road (1. and 2. generation digitally remastered vinyl).

Which recording do you prefer?

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Now is actually a great time to buy Beatles on vinyl. I think one should go for the analog recordings (mono).

[Charlie1]

I prefer A Beck. Which do you like more?

[Charlie1]

Someone commented elsewhere they thought the SPT fluid made their deck less musical for some time after cleaning so I wanted to compare. I used Silly Putty just prior to the comparison so we should just be hearing the impact of the SPT.

Peter Gabriel 'Steam'
1. Before SPT - https://www.dropbox.com/s/t2ciezl9h2mlr ... D.MOV?dl=0
2. After SPT - https://www.dropbox.com/s/2per4uozrxozx ... D.MOV?dl=0

And the new one from Jack Savoretti:
1. Before SPT - https://www.dropbox.com/s/q2bilsr5204jb ... D.MOV?dl=0
2. After SPT - https://www.dropbox.com/s/1slp8z28wr1xl ... D.MOV?dl=0

These are on my wife's new iPhone 7 so better sound and video, although it has done one cycle through the washing machine! - couldn't believe it still worked, although there was an overheat warning :)

[beck]

Using SPT does change something besides cleaning. As long as this change only last a short while I guess it is no problem.

About the Beatles clips: If only listening to the clips I guess I would end up listening more to clip A. The "out of tune" sound from clip B is to me very obvious and annoying. On clip A this effect from the first digital remastering has been slightly blurred by the second digital mastering.
I hope for a fully analog release of this album.

[beck]

Is it possible through the clips below to hear that one clip is in tune and one is not? Same record used recorded one month apart.

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[Charlie1]

Yes, I find the first clip significantly better.

I have always tried to record comparison clips during the same listening session just in case things changed between days.

[beck]

Yes, you have always made some very good clips to evaluate. This tread is the proof. :-)

As I have stated elsewhere I am confused on a higher level than I was a year ago. :-)

The above clips are an attempt to show a change in sound that happened to me today. I listened to a record and did not like the sound. Put on a new one and then I noticed a change. Put on the first record again and now it sounded good. So I made this duel between an older clip and a clip from today.

To make it even more confusing the new clip is the last one. Well, my lk100 is old and due for retirement.

[lejonklou]

Is it possible through the clips below to hear that one clip is in tune and one is not? Same record used recorded one month apart.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/dw03l53od0ooc ... 1.mov?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/wwtty9yzsok29 ... 8.mov?dl=0

I agree with Charlie and would even say that the first is quite good while the second is terrible!

If you've been doing any changes to the system, you should definitely reevaluate them. If that is the case, I suspect you've been compensating one problem with another, as that's a common trap to fall in. All it takes is one really bad decision and then you're on a non-productive track until you discover your original mistake.

One reason I suspect this is the case is that you've mentioned that your LP12 stands on a Trampolin that is not screwed to the plinth (if I recall correctly). I've tried that and it's really bad for the music. I think, however, that it could be a compensation for a different problem, possibly below the Trampolin. I once had my LP12 on a very heavy and wobbly (with a very low frequency) piece of furniture and it made most adjustments on the LP12 impossible to judge by ear.

[u252agz]

I agree.

First clip sounds musical- second one does not.

What is the difference between the two?

[beck]

Thank you for all the comments. I will not jump to any conclusion yet as there has been no deliberate change made between the two clips! I will listen to my system the next couple of days and try to figure out what has happend.

[lejonklou]

Thank you for all the comments. I will not jump to any conclusion yet as there has been no deliberate change made between the two clips! I will listen to my system the next couple of days and try to figure out what has happend.

Ah! I realised after I posted my comment that maybe you didn't change anything (and then changed my words to reflect that).

Something's definitely happened!

[beck]

Problem located. The low end of the tonearm cable touched the heavy stone ever so slightly. Now hanging freely it sounds like this:

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[Charlie1]

Sorry Beck but that first clip is still miles better.

I seldom hear big differences between comparison clips but this is not the case here.

[beck]

Ha, ha. Nobody said this would be easy. My wife was in "combat" with my stand so that may have caused my problem. I will keep trying.

[u252agz]

I agree with Charlie one - further investigations required and perhaps a quiet word with your wife.

[beck]

Confession: I have wasted your time and I am sorry. I have mixed up the clips.

Now for the good part: My wifes close combat with my stand has resulted in what I have been chasing all my time on this forum (and not succeded fully with). You may laugh!

I can now play any record of mine without thinking something is wrong with how the notes come together into chords (listening like a musician). I cannot blame digital recordings or remastering for that anymore.
It is however my experience from this forum that this aspect is very difficult to portray via clips.

Next time I start complaining about something like the above being wrong with the sound from my system you should all just shout back at me: "GET YOUR SYSTEM SORTED!"

It is indeed a happy day for me. I did not know for sure that it was possible. My prime suspect is the spring suspension of my sondek but that has to be examined further.

Follow up: It was my lingo/linto shelf that had been slightly dislocated.

[beck]

So how does my system sound now that I am satisfied with it. Like nothing special! If I got a point that would be it.

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Well, satistied as in with only one tweeter playing. :-)

[Charlie1]

Just got back from hols. They sound very good but we've nothing to compare them to so not sure what value they have.

[beck]

Agreed Charlie1.

I hope some day that the world will appreciate non useful human activity! :-)

[Charlie1]

That's how I like to spend my spare time.