I got a record player for Christmas.....one of those all-in-one things. My husband spent a ton of time researching reviews, etc., but it skipped around on brand new and used records from the minute it came out of the box, so we returned it & I got another one.
This one is much better, but after a couple of songs in, starts skipping a little as well. It also wants to pull in when first placing the needle on the record.
Any suggestions? I have followed the directions in regards to the screw that is tightened for shipping purposes, allowing the turntable to "float," have tried taping a penny to the arm, but I'm not having much luck.
I know I don't have a top of the line one, but surely there is some kind of fix I'm missing?
Fwiw, this is the one I have:
http://www.amazon.com/Electrohome-Signat...lectrohome
(12-31-2015 03:58 PM)tigergreen Wrote: [ -> ]I got a record player for Christmas.....one of those all-in-one things. My husband spent a ton of time researching reviews, etc., but it skipped around on brand new and used records from the minute it came out of the box, so we returned it & I got another one.
This one is much better, but after a couple of songs in, starts skipping a little as well. It also wants to pull in when first placing the needle on the record.
Any suggestions? I have followed the directions in regards to the screw that is tightened for shipping purposes, allowing the turntable to "float," have tried taping a penny to the arm, but I'm not having much luck.
I know I don't have a top of the line one, but surely there is some kind of fix I'm missing?
Maybe the needle. That's what I would look at.
Fwiw, this is the one I have:
http://www.amazon.com/Electrohome-Signat...lectrohome
I think I know the issue, but not what to do about it.
I think the tonearm, the long thing that holds the stylus (needle), it out of balance. That would explain the skating, skipping, etc. How to correct it, however, is not something I can answer.
There is no adjustment. It more than likely has a ceramic cartridge or a very high output magnetic cartridge. Either has a conical stylus (needle) and it does not track as accurately as a smaller elliptical needle or a much smaller line contact stylus.
There is the chance the records have some crud in the groove and just needs a proper cleaning. But most likely the unit has a problem and you should return it. Without the coin attached. Take the records with you if you intend on getting another one. Give the skipping records a spin. Remember this, if the records skip in the same spots each time it could very well be the record and not the TT. Especially if some records play fine and then the next one skip.
As for the tonearm wanting to move inward when you put the stylus on the record, that can be normal. It is called anti-skate. The spinning record makes the tonearm want to go outward so a counter force is needed to make it ride evenly on both sides of the groove.
(12-31-2015 09:48 PM)SayWhat? Wrote: [ -> ]There is no adjustment. It more than likely has a ceramic cartridge or a very high output magnetic cartridge. Either has a conical stylus (needle) and it does not track as accurately as a smaller elliptical needle or a much smaller line contact stylus.
There is the chance the records have some crud in the groove and just needs a proper cleaning. But most likely the unit has a problem and you should return it. Without the coin attached. Take the records with you if you intend on getting another one. Give the skipping records a spin. Remember this, if the records skip in the same spots each time it could very well be the record and not the TT. Especially if some records play fine and then the next one skip.
As for the tonearm wanting to move inward when you put the stylus on the record, that can be normal. It is called anti-skate. The spinning record makes the tonearm want to go outward so a counter force is needed to make it ride evenly on both sides of the groove.
If there's no anti-skate adjustment, then yeah, I can't think of anything you can do about it.
tracking force
first you balance the arm with the cartridge attached
then apply the tracking force based on the needle type
lots of q&a on amazon on this item
several people with the same problem
do a online chat with the manufacture
(01-01-2016 08:36 AM)Unionman76 Wrote: [ -> ]tracking force
first you balance the arm with the cartridge attached
then apply the tracking force based on the needle type
lots of q&a on amazon on this item
several people with the same problem
do a online chat with the manufacture
I would have suggested this if the unit has any adjustments. It appears it does not have a counter balance weight nor any anti-skate adjustment. It is intended as a plug and play out of the box.
(01-01-2016 09:58 AM)SayWhat? Wrote: [ -> ] (01-01-2016 08:36 AM)Unionman76 Wrote: [ -> ]tracking force
first you balance the arm with the cartridge attached
then apply the tracking force based on the needle type
lots of q&a on amazon on this item
several people with the same problem
do a online chat with the manufacture
I would have suggested this if the unit has any adjustments. It appears it does not have a counter balance weight nor any anti-skate adjustment. It is intended as a plug and play out of the box.
Same here. I saw nothing that would allow this.
There's sure a lot of old stereo guys here, and KRB hasn't even weighed in yet!
US Penny pre-1982 3.11 grams
US Penny 1982-present 2.5 grams
US Nickel 5 grams
(01-01-2016 01:20 PM)Unionman76 Wrote: [ -> ]US Penny pre-1982 3.11 grams
US Penny 1982-present 2.5 grams
US Nickel 5 grams
I always used half dollars and duct tape.
(01-01-2016 12:52 PM)TigerBill Wrote: [ -> ] (01-01-2016 09:58 AM)SayWhat? Wrote: [ -> ] (01-01-2016 08:36 AM)Unionman76 Wrote: [ -> ]tracking force
first you balance the arm with the cartridge attached
then apply the tracking force based on the needle type
lots of q&a on amazon on this item
several people with the same problem
do a online chat with the manufacture
I would have suggested this if the unit has any adjustments. It appears it does not have a counter balance weight nor any anti-skate adjustment. It is intended as a plug and play out of the box.
Same here. I saw nothing that would allow this.
There's sure a lot of old stereo guys here, and KRB hasn't even weighed in yet!
Exactly. No way to adjust tracking force ( amount of downward pressure at the stylus to make the stylus stay in contact and inside the groove.
No anti-skating adjustment ( to keep the stylus from tendency to move out the groove sideways).
Send it back and get a refund.
(01-01-2016 01:20 PM)Unionman76 Wrote: [ -> ]US Penny pre-1982 3.11 grams
US Penny 1982-present 2.5 grams
US Nickel 5 grams
beat me to it. also used a couple of .22 shells taped on the arm above the needle.
Can anyone recommend a good turn table? I've been wanting to get one.
(01-04-2016 07:07 PM)umbluegray Wrote: [ -> ]Can anyone recommend a good turn table? I've been wanting to get one.
Price range? I assume your stereo system has a RIAA phono stage/input?
picked up a craig turntable this week for my daughter and it's nothing special. aside from the many q's raised in this thread, the proprietor of the record store I visited to get her some albums gave us a used album because it was fraught with scratches. I'm talkin gouges here and the thing played flawlessly. there's apparently huge differences in the vinyl records are pressed with.. or just maybe the scratches are more cosmetic than I think they are
http://www.needledoctor.com/
Turntables are a mixture of Science/Mystery/Art. If it doesn't have an anti skate device, it's gonna give ya problems.
Hell I still use tube amps. It's a level of interest hobby. Turntables can get expensive, quick. There are several in the $500 range that are excellent.you can spend more than a house costs if you want to.
I recently moved, and gave away an AR XA to a friend. Buy one of these European packages, but remember you must have a phono input. You can buy inexpensive converter units though.
You got a lot of good info in this thread. Tone arms and cartridges are key to music reproduction. That and a constant 33 and a third rpm's.
(01-04-2016 07:07 PM)umbluegray Wrote: [ -> ]Can anyone recommend a good turn table? I've been wanting to get one.
Not Electrohome.
We were able to get it to work pretty decently with the ol' nickel on the arm trick, but it's still skipping. I have about another week to decide whether or not I"m going to return it.
If you already have a receiver (which I didn't in the location I wanted it), Audio Technica LP-60 is a model that I keep seeing over & over again, or you could wait until Panasonic starts making the Technics turntable again this year.
(01-11-2016 10:45 AM)tigergreen Wrote: [ -> ] (01-04-2016 07:07 PM)umbluegray Wrote: [ -> ]Can anyone recommend a good turn table? I've been wanting to get one.
Not Electrohome.
We were able to get it to work pretty decently with the ol' nickel on the arm trick, but it's still skipping. I have about another week to decide whether or not I"m going to return it.
If you already have a receiver (which I didn't in the location I wanted it), Audio Technica LP-60 is a model that I keep seeing over & over again, or you could wait until Panasonic starts making the Technics turntable again this year.
What you are now doing is etching out small bits of vinyl each time you play a record with that much down force to make it track. If your receiver has a phono input consider an old Thorens or old Dual. You can find many on eBay for $100/150 with a much better cartridge. It will have a magnetic cartridge with removable stylus for easy replacement.
(01-09-2016 01:26 AM)KRB Wrote: [ -> ]http://www.needledoctor.com/
Turntables are a mixture of Science/Mystery/Art. If it doesn't have an anti skate device, it's gonna give ya problems.
Hell I still use tube amps. It's a level of interest hobby. Turntables can get expensive, quick. There are several in the $500 range that are excellent.you can spend more than a house costs if you want to.
I recently moved, and gave away an AR XA to a friend. Buy one of these European packages, but remember you must have a phono input. You can buy inexpensive converter units though.
You got a lot of good info in this thread. Tone arms and cartridges are key to music reproduction. That and a constant 33 and a third rpm's.
I "inherited" tube driven ham radio and a killer reel to reel from my Dad. He would only listen to music on reel to reel. Old radio/tv guy, probably mixed most of his music while on the job.
While visiting him once back in the late 90's, I hooked up his VCR thru his stereo equipment when I found an aux jack back there. He went on a binge renting and buying big action movies.
(01-11-2016 01:14 PM)SayWhat? Wrote: [ -> ]What you are now doing is etching out small bits of vinyl each time you play a record with that much down force to make it track. If your receiver has a phono input consider an old Thorens or old Dual.
We don't have room for a receiver in the spot it will be, so I need a player that already has a built-in speaker. That's part of my problem.