My name is Michael, and here on Devoted to Vinyl, I publish weekly videos aimed at helping you get started in the vinyl hobby!
From figuring out which turntable is right for your needs, to understanding how to buy, store, and even clean vinyl records, this channel is dedicated to being both informative and fun. So whether you're a vinyl beginner or you've been spinning records for decades, you'll want to hit the Subscribe button to be the first person notified when a new video drops!
Thanks for your video. You are a great teacher. I have a Denon x1850 mixer and powered pioneer VM8 dj speakers. I have two Technics Mk2 turntables. How will I connect. Do I need two phono pre amps to cater for both turntables?
This review from my experience is pretty darned accurate. The 2M red for the money is a pretty outstanding cartridge that gives you a more complete and better detailed experience than many 'included' lower end cartridges and is a very worthwhile upgrade to sub $100 cartridges and stylus often included with some very decent beginner turntables. The 2M Red competes well against, and can beat many, if not most cartridges at the same or lower price point. For most people who want a simple upgrade to their more run of the mill sub $100 cartridge, the 2M is sort of like a 'cant miss' upgrade, particularly if you're dealing with a lower end turntable. Now, as stated in this review, the 2M Blue cartridge is defiantly a step up in very noticeable ways. I dont know if the same excellent returns on upgrading from a Red to the Blue will be noticeable on low end turntables paired with low end speakers, but I have to assume even then some of the benefits are likely to be noticed. And to be clear, my own system is not notably fancy or expensive in the larger picture of Hifi equipment. I currently have a Project Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Esprit SB and Klipsch R62's which are pretty decent speakers that work particularly well with home theatre and rock music especially. I do run my Project table through a Schiit Mani preamp which is another huge "big bang for the buck" bit of equipment that comes in at under about $150 if I recall correctly. I found the upgrade to the 2M Blue almost identically noticeable as spoken of in this review. Details improved, separation improved and the more open sound stage were so noticeable enough that it was at least impressive. The Blue definitely gives you a much more exciting listening experience. Its the place I tend to think most listeners hope to get to if they are coming over to finally listening to vinyl having heard about how good it can sound. For me, that was the real moment where I felt that going back to vinyl records again was actually a preferable listening experience to my CD's on my Onkyo CD changer. From the long experience I have had with both CD's and vinyl over the years, Im sure defeating the 2M Blues performance with CDs is easily accomplished, but would require a far better, and more expensive CD set up than Im willing to pay for. Its not often you can just pop out one small component and pop in another simple upgrade, and then hear with this much ease the difference. Its easily noticeable, and worth the money if you're looking for better sound from your turntable set up.
That is why Mariah is one of my #1 vocalists because she seamlessly transitions from power ballads, pop, dance, r&b, gospel and hip hop unlike some of the other artists you have up there. Except Whitney Houston who did all of those as well. If you are a vocalist who still can make me dance my shoes off, then the next song make me cry, then you got me. Teena Marie, Chaka, Beyonce, Patti, Diana, Lady Gaga are all of those things.
1) The anti-skating control, located on the bottom of the turntable, should not be a problem -- at least not a prolonged problem. Clearaudio claims to have set it at the factory. So unless you change the cartridge or the tone-arm, you will never have to adjust it (assuming that you trust that Clearaudio set it correctly at the factory). In the event that you do have to adjust it, it is a one-time adjustment. Or, a once in a very long while adjustment. Short of doing upgrades, once you have it set, you will likely never have to adjust it again. 2) As to the motor noise, that is a deal-breaker for me. The motor should be super quiet. You should need a doctor's stethoscope to hear it. If you can put your ear close to it and hear it, that is not good. And with that motor being seated / connected to the turntable's plinth, the vibrations are getting to the stylus, and affecting the sound quality. I used to have a bad feedback problem, due to my turntable having to sit close to my right speaker. My room had no other location to place it. And I had the turntable on a household piece of furniture. I ditched that furniture, and I purchased an HRS audio rack, and my feedback problem was gone (or so I thought). I no longer heard feedback -- but unbeknownst to me, it was still there. A friend whose ear I trust, and has critical listening skills, suggested that I put my turntable on Aurios Pro Media Isolation Bearings. So I did. No risk, with the seller's return policy. I was astounded at how much better everything sounded. Everything had better focus. The bass was tighter. And somehow, I thought that, previously, I had no feedback. I now have my eye on a Townshend Seismic Vibration Isolation Platform, for my turntable. I put one under my pre-amp, and it made everything sound better (not night and day -- but definitely better) -- including digital content. So I thought that perhaps such a platform for under my turntable would do a better job than my Aurios bearings? Alas, my wallet has run dry. So I am content with what I have. But my point is that if you can hear the motor, then your stylus is picking it up, too. I would report the noise to the manufacturer. Perhaps they can warranty the motor for a quieter one. Clearaudio is known for attention to detail, and for going to extremes to isolate vibrations. I do not think that they would knowingly include a motor in any of their turntables that you can hear.
I agree with others. Not showing or mentioning that the Record Doctor 10 (It's what the "X" stands for" can clean both sides of the record at the same time was a fairly big omission.
After so many years today I heard some people ground their turntable to their pre-amps and from the pre-amp there's a second ground cable which goes to the ground section of the amp/receiver. Basically double ground. Is that really relevant???
that boncy what you called flimsy is there on purpose for shock and vibration absorbation since the speakers are built in. I woiuld be worried if it wasn't bouncy .
That Eddie Murphy lp n the shelf behind him! A classic. But even back in the day when comedy lps came out,I didnt need to hear a great analog copy. Its just speech. We always bought those on cassette. Then you walked around with a boom box blasting out all that filth floren floren filth.😅 Those who know Eddies stand up know what I mean.😉
Hi great video, if you get a clamp like Michell engineering on which comes with a felt washer which you put on first before the record then the clamp and does help more with warp record then just a weight , so am looking to get one . Regards mark
I remember watching this review prior to purchasing my TT-15S1 almost 3 years ago and I found it very helpful. And now that I just sold my turntable, I found your unboxing helpful once again to be sure I packed it up correctly. Thanks! And glad to see you’re back with some new content of late. All the best.
Great video. The turntable seems okay, but too many drawbacks for me, as you noted. I think my TEAC TN-5BB turntable is a better value at the same price. It came with an Ortofon 2M Red which is decent but I replaced it with an Audio-Technica moving coil. It has an "s" shaped tonearm with removable headshell which I prefer, and the anti-skate and VTA are easy to access, and it includes a dust cover, lol. I actually prefer it over my Technics SL-1200GR2 since it has auto stop/lift. It's a shame more people don't know about the TEAC.
Hi, i was about to return my Cambridge phono amp bc i thought it was defective 🙆🏽♂️ i was connecting to phono input thanks to your video now i got it working and is great. Thanks 🙏🏾
Colors! Love colored vinyl. Probably about a quarter to half my collection are colored. I deliberately bought a black turntable and Kallax so that when I put on colored vinyl, it really pops and stands out visually. Gives the experience an extra layer of awesome. I usually avoid picture discs because their quality usually is lower than colored vinyl, like you said here. Love your channel! Have an amazing day!
COLORS!!! 🥳 I love colored vinyl also. I think they’re cool and add to the atmosphere. One caveat tho … grey vinyl is UGLY!!! 🤣🤣🤣 Btw, I have that Alicia Keys record. It’s one of my fave AC albums.
lol about grey. It’s funny, now that you say that, I can’t really recall too many grey colored records (unless you consider silver to be grey, I suppose). Not sure I’ve seen a brown colored record either actually…I’d have to think about it 🤔 Yup, “Freedom” is my favorite Keys album. It’s so good 🥳
Colours...... The lighting in area you play your records can create swirls etc... on coloured vinyl. I have a few coloured Lps and 7" singles and really enjoy them.
