An inbetweenie video without a proper title.
This is a video about a new turntable cartridge and a phono pre-amp I added to my Hi-Fi.
I’d never installed a cartridge before, so whenever I try something new I like to record it on video just in case it helps anyone who‘s watching. I feel this is likely to be an 80-100,000 view video at most, so it’s definitelly not a tentpole extravaganza, but If I can demystify something sufficiently to encourage anyone to give it a go, I‘ll consider it a success.
Incidentally, if you’ve got a good idea for a snappy descriptive title for this video I’d love to hear it.
I hope to shoot a Patreon only video this week, so all being well that should be along soon to try and make up for this less than stellar instalment.
UPDATE 2: I've reworded & modified a few sections of the video to add clarity and remove ambiguity.
Comments (77)
I love that Denon turntable. When you said in a previous video it had developed an annoying hum it almost put me off stalking them on eBay! Glad you got to the bottom of it!
Entertaining video and full of useful information. For some reason this video made me think of your remark years ago about there not being a device for managing 5+ audio input devices. Wouldn't a patch-rack (with 6.3mm jack cables) be a very nice and steam-punky solution? Like you find on some synthesizers? (and have their origin in telephone switch boards?). Ah well, just a thought...
I ended up using a very nice Technics switchbox from Japan. There are some aesthetic considerations with the HiFi as I’m not the only person in the house.
Although I don't fully appreciate the detail on this one, I really enjoyed watching it. Another excellent job 👍
Thanks for the video! Do you think you could update us on your HiFi? I remember when you first got that Tube Box S a couple years ago ... and it looks like you've replaced your old graphic equalizer?
I've slowly been working up to it. For a while I had a coupe of components in there that weren't wired up. This was part of the re-organisation required to sort that issue out. So perhaps after I've reviewed the next component I'll do a re-cap.
Glad there are still a few of us old-school jazz fans out there. just wanted to make sure you avoided any old-school jazz trolls
You did the right thing - better to fix it now while I still can.
Another informational and enjoyable video, Mat. One small note: shouldn't the name be "Mingus Ah Um", and not "Minus"? If not, please disregard, and thanks for sharing that installation with us.
Damn autocorrect - another upload coming overnight.
Great video and timely! I just got back into vinyl with a new turntable (Depeche Mode 12" reissue boxsets got me) i had forgotten what a complete faff it is to install the cartridge :-) The only thing I ran into and maybe it doesn't affect your turntable and cartridge was cartridge overhang on the headshell. In fact Technics provided me with this handy overhang gauge where you stick the cartridge shell into it and it allows you to accurately set the overhang of the cartridge at 52mm. Like i said ... a complete faff :-)
Hmm never considered overhang.
If some of your videos are special interest videos, this one really is a special special interest video. But as always incredibly entertaining to watch even for a person who might never ever own a record player in his lifetime anymore.
Thanks for documenting your adventures, so I can be part of them. I'm a bit irritated: the powersaving argument is a bit void, because you just moved the circuitry from the plug into the box, as nicely proven by the soft standby light. Also, why would the new thing have two inputs? I seem to remember you said "sure, one for MC and one for MM" - which it obviously says. So now you have to rewire every time you change the cartridge? What use is the "convenient button" at the front then, when it only works after a major cable-job? Also I was wondering what the use of a pre-amp is when you need to crank the amp all the way up? I thought the job for a pre-amp is to bring all the inputs to the desired, same level. Which it does not - neither of them! Couldn't you just set it to more oomph and be done with it? Now I am left with these bunch of dead pixels :) cheers! chris
As far as item number one, i’m re-editing to delete any mention of power. Regarding the two inputs - that could be two turntables one MM and one MC that could be switched between at the push of the button. It seems like I’ll have to add something about this into the video as a couple of earlier comments also asked about this. As far as the output level of the pre-amps go, I’m really not sure why they are lower than a CD. There may be a way I can boost the individual inout level on my amp - I’ll check into that.
Kudos to Cambridge for brilliant attention to tiny detail on the Duo pre-amp. Printing the IDs of the inputs upside down as well as right side up is very helpful to those of us who must view our racked equipment from above rather than from straight-on behind, due to limited space. No more need for the funky little dentist's mirror and flashlight. Designers that catch details like that earn my loyalty.
The only possible title is “Unbelievable Turntable NUDE Explosion Lip-Sync Make-up FAIL!”
"My turntable has dead pixels"? "Adventures in moving magnets"?
“Coils moving on”? Possibly with a colon and some more searchable text. Ewen
great addition; thanks!
I love the clock, bonkers but wonderful.
"Turntable management, more intricacy than you might imagine" is my title suggestion
aww, the clock isn't DST compatible. I had to rewind the video 1 hour to make it right.
I’m glad you got to see it.
I'm wondering about the electronic weight and anti-skating dial: if you put it to nearly zero to get the correct tracking force, does it give the right anti-skating force? Or is there a separate trick?
I honestly don’t know. Perhaps I should read the manual.
I’m actually quite glad you made a video about this. For years I’ve wanted to make the switch to MC output but never did because of the associated cost. Now I know that since I also have a mid-range Technics deck (similar to yours but with an S-shaped tonearm), I’d probably run into the same issue of noise. My Signet AM30S cart sounds superb, and luckily Audio-Technica still makes a relatively comparable stylus for it. Might I recommend for a title: “Fiddling with phono carts: Moving Coil vs. Moving Magnet”
Yes I don’t think there’s any discernible benefit to be gained from an affordable MC cartridge. Perhaps at the ultra high end things are different.
The process of consuming music is so different now that 50 years ago. You almost had to be a recording engineer to get good sound. Now you just hit play. Or tell SiriGoogleAlexa to hit play. I think I like the old way better. This (and other turntable videos) and the reel-to-reel tape videos really make me want to collect parts for a "hi-fi" so I can join in. My problem is that I'm not a huge music fan and I don't have a collection of vinyl or mylar to play on these devices! I'm too content just to turn on the radio! :-D
How about "Left a bit, right a bit" - that's usually my experience when mounting a new cartridge. Usually folllowed by "I wish I'd never started this"!
Back in the day in work (broadcast) we were only allowed to use MM cartridges in our EMT turntables for that very reason; signal to noise.
I am waiting breathlessly to find out what will go into that empty spot now. Something small, obviously. Did you locate the prototype Pocket Rocker home deck? Something that plays Nissan Voice Warning or Monday Night Football records?
It’s a smaller version of something I already have - which now frees up a whole shelf for some experimentation.
Mat! Great video AGAIN... Can "Styluses and pre-amps" be a title?
Reminiscent of Handbags & Gladrags
Maybe grab a scalpel and cut the required windows in your new snazzy mat to make it work.
You always come up with simple practical solutions that for some reason don’t occur to me.
I have a JVC QL-Y5F, which is kind of similar to your Denon. The counter weight is adjustable on mine so that one can set the tonearm neutral while the unit is off and make the VTF dial accurate again. Is your Denon adjustable?
It might be now you mention it. I’ll have to re-shoot that section.
In an age of 128kbps iTunes audio and cheap earbuds, I still marvel at how analog stereo music used to be, and still is for those who care. I'm glad you're keeping this alive.
hey, if you want a snappy title, check out this amazing how-to video I found on the YouTubes! <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDLGfeoOwJ8&t=164" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDLGfeoOwJ8&t=164</a>
Those guys seem pretty clued in.
As usual Mat, you've taken something I don't care about and made it interesting. In fact, there's your title: "Crap you don't care about, made interesting"
I like the way 'Cambridge Audio' has been rebranded to plain old 'Cambridge'. A bit like when they removed the 'Farm' from 'Emmerdale'... :)
Or Lakeland Plastics becoming Lakeland - although that made it more easy to confuse with the clothing store.
I was expecting you to add a phono splitter to the output from the turntable, eliminating the need to remove the unit at all if you change cartridges. Are these basic splitters known to add noise?
I wouldn't imagine they would - at the moment it's unlikely I'd put the old head shell back on, but if I ever do, I'll add in the splitter.
"Gold' Cart' 'Ligns 'bridge"
You've lost me there - way too clever for me.
I like the upside down text on the new pre-amp, so you can read it when you're standing over it. Touches like that are a good hint someone actually thought about what they were designing.
“Really useful guide to changing cartridge and pre-amp.” probably too long. Enjoyed the vid Mat - I have basic Pro-ject set up (which I am happy with) and now I’ve got an itch to upgrade it.
I can't watch this til this evening, but I'm sure it'll help people, as I had to get the chap from the Hi-Fi round to swap mine, with all those confusing coloured leads coming off it.
"Man Installs Cartridge: You won't believe what happens next!" (Total click-bait trash)
I'd need to add a big red arrow in the thumbnail too.
Being boring but informative how about: “how to mount a turntable cartridge”. I often search for how to videos before doing something like this. Doing this I have discovered a few interesting channels after initially searching to resolve a problem
That’s a good idea. Do you think there’s enough in here to qualify as a how-to video. I mean I show how to do it, but it’s also over in a flash.
"Moving Magnet Madness" lol.
"Vinal Videol"? (Viral? Vinal? ) Geddit? Never mind, I'll get me coat...
Thanks for coming, we've still got some other candidates to see - but we'll be in touch soon to let you know the outcome.
Very good! I was thinking of getting that very pre-amp myself, but was under the impression that the volume control applied to the line output not just the headphones. Can you confirm whether it does or not, please? If that's not the case, you may have saved me from an expensive mistake! I am thinking of getting a Crown XLS1002 power amp which reviewers say benefits from a pre-amp with a volume control. Nice 'in between' video , Mat - thanks as always!
The volume dial is just for the headphone output - it doesn't affect the line out at the back.
Which album was that jazz track at the end from/
I think i was using Mingus Ah Um
"Getting it straight - upgrading a turntable cartridge" - OK, not the product of an international branding team.
I might be able to work with that - the only thing I have to think about is that it's probably not an upgrade in the true sense of the word. I wonder if side-grade is an acceptable phrase.
You will probably find that the new preamp uses more power when turned off, than the wall wart being plugged into the wall. The soft-poweron circuit uses standby power as well.
I turn the whole Hi-Fi off at the wall using a voice command to google home because there are three voltage converters in use when it's on. However the specs for the pre-amp state that standby is <0.5w The old Project pre-amp just stated Power Consumption as 18 V /85 mA - there was no standby mode.
It's a heck of a long time since I last watched (or probably read in a magazine) something about turntable cartridges and styluses (style?), but this was interesting. Cambridge audio kit is so nice, I love the thoughtful placing of the socket id's upside down so you can read them while peering from behind.
Yes I agree that's a nice touch - they seem to do it on all their equipment. For me they've hit a fair price point with good quality equipment. They've just launched a new turntable too - although that's £1500.
Glad you managed get your sound how you wanted it. Sounds like your about the sort of budget level I would go for when I got my Rega MM preamp that was £200 couldn’t justify anything more. But somehow I managed to justify what is a £800 turntable lol.
Yes I think we must see value the same way - a turntable looks like it *should* cost more than a small box with one button.
"A 'stylus' new cartridge." Play on words of 'stylus', y'see. I'll get me coat...
It's very close to being quite good.
How about " Upgrading a turntable cartridge and " no, I'm really stumped on a good title... It must be hard having to think of a good title for your videos. Umm... yeah...
It's difficult getting the subject across in a few words with enough interest to attract a viewer. Then again with this one, it's probably best if I just keep it factual as it's not the most exciting video ever.
Mat do you remember The Goodies and 'The Inbetweenies' record? I have it! <a href="https://youtu.be/eBCHjBqjzik" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/eBCHjBqjzik</a>
I have vague memories of it - but heard it again recently coinciding with the release of the DVD box set. I'm waiting for that to come down in price quite a bit before I pick it up.