Lenco - L30 Turntable : A new low.
After the HD-VMD video was finally completed you might have seen me mention that my next couple of videos would need to be far simpler so I could get back on track. This is one of those simple videos. It’s a review of a budget MMC record player.
Sometimes in the past these by-the-numbers, matter-of-fact reviews have proved surprisingly popular. It’ll be interesting to see what happens this time…likely quite a bit more interesting than the video itself.
Unless there’s a horrendous issue with this one - I don’t plan on doing a re-edit as I need to get right on with the next one and my week is running out.
P.S - I also made a really short extra video, but it’s so odd and irrelevant I don’t know whether to publish it on the channel. Here it is https://youtu.be/LwhaN6_aPiA - The thing I’m most happy with about this though is figuring out a name I can use to differentiate any short videos. You’ll see it in brackets in the title. Also, let me know what you think about the video - is it worth putting out?
No matter what you're doing, I hope you enjoy the rest of the week.
Comments (78)
Aw bummer, I missed the bonus video, it's removed now :(
You can find it here now - I'll update the link https://youtu.be/LwhaN6_aPiA
Those AT3600 carts really do produce solid results, even on basic turntables. If I remember right, Rega use the same cart, rebadged on some of their £200-300 turntables. It's a winner at this price.
❤️d the PAC-Moan video. I never followed the shows of the mid to late 70s like 11,529,454 £ 👨🏼. I was born in 75 is prob why. We never had really good reception or cable tv either so it was Dr Who, Star Trek TOS, or MASH reruns to watch. Looks like I’ve got some catching up to do 😂.
Anyone else not getting notification from Patreon about these posts? I seem to be getting like one in four... Didn't know about this video until it came up on YT. Great stuff, btw, Matt.
I didn't get a Patreon notification on today's post. My email notified me
I think the Tech Moanment (great name btw) is a delightful bit. Put it up and see what happens. The main vid is good. I’m not a record guy- but I still found it interesting. The final shot I found really well staged. The color of the record balanced perfectly with the red in the speakers and all the white. Very nice.
Thanks - I’ll put both videos out on Saturday and we’ll see what happens.
Landfill.
I was a little skeptical at first, however it would be a good starter turntable for a teenager. I have had a Technics SL-Q33 for years. Now it has a new cartridge.
The audio sound kind of funny for me on my mobile in your voiceover around the 18 minute mark when you talk about recording audio over USB
Yes it accidentally got recorded on the camera mic instead of the lavalier. Since it was still clear and only for a few seconds it didn’t seem to be an issue.
You do get a bit of bang for your buck there, although I'd question the long term quality of this unit. If you only play a record every second week or so, I guess it will do. Being a professional musician/audio engineer, I'd go for a more high end turn table, like this Audio Technica at around 400 pounds: https://www.thomann.de/se/audio_technica_at_lp140xp_black.htm This is a good review! All price ranges serve their purposes, and your warnings about the sister model at a tenner more are quite adequate; that sort of booming inside the plastic body will make noone happy. Good job! :-)
I feel terrible asking this, but im a complete noob when it comes to vinyls…what exactly is “wow and flutter”, and what was the tool you used to measure(?) doing exactly?!
In the most basic terms - a detrimental wow and flutter is when the music is not playing at the correct speed or fluctuating speeds. One of the very worst examples of this is demonstrated in this video: https://youtu.be/1Cq-rkr_taU EDITED: CBits explains better than I did. I jumped to solutioning instead of the underlying problem. 😅
Apparently short videos are a thing now. Why people don't have more than 3 min of attention I don't know.
It looks nice. Especially the dust cover. I bought my parents a similar turntable for chirstmas last year. From Voksun (https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B081N2NK2F/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1&tag=bckspc06-21) My main focus when buying was an MM cartridge, it uses the same as the L-30, and the tonearm was much better qulity. But it came without an dustcover, so I had to make my own. Also the counterwight didn't have a proper fixation, so I had to mod that, too. I made a video about my modifications of the Voksun turntable, if someone is interested in it: https://youtu.be/qoTRcTUu2vY (video in german)
I’ve digitized a few records for radio programs I’ve worked on, but I’ve always used a separate usb device for it. I assume this one supports 44.1/16/Stereo.
Oh man, I totally feel you with the tone arm pressure increasing each time just after you announced it as the final weight. Been there and done that (with other things). I had a good laugh (at the situation) and I needed it today.
I agree with you about the mock-counterweight. Purely-for-show elements like that are the comb-overs of the design world. It's obvious and undignified and unnecessary. It'd look much better without the fakery.
Oh, and regarding the Pac-Man noise, there's something very similar going on here with the Nestene Consciousness in Doctor Who, 1971! https://youtu.be/vXrAK6sUZ_0
Imagine my face dropping today, as I ventured into our bin store, and saw one of the other flats had clearly just bought this... https://ibb.co/QHRb9nS
At least the cost-cutting is obvious and doesn't have an impact on the sound quality. Although it can't cost much extra for the designers of the mechanism to engineer it for humans to use. The ergonomics look horrendous.
Well as far as the fakery goes with the counter weight... I have a 2021 Audi SQ5 and the "exhaust tips" on the back of the vehicle are just plastic look-a-likes. It seems that marketing is completely mad now when functional parts of a product are faked.
I was going to compare it to fake exhausts and air inlets - but I’ve learned that you can’t talk about cars when there are people around.
I'm into that short video Mat mate. I love sound effects and have a short attention span, so that's boss for me.
Ooh, I just noticed your watermark... nice... how long have I missed that?
It's been there a few years - but it is very subtle, so much so that I'm not sure it really performs any function.
Really enjoyed this, yes, it has a fair few faults, but at the end of the day, for someone who is new to vinyl.... good starting point.
Before I look at the other comments to see if I'm the first one to bring it up, let me propose "Techmoan Quickspin" for a short video. Because your intro video has a spinning logo that you could just abbreviate to an even shorter intro by speeding it up and... Well I guess you probably know what I mean.
Well it's an idea - I think perhaps it might work more if I did car reviews, but I can see where you're coming from too.
Are there maybe other holes in the buttom of the player covered by rubber? Maybe there is an adjustment for the point the player stops at the end of the record? Speaking of turntables: Have you ever made a video about tangential record players? I'm not sure if there is enough to say about them to fill a video but some models aren't that expensive on the used market. It's also quite interesting how some players like the ones from Revox adjust the movement of the tonearm.
Is tangential the same as linear tracking ? - if so I’ve shown a few of those.
An enjoyable and well done review, as we would expect coming from you. I certainly want my next turntable to play underwater. But sometimes simpler is better, and this may be just the thing in that case. As far as Matt's Shorts... well, I don't want to see them, but a brief video from time to time is OK...
And I do think that there is a screw or something that sets the auto-cutoff. Obviously it is not where the user could easily adjust it. So they need to take better care in setting it, or else they will get returns. Everyone likes to see Sina's Shorts, but no one wants to see Matt's Shorts...
I like the TechMoanment, but I also enjoyed the cheese sandwich videos. Are TechMoanments going to replace them or is it another, even shorter thing? ;-)
This record player review would have qualified as a cheese sandwich video - but I was never able to properly explain the concept - and people from the US thought it was a ‘grilled cheese’ so after years of trying I decided to drop it. But yes the videos still remain but without the logo.
I love the name "TechMoanment"!
This is a great review, as always, and it does raise some interesting questions about the value proposition of Hi Fi equipment. This Lenco clearly sounds just fine - in a blind test, I doubt I could tell it apart from a more expensive one. OK, it's not as well featured as some turntables and the ergonomics of use aren't great, but what price a well-placed cue lever? As well as enjoying your excellent presentation as always, this review does leave me wondering how much of the high-end hi-fi experience is in the mind rather than the ears.
I’ve been thinking about this topic recently as I want to show something that is around a 30th the price of something else but effectively does the same job and just as well - and they’re pretty much indistinguishable from one another. It’s an interesting topic.
The short video was great. In the past I noticed you have done subset "picture-in-picture" videos while the outtro music played - this short seems like a good place for that; on the other hand, if people don't watch the outtro they will miss it and you won't get extra revenue for it, either. I wouldn't discount making the short observational videos altogether - it's a matter of finding the appropriate presentational context and I'm drawing a blank... As for the record player, I have had a bargain Audio Technica LP60 automatic for several years and it has served me well. I just wish I could get my Technics SL 220 speed problems resolved - I think it's a motor problem. Have a wonderful evening; and thanks for the unexpected updates today!
Those outro sections can work - but I feel they need to be connected to the main video that they trail for it to flow. I'm still trying to figure out what to do with this extra video. But at least you get to see it all here on Patreon where it's easier to explain things.
Mat, first thank you for rejecting shorts as well as 9:16 as an aspect ratio. The more of us who take a stand, the less chance of a 9;16 feature film being made. Does Texhmoan have an Instagram? I have my serious doubts about social media conversion from one platform to another, but you have a great deal of content going back years and Instagram videos (in your proper aspect ratio) - you could do one minute (or longer) “teases” of older videos and the new TechMoanments. It really comes down to time and personal bandwidth, but it might drive more people to your YouTube channel which then or course brings people to Patreon. Alternatively, make TechMoanments an exclusive new perk for those who join the Patreon! Back when I first joined (and now I’m a lifer) if I saw I would get the Oddcast AND these new shorter videos too, I’d jump at it! Bottom line: both videos are great. Any TechMoan video is great to have, but if it can be a low effort way to use shorter form content to bring in new viewers, it might be worth a little test! Not YouTube Lens. You also would do very well on TikTok believe it or not! The algorithm there is quite amazing and scary and it figures out what to push to you that would be to your interests. That’s extra work and time is precious. I worry you’d end up growing a TikTok following that will not come close to matching the revenue made from YouTube. Instagram - I’ve seen success pushing my Patreon to my fan base to my Patreon. With your existing fan base, I think it might be worth a try?
I've never really got into social media. I just don't think I'm social enough to make it worthwhile for anyone following. I'm also always in fear of saying that one thing in complete innocence that causes an outrage and cancellation. That's why I got off twitter. I could see where things were going and I didn't want to be part of it any more. I stick to YouTube where I can control the message. Patreon gives me that buffer of having another set of eyes look at eveything, so that hopefully someone would point out that the word 'capacitor' is the worst possible slur to a Ukranian before I publish the video. So yes I'm steering clear of TikTok etc as I just don't understand anything about them. . Yes I do like the idea of posting any short extras exclusively here on Patreon. The only issue is that I can't promise that there will be a regular supply of new ones. It's just as and when something crops up. Which isn't too often. You may be a bit annoyed though that I thought I'd try to re-edit the short video so it fits into the Youtube Short criteria. I'm intrigued as to how this shows on the channel. I thought it might be a way to separate out the video into a category that would only be found by people expecting a short, so therefore they wouldn't be annoyed or upset by finding an unwanted 60 second video in their usual subscriber feed. I managed to do it - but I don't think it gets separated out in the way I hoped. It seems now like those people would be even more annoyed, as not only do they get a short video, but now it's vertical as well to really wind them up. Here's a link if you're interested. But yes I'm as repulsed by vertical-video as yourself. https://youtu.be/0cUBDp-n43M
I did enjoy the Techmoanment and can see that you've gotten past your fears of the sight of robots with their faces removed. TBH I would have had the same reaction if I had been a little kid when I first saw those scenes. I don't see a need for a second channel to show off 1-minute quickie videos, but if you do happen to find interesting tidbits that you want to share as you did with the Techmoanment video, and if they're not too much time or effort to produce, I think it would be cool to see them whether on Patreon only or included with your usual videos. You could even call them "hors d'oeuvre" in keeping with the food theme as with the "cheese sandwich" videos.
Yeah, as a short that probably might work very well. IMHO cut out the part were the robot faces the viewer eye to eye. For the first time. It's scary and it's right in the middle. A viewer starts thinking. At least I did. That distracts. But at the end, IMHO, no problem, let the audience think. And you will be below 60 seconds. :)
I like TechMoanment, but perhaps it should be just TechMoment. I think it sounds similar enough already.
After watching that £89 record player video I then ended up getting into vinyl collecting I quit like it to be honest there's some cool design thay you just don't get with cds especially that Richard orten record thay you featured in this video So thanks matt
Yes, „Quickies“ are a good idea. How about calling them „Techmoanies“?
I must be a Spanish brand, it's an anagram for El Con :)
I love the short, it was funny and a great way to get a “taste” of a TechMoan video until the next one comes out. I vote to just drop it on your regular channel with either the current Moanments name or even just something simple like “short” or “tidbit” or really anything to differentiate it. And more videos like this would definitely be welcome, at least by me.
Great review. I got the lenco l85 as my secondary turntable and as you stated "for the price" its a good turntable though it has the dreaded red stylus. You can plug a usb drive into it and record direct to it. When i got a nad 533 even the wife noticed the difference. Know in your back catalogue you got the video about how you selected your main turntable. And Yes i agree with others release pacman i found it interesting to. Oh by way the lenco l85 suffers from a fault where the auto return kicks in where trying to play a record, if you get the fault on yours the trick is to turn the platter one turn anti clockwise
The shirt was funny. YouTube has some new Short form they’re doing to compete with TikTok might as well put it out under that.
Aren't those always vertical garbage videos? 🤔
Any ideas what the Lazy Town Theme Tune LP sounds like on this?
Always appreciate a new video! While these review videos aren’t my exact cup of tea (I prefer you looking at older interesting devices/formats), they can be fun. I also wonder if it’s time for a second channel, in a similar way to how LGR has ‘LGR Blurbs’ for short bits. Either way, keep it up!
I always like cheap turntable reviews! My ex-wife is still looking for one, so this does help! Me too, extra vote for 'Techmoanment'...
Thumbs up on the Techmoanment ( great name ) but I don't know enough about these second channel things to comment on that part
Wat a great little TechMoan Fun Fact video! (TechMoanment doesn't really stick... sorry)
That short video definitely seems like the sort of thing a second channel might be good for. For example, see LGR Blurbs for Clint's "lower effort" videos. You would be starting off with zero subscribers, it's true, but they can grow quickly if publicised. I think Linus Tech Tips once said that one of their side channels received the 100K Play Button before their first video was published...
It'd be a channel with zero subscribers and probably just the one video for the foreseeable future. I must be misunderstanding something as I hear this 'second channel' suggestion so often, but to me it sounds like the worst idea ever - I just don't get what the deal is and why everyone thinks it's a great idea. Can anyone explain?
really liked the 'Techmoanment' definitely worth publishing
Thanks Matt. Hope you have a great rest of week. The short video was interesting/entertaining as well. Maybe a second channel called Techmoanment for these.
I've never understood how a second channel would work.As far as I understand it i'd be starting a new channel with Zero subscribers. Doesn't sound like the ideal way to get eyes on a video. Perhaps I'm not understanding it though.
Based on the video title, I expected that record player to absolutely suck! I am pleasantly surprised.
Matt, you should definitely put that short video out. Fascinating stuff.
Yep, if was vertical and less than 60 seconds it could be a YouTube short. There's a fund to pay for successful Shorts too. In any case, publish it. Can't hurt.
I've been reading and watching about shorts and the concept just doesn't appeal.
publish this as a short and you might appease the almighty algorithm! fun video
I've just watched a few videos about shorts and I think I'd better leave that kind of stuff to the kids. I'm out of my depth.
Might be worth making it a vertical #Shorts video
I've just watched a few videos about shorts and how they work and they sound terrible. I think I'm too old for this ****.
hahah.. That's quite a short video (the Pacman one), but certainly does make one think.
Definitely worth publishing the ‘TechMoan-ment’! Lovely piece of retro tech trivia that’ll delight retro-tech geeks everywhere!
Hah, I was going to suggest "TechMoanment" before I clicked the short video.
I loved the Techmoanment- publish this discovery before someone else takes credit!
The short vid is good, I think you should put it out.
I like the short video