All Things Vinyl, February 25, 2009

by Oliver Amnuayphol

This week, a little o' this, a little o' that. Looking for a good resource for all your vinyl/turntable basics and tools and don't wanna shell out too much coin? Then be sure to check out the aptly named turntablebasics.com, a web merchant slangin' various vinyl wares that includes everything from set-up/alignment tools to phono preamps and record sleeves. Yours truly bought the $20, universal, mirrored cartridge alignment protractor way back in the day as a reasonably priced and effective cart-align tool and still loan it out to friends who want a simple set up tool. Easy to use, versatile, and stupid cheap--What's not to like?

If you're looking for a low cost upgrade for your licorice pizza spinner, peep the products from SRM Tech, a small, UK-based outfit specializing in analog upgrade/tune up kits, power supply upgrades, record cleaning accessories and various other sundries. Upgrade kits for certain Thorens, Regas and Linns are on offer, including what looks to be one mighty fine upgrade kit for the Sondek LP12, the Ultimate LP12 Enhancement kit with Silent Base. I haven't gotten a chance to hear one yet, but I'm trying to get my mitts on an older stock LP12 n' SRM kit as I write. With any luck, I'll have the results to report on in a future installment.

And how about some more analog luvin' the YouTube way? Check out this sweet video documentary of the Audiophile Club of Athens and feast your eyes on some killer vinyl-spinning rigs. Since this isn't strictly a 'table/analog video, you can also visually ogle some pretty boss systems. Enjoy!

Comments

[Oliver Amnuayphol]

Thanks for the offer Gregg; I'm actually trying to borrow one as I already own a Linn LP12/Aro/Armageddon combo and was interested in doing a comparison. But thanks for the offer!

[Gregg Plummer]

Oliver -

I have a stock Linn Sondek LP12 I might be willing to part with.