New Amp

[Ray]

I need a new amp for my turntable. I've been rediscovering my record collection.
Unfortunately the amp is on it's way out.
The out-gassing has reduced, must have been dust, well some of it. There is a hum now and turning the volume knob makes a crackle sound thru the speakers.

Any suggestions on a good brand for a new amplifier? I was thinking there should be one out with a USB port by now.
Are there shops that stock these things or is it mostly found on-line?

[Craig]

Question is how much do you want to spend Ray?

You can spend a few hundred dollars for a reasonable quality solid state amp up to many many thousands of dollars for a valve pre-amp/amp combo.

Do you have a Hi-Fi shop near where you live?

That would be a good place to start.

[Bunyip]

The crackle could be as simple as a dirty pot, give it a squirt of CRC/WD40 and see if it goes away.

[Jeff D.]

There is a hum now and turning the volume knob makes a crackle sound thru the speakers.

I agree with Bunyip, a crackle in the volume switch sounds like a dirty pot. The hum, I dunno?

Any suggestions on a good brand for a new amplifier? I was thinking there should be one out with a USB port by now.
Are there shops that stock these things or is it mostly found on-line?

I haven't played around with turntables in a long long time, but I use to buy little 110volt preamps that'de boost the tunetable signal enough to drive a regular amp. Regular amp being one that would accept line level out like from a cassette deck, reciever, etc. Seemed like turntables didn't have much drive.

That usb idea is good, though. You could turn those vinyls into cd's before they get worn out.

on edit:

Here's the type pre-amps I was talking about, although a 12volt unit instead of 110v: http://www.proacousticsusa.com/produ...l.php?pId=8778

And here's a pre-amp with usb :http://www.proacousticsusa.com/produ....php?pId=15880

Obviously that assumes you have an acceptable amp already that accepts line level outs.

[Mel]

have you tried getting the old one fixed?
There's still plenty of people around who'll do this.

[Ray]

Seems like there are a lot around that do everything from enhance your digital experience of surround sound to making your friends all want to come over for movies and crystal clear linear lower and upper ranges. The on-line spiel that comes with some of these things is such spin.

Haven't found any yet like the one I've got which is just a tuner amp.

Do they still use valves in these things? I saw one variety on the net which had the valve-looking things as a feature on the outside.

[Bunyip]

Aldi had a USB turntable recently and JB had some too, is a service an option on the amp, if it's a good one just fix it, where is the hum, coming through the speakers or in the amp itself (loose laminations on a transformer will do it), old caps will cause hum when they are on the way out and it's a cheap and easy fix.
A lot of new amps employ valves as it is claimed they are cleaner than semiconductors but I suspect you would need instruments to measure the difference.
My NAD was purchased in 85 and is still very clean.

[Ray]

With the prices of new ones all over $400, a recondition of my old Hitachi is looking like the way to go.
A friend of mine got one of those new USB turntables. Unfortunately the quality of the sound coming out of the turntable was very poor, no weighting on the arm, very tinny sound. So yes, it could digitally record the records but the sound quality was low.

[Bunyip]

Thanks for that, I have looked at one for my vinyl collection, I never knew what the quality was like.
Is it possible that it needs to be enhanced (photoshop for audio?) before it is usable.

[Jeff D.]

Ray, this is what I use for my Amplification, currently: http://www.kustom.com/product_detail...ctID=152&Tab=3

It's not tube though.

I am happy with it. It's not pretty, nor does it fits well with an entertainment center, but it does amplify anything I've plugged into it well.

Have my Guitar amp, mics, computer, and stereo system, plugged into it currently.

[Shy Ted]

Is it possible that it needs to be enhanced (photoshop for audio?) before it is usable.

My blind mate has such software. Let me know if you want and I'll find out what it's called. Good for cleaning up noisy tracks.

[Ray]

I've found a place in Perth that fixes guitar amps etc that will look at my amp for $50 and give me a price to recondition it. If I decide to get it done, the $50 comes off the cost.
Guy there reckons that there isn't much around new these days that will amplify a turntable properly and getting mine recond may be the best and cheapest answer for my situation.
Been listening to Warren Zevon Excitable Boy and Yes, Close to the Edge today.
Close to the Edge always reminds me of a hippy commune I visted up near Armidale NSW in 1975 when I was about 16. Heady daze .