Sploosh Bzzzdt

[pyoor_excuse]

That's my plan for today.

Swimming, nip to Maplin for a new stilus and belt for the Rotel RP-1300 (which, frustratingly, isn't in Rotel's otherwise rather good list of manuals. I *think* it's fitted with a Garrard SP25 Mark 4 cartridge; I *think*. Unfortuantely, the Mk4 and Mk3 stylus appear to be (at least, photos look) almost indistinguishable. I'll take the old one (which is minus it's diamond) with me.

I've measured the circumference...approximately... it's difficult to do! The original belt had wandered off somewhere before I got it.... Which means, well, it's about 64 cm in circumference; which I make about 20cm diameter. Which leaves me wondering if I should get the 195mm or the 210mm drive belt :-/

It's probably going to end up costing me more than the Maplin 30 quid turntable. Of course, Maplin are lacking in the whole... sense thing. Their page says "stylus cross reference chart" - but it ain't there; and the e-book doesn't have that bit scanned. Blah.

Comments

[jennyemily.livejournal.com]

When it comes to turntables, I've always been a big fan of the Stanton 500 cartridges, because whilst they're not the best, they are cheap and hard waring. Plus the needles cost around the £8 mark, and are available from anywhere. For a cheap but reliable turntable, my recommendation would have been a Soundlab DL-P1R fitted with a Stanton 500 cartridge. Secondhand they can be picked up relatively cheap, but I only just logged into LJ to read your posts on turntables :\

Maplin are a good source of the more exotic needles, and I guess taking the model number of the turntable with you is the best start, as generally the staff seem quite clued up. Failing that, a lot of specialist audio shops that deal in PA and broadcast equipment carry stocks of needles, though I'm guessing the turntable you have would neither be used for DJing nor broadcasting, so they probably wouldn't carry it's particular stylus.

It's also worth getting a couple of spares too at the same time. The needles do wear, and I generally replace the ones on my two turntables every six months, then keep the old ones in a box in case I pick up a damaged record from a charity shop that I want to listen to without killing a good needle. It means less hassle next time you go looking for a needle - remember, a worn or chipped stylus will damage the record it is playing!

Good luck with the hunt for parts.

[pyoor_excuse]

Much though I may not have liked it; I ended up buying a new cartridge (a Stanton 500 :) ); because it turns out it's not a Garrard cartridge that I had...

...so; having got it home I then spent an entertaining hour learning about setting up a record deck cartridge.

It seems to be 'okay'; however my lack of love for Lauren's stereo continues; I expect it's got a wonderfully flat and technically lovely response curve, but it sounds so *dull*. It's dull, dull, dull. Blah.

But I did pogo around the room to Altered Images, which was fun :)