Contents: 3:08 Replacing/upgrading the belt 6:49 Replacing the stylus ("needle") 8:03 First test after repairs (with an important tip) 8:59 Cheap source for genuine Audio-Technica stylus 10:03 Beginner's mistakes 13:06 DIY tonearm clamp 14:35 Checking the speed 18:42 Adjusting the speed 22:14 78 RPM modification 24:23 Elliptical stylus upgrades 28:46 Measuring the tracking force properly (a refresher) 29:22 Modification to disable auto-return mechanism 31:26 Tonearm adjustments you probably shouldn't mess with 31:55 But will it damage my records?
After hearing you mention how the vinyl Reddit community hates you, I had to check it for myself. I am amazed at the way people speak about your opinions and reviews of various aspects of vinyl enthusiast life and so eagerly fit themselves in to this stereotype that we all see of these self-professed audiophiles of being snobbish and pretentious. I, for one, want to THANK YOU for the time and care you put into making these informative videos for guys like me who are young enough to not be intrinsically knowledgeable of vinyl as an everyday music medium but also very interested to learn along the way of starting this hobby. I have so much to say, but for now I just want to pat you on the back and send my gratitude for the help you’ve provided me alone through your videos. Don’t change a thing, man!
@@KevinJDildonik Perfect being relative, of course. Reference and preference don't always match. I personally tend to think that music sounds best played back from the medium it was originally mixed to. LP rips to digital are terrible, modern music on vinyl doesn't impress compared to digital. In the end its in listeners ear, as long as you like it who cares what others think? As for the price aspect, used hifi is where the value is at. I had a choice between AT-LP60 for €150 and Dual 505-4 with new belt and dust cover for €230. Guess which one I went with.
Some people trash talk these things, but honestly they're pretty damn good for what they cost. They feel kind of cheap, but they work and sound just fine. It's a good "middle of the road" turntable; a lot of people who are into records want something better than cheap junk, but aren't interested in spending a fortune on an ultra high end system.
The actual way you scratch is to replace the rubber mat with a felt mat or wax paper. But a belt drive turntables isn't very good for scratching. You should use a high torque direct drive turntable. But you'll also want a scratch mixer which new will probably be over $500. You can probably find a used Rane TTM 56 for about two or three hundred dollars.
@@ELECTROHAXZ I am honestly sure I could put you in a scenario where you have no knowledge, and look a fool yourself, due to your "stupidity". Just going to say though, "ignorance" may be a better word next time.
Anyone else watch all of VWestlife's videos simply because of the content - even when you don't own or know about any of the devices covered? Idk, the channel is just so relaxing and funny and interesting. Genuinely enjoy it! I have picked up a record player and some of my favorite vinyl's, but I'll be honest that I don't use the thing much. Still, very interesting.
You should check out "Techmoan" - for someone you can listen to about anything, and he has so much crazy old equipment, formats, etc - but at this point I even watch his dashcam videos , and I'm not in the market for one, I just love the guy's channel, him, and many do - you likely have seen his channel, he's covered stuff of all kinds for years, and was always great at doing videos, and super professional, and has only improved in every way, has some good partrons now, so he can get something like crazy sony stuff you'll never see and get it to work for one video, just so we can see this amazing stuff. Even if you only want to see videos on HiFi (and his is so cool, right up to the point of pointless without being, with a tefifon connected, etc., but sleek and silver and just...nice. I can stand to watch his stuff when I'm too impatient or have migraines etc, and can't be bothered with anything, people say it relaxes them - and he has a sense of humor, great dry British one.
I love the clip you threw in of Fremer talking about these turntables. You can just tell he hates to admit that these aren't bad 'tables at all. You can hear it in his voice.
Thank you for taking the time to explain all this information to us and debunking the rumors with actual examples and data. I think for 90% of people, these turn tables are all we really need.
Thank you vwestlife for a non biased review. I own the Bluetooth version of the LP60, and I love it. My parent’s high end table used an AT3600 cartridge way back in 1988, and it was flawless. I swear by them, and have only owned tables that use them. I’ve since inherited my parents record collection, and although their component system may be long gone, the vinyl sounds as good as it did all those years ago. 😊👍
That whole section about the 45 adaptor that begins with you explaining what it's for and ends with the Picard double face palm, you should break out that part of the video and post it as a second video, just so we can all link to it. That is truly awesome, a masterpiece of youtubing.
Wow, the elliptical stylus really made a huge difference... I thought that it was an "audiophile" trap... really improved the sound. Great vid, I'm sure i'll watch again for tips...
No, the audiophile trap is probably using the moving coil cartridge instead of the moving magnet cartridge - those moving coil cartridges cost a fortune and are an absolute pig to change the stylus on, and have no audible advantage over a moving magnet cartridge with a microline stylus attached. Where magnetic cartridges are concerned, the best sound will always be had from the microline stylus.
Excellent video. Just to add, for those who want to go 1 level higher, switch it to the phono line output and use an external pre amp, like the cheap, high quality, solid one like DJ ART...this is definitely better than the build in pre amp. The sound directly from a upgraded stylus, amplified by the better pre amp will give you better and cleaner sound quality, improved bass, staging etc. I just did that for my Denon DP29F...and with that, no need to spend more money on changing to a new turntable...
I remembered this video when I had to move and put all my TTs in storage. As an owner of one of these Hanpin full-autos-the Nexxtech LAB-1100, to be exact, sold by Radio Shack's The Source stores in Canada -the paperclip tonearm clip was a lifesaver. No longer did I have to worry about the tonearm getting knocked about the platter on the road!
18:42 I recommend getting an actual potentiometer adjustment tool for that (my father called them 'tuning wands'); basically they're a plastic screwdriver. They're non-conductive so the shorting problem won't be a problem.
@@NJRoadfan I've heard more than one tech refer to them as "twiddle sticks" And they're non-ferrous so that they won't interfere with the electromagnetic field of the adjustment pot that you're turning as well as being non-conductive.
You and Techmoan got me interested into turntables. I bought the Jensen JTA-230 a while back that you recommended and now just recently upgraded to a Audio Techinica AT-LP60 and have been loving it. Keep making great and informative content.
Connor M. I haven't played any 45s on it yet but it might have something to do with what he said in the video. If not I'm not too sure what could be wrong besides the 45 themselves. The only thing I wish the LP-60 had is pitch control
Watching from the UK. I love you attention to detail. Along with Techmoan and Dr cassette you are my far my favourite YT channel. Keep up the good work!
I bought my gf the Pioneer pl 990 here in Australia after watching you vids,opening the box,it looks real cheap and a thin platter and matt but once I played a record,I was very impressed by this table. I had it set up inbetween two cheap Wharfedale bookshelfs and they are connected to a Pioneer surround receiver which also has a cheap 10 inch active sub connected. The amazing thing there was no rumble with the turntable even with the sub at good levels. For a cheap belt turntable,it keeps it’s pitch very well. Thank you for the advice,my girlfriend can now play some new records she bought recently and her fav Adele.
Thank you for this very down-to-earth instructional video. I bought a AT-LP60XBT about a month ago mainly because it has Bluetooth connectivity. I started feeling a tad sorry for picking it up because I thought this turntable was too "restricted" in terms of features like tracking force / anti skid / speed adjustments. It also ticked me off to find out that the tonearm had no clamp - I did accidentally let it fall off and hit the turntable a couple times during assembly and transport and immediately thought this was it for the stock stylus. But I now have a brand new 4211-DE on the way thanks to your tips (I was looking for an original replacement at first), and in your other video (prior to this) I've learned that the tonearm has a decent anti-skip built in as well as an acceptable tracking force. So I'm happy.
How do you like the 4211-DE? I’ve had my turntable a month and a half and want to upgrade now but couldn’t get a good gauge from this video whether the 4211-DE or the LP Gear blue stylus was better
I bought the Audio Techinica AT-PL50 for $8 because the belt fell off. For a basic turntable is they are not too bad. Mine has the aluminum platter and the speed is very stable and fidelity is great. No wonder it has been in production for almost 25 years.
After 2 years, the only cons of Lp60 that i found is pitch/speed (but nothing major, well your video helps me with the settings/adjustment). Tracking force, anti skating & auto mechanism works fine. I'd upgraded to LP gear stylus & belt, it does improve the quality of the sound, like a lot for me. My tips is, pair this player with good amp, tuner & good speakers, and take good cleaning care of your records & stylus. Im still listening to this record player sometimes, eventho i now own SL 1200 mk4 & SL 1700 mk2. Just saying.. (Thanks for your video, really appreciate it, no longer have issue with pitch on my lp60)
THANK YOU! I’m trying to fix a kenwood kd-29r my dad bought in ‘92. I grew up with the thing and he just let me have it. It has sentimental value for me. This review/tutorial is the first thing I’ve found online that is positive, not pretentious and actually helps to fix these things instead of telling the audience to throw it away. I appreciate the work you put into this. I have just ordered a new rubber belt. Now I need to figure out how to fix the automatic return bit. Thanks again!!
Thanks for posting this video. My wife got me an ATLP60 in 2016 and I have been loving it! It's been running a bit fast recently but after watching this video I was able to fix it! I will keep this video as a reference for future turntable repairs. Keep up the good work!
I've been interested in analog medium (especially, cassettes) and been following your content for quite some time now, mostly because the way you deliver your content: great research, not biased or influenced by the thoughts or opinions from the "experts" from anywhere else... just really good, true and interesting content. And, because of this video, I'm now expanding my analog hobby to include vinyl and I just found a deal on an Aiwa PX-E850 (not the same as the one you demonstrated but 99.99999999999% similar). With all the tips you provided in several videos (incl. this one), I hope I can upgrade my setup, get the most of it and enjoy the content that I am herding from various people in my social circle. Please, do NEVER stop making this kind of content. Congrats and thanks a lot, Mr.! 😊 P.S.: That organ intermission 👌🏼😂❤
The felt platter mat on my LP-60 had a bump on one edge. The painted logo somehow draws it up in that spot. I've noticed this on other UA-camrs' videos playing their records. It creates a wobble especially with 45s. Flip it over to the all black side and it lays flat. I've thought about ironing it with wax paper but I think I'd rather just get a new mat rather than risk damaging the original. ...or just stick with the all black side. It's fine.
Cletus Hunnicutt Felt mats are ok, but i recommend to get a rubber, cork or a leather mat. I used the at lp 120s felt mat and it was so static that i bought a leather mat and i have been happy with it. Then everyone recommended to get a cork mat and tbh my leather mat feels good and puts a small punch to the bass. Cork is good too.
The clip of the kid with the 45 adapter made me laugh and then cry within seconds. Thank you. Two emotions I haven’t felt in a long time, especially so close together.
Same stylus and belt as my newish Sony ps-lx300usb turntable I got 5-6 months ago. Fine for my purposes and its good to know it has standard parts. Thanks for the vid!
I received this turntable (AT-LP60-USB) from my friend some time ago, and because of my stupidity (browsing r/vinyl like twice, I know now it's not worth going there) I was anxious about stuff, like if my records will get damaged, what about speed after sometime etc. This video helped get rid of it, and now I know what to do when something happens with it. Thank you!
This "model" could still be buyed new from several brands, I'd get a "Dual" one last year, new from amazon for 70€, to play my few early 90's bought records, and I'm satisfiyed with the results. Your video confirms it's a good buy for the money and the use.
I struggled a lot to find decent reviews of the audiotechnica at-lp60, but your videos have been a great resource! I always wanted to get into vinyl but was discouraged by the apparent steep price of entry according to enthusiasts. I recently found the aforementioned model (or maybe a slightly newer revision) brand new on clearance for $50-ish and wanted to hear how solid it'd be from a bang-for-your-buck, beginner's perspective. The other video debunking the misconceptions levied by audiophiles as well as this video detailing possible upgrades and common beginner errors have been very helpful for someone with absolutely 0 experience. I may find myself upgrading to a more expensive setup in the future but your vids have definitely calmed my nerves about dipping my toes in the water here.
16:11 "Make sure the printer prints it out at exactly the right size" Actually it doesn't really matter if the printer prints it too small or too big; the number of strobe squares is always the same per revolution no matter how big you print them. Unless you distort the aspect ratio of course.
it is absolutely true. Replacing your conical stylus with an elliptical stylus will improve the fidelity of your sound by at least 30% no matter what price range your turntable was. Crisper highs and deeper bass...just like magic. And why would you WANT to disable the auto return mechanism? And why would you want to play 78s on a high fidelity system? The records themselves are not high fidelity. I have a vintage portable from around 1965 to play 78 and 16 RPM records.
Not everyone can find a vintage portable for 78s. There's also the factor of convenience. Imagine just being able to put a 78 right on your regular turntable instead of having to pull the portable out every time.
Thanks for putting these videos out! I didn't grow up with a turntable (my family wasn't fond of them and preferred tapes/CDs) so this is all new to me.
You offered some very valuable information. Thank you. I bought a Realistic linear turntable from Radio Shack 37 years ago, where I worked while going to school. Later, I purchased a very nice cartridge that sounded very good. I could hear the upgrade. I wanted to put that cartridge in my AT-LP60-USB, but I didn't think that was possible. You inspired me to simply replace the stylus. Duh! of course. I thought the cartridge made all the difference, but I sounds like just upgrading the stylus is all that is needed. If I recall correctly, the AT cartridge had a frequency response of 15-25k Hz. My stylus has a frequency response of 15-25K Hz? I can tell that the OEM AT cartridge in my new USB turntable doesn't sound very good. I didn't know that the stylus had a conical stylus. Again, I am grateful for this valuable information.
hey VWestlife... I have a Sony PS-LX63 (or something like that) which has a cartridge pretty much like the one this Aiwa has. I've noticed that on top of the cartridge shell there is a screw, which I believe is the one holding the cartridge in position. Looking for a replacement stylus for my turntable, I came across the Audio Technica cartridge you mentioned. And I also see it's got a plastic bracket for a 1/2 inch mount which is screwed to the cartridge pretty much in the same place as the one on my turntable is. My big question: Have you tried to see if the entire cartridge is replaceable by taking the mount off? Probably your Aiwa does not support cartridge replacement, but maybe you have a Sony around with which you could experiment. I'd like to restore my turntable (just got it) and replacing its 29-year old cart for a shiny new one as part of such project, but I'd hate spending money for a cartridge that I won't use.
You have a P-Mount turntable. Those use replaceable plug-in cartridges. These turntables are a more recent cost-optimized version that no longer allow the cartridge to be replaced (although obviously the stylus still can be replaced).
@@vwestlife Uh, no sir, it's not a P-Mount. I'm 100% sure of that because a P-Mount would be like a Shure M92E that I recently bought for my Numark Pro TT2, which comes with an adapter for a 1/2" mount. The adapter receives the cartridge, which you fix in place via a screw and nut which is, let's say, behind the cartridge, through the audio pins of the cartridge. The Sony cartridge I'm talking about uses the very same stylus that you show here. I even removed it following your instructions from this video. I then managed to remove the cartridge by removing the screw at the top of the shell (picture the cartridge being held in place by a single screw at the center of the shell's top instead of the regular 2 of a 1/2" mount),and the cartridge was kind of glued with something that looked like a drop of silicone or RTV to the shell itself. That proved my theory that the cartridge can be removed. I am almost sure that if I were to get one of those cheap AT3600L cartridges you suggest in this video, I can replace the one on my turntable by removing that 1/2 mount it has. Chances are that in the case of this Aiwa turntable of yours, the cartridge is glued to the shell just like my Sony, that is if no screw at the top of the shell is visible. EDIT: My turntable is a PS-LX63P. I missed the "P" when I mentioned its model.
My turntable is identical as the one in this video, just the model tag is different. Take a hard look at the shell and cartridge. You'll see the screw I'm talking about and you will recognize the stylus at first glance. ua-cam.com/video/JeNZQ1M0jnc/v-deo.html
Hey! Nice. I just got the 4211-DE and swapped out the default 3600l stylus, I also got the LP GEAR saved in Amazon wishlist. Thanks for making a simple video about some basic adjustments rather than pushing expensive gear.
I had difficulty telling any difference with the stylus upgrades. The stock actually sounded superior to the green, with the LP Gear being slightly better than both. Honestly, it could be my imagination.
To avoid shorting when making trim adjustments to the motor speed adjustment you can substitute a proper trimmer adjustment tool, which are insulated plastic or ceramic, to make the speed adjustment. That is the intended tool and they are insulated because they are often used to adjust the potentiometers and capacitor trimpots on live circuits (sometimes even very high voltage in the case old tube based gear). Trimmer tools come in a number of shapes and sizes, but in this instance you would want the flat/straight tools, though one may as well buy a small kit to keep on hand if they wish to tinker with adjusting their equipment themselves - though in general if one does not understand electronics they will want to limit their tinkering to only those adjustments that are very clearly labeled or per documented procedures. When printing the rom speed check discs it really should not matter if your printer scales the size up or down a bit so long as it scales equally on both the X and Y axes since it is the degrees of rotation between AC line frequency flickers that actually matters and not their precise size and the degrees between each tick mark will remain unchanged so long as you scale up or down equally on both axes.
That Aiwa was my first turntable! (Still have it, it’s down in the basement). Some years before I upgraded to Project Debut, I did some tweaks that helped it sound better: speed calibration, gluing weights to the platter to give it more rotating mass, cork mat, adjusting the tracking force from 3.83 grams down to 2.8g (which was not easy since spring loaded tone arms have no adjustment function. I had to glue coins to the back of the arm). That LP gear stylus was a considerable improvement over the stock one, wish I knew about it before I retired that turntable.
Thank you for this video, I recently bought an Audio Technica AT-LP60X as my first turntable and this was very informative. I'll be upgrading the stylus to an elliptical stylus soon!
Turntables are hard to come by where I live, but I bought this exact model a couple months ago. It's my very first turntable, it costed about $25 but for me it was worth it since it didn't need any kind of repair, just needed the speed adjusted. I would've loved this video when I bought it, it explains very well how to get it going, which I had to figure out myself from multiple sources. Excelent video regardless, I truly love your channel. I just bought a Technics SL-QD33 yesterday for like $8 and I'll see how it performs
I used to have the Aiwa turntable (in Black) new in 1995 when I was 7. Had it with an Aiwa hi Fiona, and always remember the only aux input on it was labled 'video' on the display! The video button was where we plugged the turntable in.
Great advice! Found a new in box Sony PS-LX250 at Goodwill a couple years ago which hadn't even been assembled yet. Great to have a good little turntable with a preamp built in, so you can play it through whatever.
I bought an ATLP60X as a second deck for testing second hand LPs, I'm putting it through the MM input on my Rega Aria phono stage and it sounds phenomenally good. It's testament to how fundamentally decent these turntables are that you can do something like this. If I was to pick out the biggest flaw, I'd say it's lacking some top-end sparkle that I suspect an elliptical stylus upgrade would resolve.
LP Gear has a real nice upgrade set with this elliptical diamond needle shown in this video and a belt upgrade. It’s $55 and it’s supposed to make a huge difference. I’m getting one for mine
I love the 80's era segues and really wish you would bring them back! Aside from being unintentionaly hilarious, it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside hearing that jingle.
This is my exact record player. I inherited it from my grandmother in 2007, and it has never failed not once. I’ve had nicer ones, but I always just sell them and return to this. Original belt and needle. I have it running through a good hifi and it has always sounded good. I’ve always said that when it kicks it I’ll get a nice one, but it just keeps working perfectly. If it wasn’t for this player I wouldn’t have the collection I do now as I started buying right before the vinyl boom.
Mine is good also. But if you're running the original needle, wow man lol. Unless you barely use it I guess. But I noticed mine will skate sometimes when the needle is worn, a new one fixes it.
@@wrnchhead76 I actually upgraded it to the yellow stylus now, but I can bargain tell a difference. I’ve always been really careful with cleaning and dusting records though
Wonderful, comprehensive hi fi turntable demonstration video. I'm glad I found the correct way of replacing a stylus on an Audio Technica MM cartridge; thank you. Furthermore, I don't think I'd want to disable auto return on any turntable; in my case a semi-automatic. I want auto return enabled.
I love your content, the list of reasons why us endless, just classic electronics, taking stuff apart and debunking some stuff, like this, also I saw your recent comment on fran's video, we share common interests eh? :)
I'd really want to thank you for showing the speed adjustment thing. I couldn't figure out how to adjust that because i didn't see any screws inside the 33/45rpm holes. Didn't know i was supposed to go through the gasket with the screwdriver. It took a while to set the correct speed, my at-lp60 usb was spinning 34,5/46 rpm at the beginning (i used the app to check that out). Now i was able to set it down to 33,5/45,3 rpm and it made a huge difference. Records sounds now way more accurate than it used to.
I bought this model of turntable for a project to upcycle an Edwardian mahogany inlaid HMV gramophone cabinet that had been cut down / stripped out probably 50 years ago for a bedside table probably and had seen better days. This was more of project to test out my French polishing / carpentry skills before attempting more valuable furniture. The Awia / AT turntable were the only ones that fitted within the cabinet’s width. These are very cheap turntables second hand and I was most sceptical about it, but it performed well with the active loud speakers I used for the gramophone cabinet project so yesterday I connected it up to my main hi-fi comparing with a Rega planar 3 which has a Quad amp , B&W speakers and was surprised at how well it sounded compared to the Rega. I’m running a Rega Carbon on the RP3 which of course I now realise is the same AT 3600 as the Awia with a different mount. I only paid £25 for the Rega Carbon so it’s a cheap cartridge but it amazing it’s ‘Only’ a AT 3600 at heart. But why spend 10 times more ?
That 45 adapter part made me laugh. Because its true. I seen people use on top of a record like one of those record clamps/ weight. My good friend has the same Aiwa turntable. He bought the all in one unit back in 1999 maybe 2000. He still uses it a lot. I have the Sony turntable I bought for my bedroom back in 2009. I recently updated the belt and replaced the needle. The new belt has more torque. The original belt kept slipping once in a while after around the 4th or 5th year of owning it. Love your vids. Keep up the good work.
I thought the phone input on my flea market receiver was broken so I was playing my turntable through the CD input. I totally forgot to turn off my built in preamp!
Just bought myself a second hand Pioneer PL-990 to fit into my 90's era Pioneer stack project (complete with LaserDisc player on the bottom). This was mostly inspired by your previous videos on the subject. Good step up on my cheap n' nasty GPO Memphis which has been in use far longer than I intended. If I'd listened to the snobs I would've had to keep using it while saving up something "acceptable". Sure tables like the ones in this video aren't anything fancy but they are a good place to start/move up to if you know you're serious about amassing a collection without breaking the bank. Will maybe try that LPGear elliptical stylus when my existing one wears down. Love these videos, keep 'em coming!
I once converted an old BSR to use a magnetic head. I had to use a spring on the back end of the tone arm for balance to keep it from being too heavy. It's best to remove C-clips with pliers or at least tweezers so that you can hold it after you remove it. But be prepared for it to spring out. If a song on a record has a time on it you can time how long it takes to actually play the song. It's not exact but it can help point out if the song is playing too fast or too slow. It also helps to play a song you're very familiar with. I picked up a turntable for free that had the speed adjustment out of whack. Once I adjusted it properly it worked fine. You can find plastic screwdrivers for adjustments but I can't recall where I got mine. There's no (properly working) modern turntable that will damage records. You can damage records if you play a modern record on a 70 year old turntable because they're designed to put weight on the record and were never made for modern records. You can often spot these old turntables by the 78 speed and the flippable needle.
I upgraded the stylus on my three Numark TTUSB turntables from the stock “Groove Tool” to budget ones from Banpa which amazingly improved the sound. I also soldered a remote start wire to connect to my mixer. Worked like a charm. Generally these budget turntables always spin one step too fast and yes pitching between CDs and MP3s can have pitch issues.
Great comprehensive video. Not just for these turntables. Also some generally useable tips. Thanks! And about snobbish haters: The hifi hobby is for everyone. Whether you have a small or a big budget. It's about the gear you can afford and get the best out of that. That's where the fun is. Tinkering to improve your system. It may even be more fun to have a small budget and having to be creative. It's easy to get a great sound if you have lots of money to spend, but getting a low budget system to sing and dance gives you a lot more satisfaction. And in the end it's about enjoying the music.
Great video as always! Inspired me to bust out my old trusty pslx300 to attempt adjusting it for 78rpm. Sadly mine didn't go as high, I suspect living in a 50hz country is the cause. Really enjoyable otherwise and that lp-gear at3600 seems pretty great for the price of a record these days. Keep up with the great vids!
Thank you for this video VWestlife, I bought a used LP60 and from watching this video, figured out that the stylus is busted. I'm going to return it to because it wasn't that great of a used deal and buying a new stylus would bring me back up to new price. Watching your videos has brought me up to speed really quickly on record players, so thanks again!
I'd never checked out Reddit before today, even though I've heard of it. I found that discussion thread about your older video. Those "experts" really pile on, don't they? I like your videos. I even watch your keyboard videos even though I'm not really a "keyboard" guy. Here's another thing I've never done that you mention quite often: I've never been to a dollar store!
Thank you so much for this video! It is such a solution jewel 💎 for a beginner audiophiles! I have bought a Sony lx300usb turntable for 80$ from my buddy who is moving, and it turnes out it has some things to improve that my friends haven’t noticed in 3 years of owning it 😝 1) Rpm is 34.6 instead of 33.33 and I’m kinda scared to get a wrong screwdriver or mess it up🪛 2) The tonearm mechanism is a bit off “falling” down to the record 3) Stock needle is dusty and I guess it needs to be replaced too 4) Belt is kinda ok but you’ve recommend to replace it too I’m really wondering should I maybe return it & get the brand new audio technica lp60xusb instead, since it will cost me a bit of money to get all this replaced (equal to the lp60 maybe? 😂 ). If anyone will be kind enough to give advice to a newbie, this would be awesome.
Hello, writing this just to thank you for this video. I used your trick to correct the speed of my Pro-Ject Automat A1 that was playing about 2% too fast! Have a nice week ✌️
Even though youtube you can hear a clear difference in the stylus... wow!!! I must get one of these upgrades to try in person. Thank you for the awesome tips!
16:12 Size doesn't matter since it is measuring angular velocity so abolute size doesn't matter as long as the proportions are correct and it is well centerd
I own that aiwa, I made some mods to the preamp, I replaced the op amp and remove some filters, the high pass filter because my amp do its own filtering of signals below 20hz and it's already DC protected in its inputs and I removed some filter that aiwa put there to reduce radio interference for people living near a radio station antenna. I also calculated the RIAA response and replace two resistor with 2 pair of resistor in series to get the value more closer to calculations and now the curve is more accurate. I glued two pennies as counter weight to get 3.5g. I also put an on/off switch in the 110/220 hole because I'm paranoid and the preamp is always on. I replace the transformer because the original was vibrating and making a 60hz hum (the reason for an on/off switch in the first place). The mods really improve the sound especially the removal of the filters because the filters used electrolytic capacitors in the signal path that degraded the sound quality.
IMO, even if the Crosley Cruiser (& clones) doesn't actually damage the records, I still think that it makes a bad first impression (of vinyl). Mainly do to the fact that it sounds like crap. I mean, if I knew of someone who wanted to get into the hobby, I'd be more likely to steer them towards a setup similar to that shown. In other words, to show them that vinyl is far more capable, sound-quality-wise.
It's basically about using a turntable and amp (or at least amplified speakers) instead of a record player. Record players have never been known for their sound quality.
I just picked up an Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT-USB-BK as an additional TT to my old Hitachi. While the Hitachi works wonderfully, I wanted a more "plug and play" TT to play through my 4K home theater which involves my high-end 4K PC. This was more of an impulse purchase, but I am pleased with the sound produced by the AT TT. That being said, one of the things I DO NOT like about this particular AT TT is that there is NO tone-arm clamp. Luckily you shared that neat clip trick! I feel a little more confident now while using this TT knowing I likely won't experience the dreaded tone-arm "bounce" when placing an album on this unit. Small thing to some, big thing to others I guess ---- thanks for sharing that neat little trick!
Very good information. Did you have an opinion as to which elliptical cartridge sounded better? Or did they sound exactly the same? I'm sure they both outperformed the conical stylus.
When you played each stylus, white, green, blue, I initially assumed that I would not hear a difference. When the narrator started speaking and the green stylus was on the machine I clearly heard the music well under the voice level and the same but perhaps more clearly with the blue stylus. I had to go back and listen to the white stylus again. Sure, it was there but not as noticeable to me as with the elliptical stylus. Its subtle enough that I am not sure if it's some kind of induced mental perception like hearing the car wiper blades seem to be repeating "no more" over and over or a real objective difference. It was an interesting comparison and for a few more bucks I'd now go elliptical.
Although I have been using record players for my whole life, some young people that never had a player at home and are not accustomed to them have asked me some of the stuff you depict. I found it very interesting and very informative and not only for those begginers, I learned some stuff too. These players may be the stepping stone to begin a collection. Not everyone can have top dollar stereo and these can show you how good or how incovenient a record player can be. A well balanced buget player hooked up to a decente stereo with nice speakers can deliver nice sound. My 13 y.o. son have a sony record player connected to a sony shelf stereo, with tape, cd, md(lp), rds tuner and bluetooth through an adapter. A nice set up for wery little money. I might upgrade the stylus to the blue one you showed. Only tips I would add i to lubricate both the hinges with a silicone based oil and the motor shaft with a syringe and synthetic motor oil (Just one drop to minimize the hum/background noise. The other is to place the player on a rectangular foam or sponge. this isoletes the player and the stylus from adjacent vibrations, dampening all of them and cancelling the Haas effect.
LP blue stylus sounded best on my end- then close second was white AT stylus- green one was distant 3rd- but curious what your ear witness account was Sir. Love this content- you are the best channel on vinyl that I have found- and I've looked a lot- Fran has some good stuff too- Thank you for educating me about the hobby and entertaining us as well :)
I have a Teac P-A688 turntable just like the Aiwa in the video.Even has the same rubber mat. It was also made in 1999.I've always used a small rubber band over the tone arm.Once you get it just past the rest there is a small plastic hook on the rest backside at the bottom of it. You can hook the rubber band there for transport.Only reason I know this is bought the turntable new in 1999 and when I set it up that's what they had there to secure the tone arm. I really liked this video a lot.Very informative with great tips on upgrading and adjustments. It helped me a lot! Well done man!
Incredibly helpful. I found an Optimus LAB-1100 for free on the side of the road and couldn't figure out why it was so quiet playing my records, now I know!!
I don't think printer scaling would be an issue with printing a strobe disc, would it? It would still be printing X number of lines in a circle. I guess maybe if you print it in a different aspect ratio and end up with an oval.
An excellent video. The first turntable I repaired was a Garrard, about 45 years ago. I haven't worked on a turntable in 20 years so this is a good refresher. Thankyou!
I have this turntable from Aiwa and I didn't realize that it has a preamp. I thought it was made that way and I bought it over a year ago. Now I know that the turntable is loud enough due to the preamp. Thank you very much.
Did you hear as much of the sound change as I did when you replaced that stylus with the elliptical one??? it was quite impressive, can't find them for those prices though on eBay or Amazon 😯
But if you did have a 16⅔ RPM record, that's exactly half of 33⅓ so you could play it at 33 into a recorder and then play the recording back at half speed.
Nicely done. These TTs aren't so bad, as long as your expectations aren't too high. ;) I was able to score one for $26 and it was practically brand new; the original owner returned it as defective -- "it won't power on." Surprise, surprise: the original owner never bothered to take the instruction manual out of the sealed plastic bag, and therefore had no idea that the belt needed to be installed in order for the turntable to work. Read the f'n manual, people! Will it replace my Technics direct drive? Absolutely not. Is it good enough for a small bookshelf system in the bedroom? For 26 bucks, you betcha.
Was that a vinyl 78? It sounded very clean. I saw this exact Aiwa turntable at a thrift store a while back for $7.99, I was tempted to pick it up but ended up passing on it. Not a bad starter though!
Thank you thank you - I was ready to pull my hair out trying to get my new turntable to keep spinning! Your tutorial did the trick, and along the way I learned how it works and how to tear into it confidently!
Yknow, it might just be the UA-cam compression interfering with things, but I couldn't really hear much difference between the conical and elliptical styli. And I actually sampled all three into Audacity and compared them on a technical level, and couldn't find more than the tiniest difference - like maybe half a decibel or slightly more at the highest frequencies, which is basically within the sampling noise (as I was selecting the sample ranges by hand), and with no obvious difference in the midrange. Which doesn't really make sense as I *know* that the needle shape should make a clear difference to the high frequency response, especially in the inner grooves of a 33rpm record... but, then again, it's quite reassuring that even the standard crappy stylus is managing to quite clearly return a strong signal upto and beyond 20kHz, even under those conditions, so if you're after ultrasound output from your vinyls, you'll definitely get it from an elliptical needle and 45s, or the outer grooves of a 33.
The integrated AT-3600L cartridge and its ATN-3600L conical stylus perform well above their pay grade. The stylus is NOT a "standard crappy stylus" though it is inexpensive. I had tried the Pfanstiel stylus from turntableneedles.com, and unfortunately while it sounded beautiful on most records it ended up mistracking on a few so I returned it for another ATN-3600L. This might have been an issue of not having my AT-LP60 perfectly level. I would like to try the LP Gear stylus; I have installed the LP Gear "SuperVivid" belt and noticed a very discernible improvement in speed accuracy and bass/dynamic quality, so their CF3600 stylus sounds interesting to me.
I have an ION Tape2PC cassette deck that is of a very common inexpensive design sold today, just like these turntables, and I do plan to do a video about it in the future.
@@vwestlife I'm looking forward to your tips for fixes and upgrades on the ION Tape2PC. It doesn't sound bad for a very plain deck and it is very easy to make good digital transfers via my desktop PC, but mine has one drive (the record side) which no longer goes into play mode as well as some speed fluctuation issues.
Great video! I always wondered if exists a way of adjustment or improvement to this type of turntables as always we see on the web audiophiles working on very expensive turntables, so Thanks a lot!
Contents:
3:08 Replacing/upgrading the belt
6:49 Replacing the stylus ("needle")
8:03 First test after repairs (with an important tip)
8:59 Cheap source for genuine Audio-Technica stylus
10:03 Beginner's mistakes
13:06 DIY tonearm clamp
14:35 Checking the speed
18:42 Adjusting the speed
22:14 78 RPM modification
24:23 Elliptical stylus upgrades
28:46 Measuring the tracking force properly (a refresher)
29:22 Modification to disable auto-return mechanism
31:26 Tonearm adjustments you probably shouldn't mess with
31:55 But will it damage my records?
the same as atlp50..denon29f..cs410 dual...
Nice tutorial. Thanks!
What LP gear stylus do you prefer for the Pioneer PL-990?
LP Gear Improved stylus for Pioneer PL-990.
Code: PTPL0990I
What is the record you play while demonstrating the different styli?
After hearing you mention how the vinyl Reddit community hates you, I had to check it for myself. I am amazed at the way people speak about your opinions and reviews of various aspects of vinyl enthusiast life and so eagerly fit themselves in to this stereotype that we all see of these self-professed audiophiles of being snobbish and pretentious.
I, for one, want to THANK YOU for the time and care you put into making these informative videos for guys like me who are young enough to not be intrinsically knowledgeable of vinyl as an everyday music medium but also very interested to learn along the way of starting this hobby.
I have so much to say, but for now I just want to pat you on the back and send my gratitude for the help you’ve provided me alone through your videos. Don’t change a thing, man!
Couldnt have said it better!
@@KevinJDildonik Perfect being relative, of course. Reference and preference don't always match. I personally tend to think that music sounds best played back from the medium it was originally mixed to. LP rips to digital are terrible, modern music on vinyl doesn't impress compared to digital. In the end its in listeners ear, as long as you like it who cares what others think?
As for the price aspect, used hifi is where the value is at. I had a choice between AT-LP60 for €150 and Dual 505-4 with new belt and dust cover for €230. Guess which one I went with.
is the same wen i join a analog camera group... if you not buy a laica or canon is shit...... i am tired of rich assholes
I mean, theyre wrong most the time
Anything that calls itself 'community' is cancer.
Some people trash talk these things, but honestly they're pretty damn good for what they cost. They feel kind of cheap, but they work and sound just fine. It's a good "middle of the road" turntable; a lot of people who are into records want something better than cheap junk, but aren't interested in spending a fortune on an ultra high end system.
That 45 Adapter part made me physically cringe. Regardless , excellent video
Yeah it was funny though, funny in the sense that you can laugh at their stupidity xD
The actual way you scratch is to replace the rubber mat with a felt mat or wax paper. But a belt drive turntables isn't very good for scratching.
You should use a high torque direct drive turntable. But you'll also want a scratch mixer which new will probably be over $500. You can probably find a used Rane TTM 56 for about two or three hundred dollars.
@@ELECTROHAXZ I am honestly sure I could put you in a scenario where you have no knowledge, and look a fool yourself, due to your "stupidity".
Just going to say though, "ignorance" may be a better word next time.
Heehee
LOL that's exactly why DJs use high-torque motors and felt slipmats - reduced friction! 🤣
Anyone else watch all of VWestlife's videos simply because of the content - even when you don't own or know about any of the devices covered? Idk, the channel is just so relaxing and funny and interesting. Genuinely enjoy it!
I have picked up a record player and some of my favorite vinyl's, but I'll be honest that I don't use the thing much. Still, very interesting.
FYI, they're called "records", not "vinyls".
I watch at least 3 or 4 vids of his every day
You should check out "Techmoan" - for someone you can listen to about anything, and he has so much crazy old equipment, formats, etc - but at this point I even watch his dashcam videos , and I'm not in the market for one, I just love the guy's channel, him, and many do - you likely have seen his channel, he's covered stuff of all kinds for years, and was always great at doing videos, and super professional, and has only improved in every way, has some good partrons now, so he can get something like crazy sony stuff you'll never see and get it to work for one video, just so we can see this amazing stuff. Even if you only want to see videos on HiFi (and his is so cool, right up to the point of pointless without being, with a tefifon connected, etc., but sleek and silver and just...nice. I can stand to watch his stuff when I'm too impatient or have migraines etc, and can't be bothered with anything, people say it relaxes them - and he has a sense of humor, great dry British one.
One of the few channels I trust advice wise, thanks for not selling snake oil!
_Organ Intermission_ was gold - hysterical! Mind you, I could watch him play all day!
Not gonna lie that organ intermission got me subscribed!
Florian doesn't read music sheets, but has much skills to play in Klaus Wunderlich Style
I love the clip you threw in of Fremer talking about these turntables. You can just tell he hates to admit that these aren't bad 'tables at all. You can hear it in his voice.
Thank you for taking the time to explain all this information to us and debunking the rumors with actual examples and data. I think for 90% of people, these turn tables are all we really need.
Thank you vwestlife for a non biased review. I own the Bluetooth version of the LP60, and I love it. My parent’s high end table used an AT3600 cartridge way back in 1988, and it was flawless. I swear by them, and have only owned tables that use them. I’ve since inherited my parents record collection, and although their component system may be long gone, the vinyl sounds as good as it did all those years ago. 😊👍
That whole section about the 45 adaptor that begins with you explaining what it's for and ends with the Picard double face palm, you should break out that part of the video and post it as a second video, just so we can all link to it. That is truly awesome, a masterpiece of youtubing.
Wow, the elliptical stylus really made a huge difference... I thought that it was an "audiophile" trap... really improved the sound. Great vid, I'm sure i'll watch again for tips...
Me too! I was amazed how easy it was to hear especially with that blue more expensive stylus. It sounded much better! Time to invest in one.
The conical still sounds great. The green and blue ones are phenomenal
No, the audiophile trap is probably using the moving coil cartridge instead of the moving magnet cartridge - those moving coil cartridges cost a fortune and are an absolute pig to change the stylus on, and have no audible advantage over a moving magnet cartridge with a microline stylus attached. Where magnetic cartridges are concerned, the best sound will always be had from the microline stylus.
Excellent video. Just to add, for those who want to go 1 level higher, switch it to the phono line output and use an external pre amp, like the cheap, high quality, solid one like DJ ART...this is definitely better than the build in pre amp. The sound directly from a upgraded stylus, amplified by the better pre amp will give you better and cleaner sound quality, improved bass, staging etc. I just did that for my Denon DP29F...and with that, no need to spend more money on changing to a new turntable...
I remembered this video when I had to move and put all my TTs in storage. As an owner of one of these Hanpin full-autos-the Nexxtech LAB-1100, to be exact, sold by Radio Shack's The Source stores in Canada -the paperclip tonearm clip was a lifesaver. No longer did I have to worry about the tonearm getting knocked about the platter on the road!
18:42 I recommend getting an actual potentiometer adjustment tool for that (my father called them 'tuning wands'); basically they're a plastic screwdriver. They're non-conductive so the shorting problem won't be a problem.
Also known as a "TV tuning tool".
@@NJRoadfan I've heard more than one tech refer to them as "twiddle sticks" And they're non-ferrous so that they won't interfere with the electromagnetic field of the adjustment pot that you're turning as well as being non-conductive.
You and Techmoan got me interested into turntables. I bought the Jensen JTA-230 a while back that you recommended and now just recently upgraded to a Audio Techinica AT-LP60 and have been loving it. Keep making great and informative content.
Same here. I'm mostly satisfied with it. Some of my 45 RPMs don't seem to sound too well though.
Connor M. I haven't played any 45s on it yet but it might have something to do with what he said in the video. If not I'm not too sure what could be wrong besides the 45 themselves. The only thing I wish the LP-60 had is pitch control
Sometimes a 45 rpm insert helps if the problem is the 45 record not sitting perfectly centered on the spindle.
Watching from the UK. I love you attention to detail. Along with Techmoan and Dr cassette you are my far my favourite YT channel. Keep up the good work!
I bought my gf the Pioneer pl 990 here in Australia after watching you vids,opening the box,it looks real cheap and a thin platter and matt but once I played a record,I was very impressed by this table.
I had it set up inbetween two cheap Wharfedale bookshelfs and they are connected to a Pioneer surround receiver which also has a cheap 10 inch active sub connected.
The amazing thing there was no rumble with the turntable even with the sub at good levels.
For a cheap belt turntable,it keeps it’s pitch very well.
Thank you for the advice,my girlfriend can now play some new records she bought recently and her fav Adele.
Do you have any suggestions for needle replacement? I’m having trouble finding some
Thank you for this very down-to-earth instructional video. I bought a AT-LP60XBT about a month ago mainly because it has Bluetooth connectivity. I started feeling a tad sorry for picking it up because I thought this turntable was too "restricted" in terms of features like tracking force / anti skid / speed adjustments.
It also ticked me off to find out that the tonearm had no clamp - I did accidentally let it fall off and hit the turntable a couple times during assembly and transport and immediately thought this was it for the stock stylus. But I now have a brand new 4211-DE on the way thanks to your tips (I was looking for an original replacement at first), and in your other video (prior to this) I've learned that the tonearm has a decent anti-skip built in as well as an acceptable tracking force. So I'm happy.
How do you like the 4211-DE? I’ve had my turntable a month and a half and want to upgrade now but couldn’t get a good gauge from this video whether the 4211-DE or the LP Gear blue stylus was better
I bought the Audio Techinica AT-PL50 for $8 because the belt fell off. For a basic turntable is they are not too bad. Mine has the aluminum platter and the speed is very stable and fidelity is great. No wonder it has been in production for almost 25 years.
I just got the PL60BT sounds great thanks AT
After 2 years, the only cons of Lp60 that i found is pitch/speed (but nothing major, well your video helps me with the settings/adjustment). Tracking force, anti skating & auto mechanism works fine. I'd upgraded to LP gear stylus & belt, it does improve the quality of the sound, like a lot for me. My tips is, pair this player with good amp, tuner & good speakers, and take good cleaning care of your records & stylus. Im still listening to this record player sometimes, eventho i now own SL 1200 mk4 & SL 1700 mk2. Just saying.. (Thanks for your video, really appreciate it, no longer have issue with pitch on my lp60)
I like how you get into great detail about everything about cheap turntables thank you so much
THANK YOU! I’m trying to fix a kenwood kd-29r my dad bought in ‘92. I grew up with the thing and he just let me have it. It has sentimental value for me. This review/tutorial is the first thing I’ve found online that is positive, not pretentious and actually helps to fix these things instead of telling the audience to throw it away. I appreciate the work you put into this. I have just ordered a new rubber belt. Now I need to figure out how to fix the automatic return bit. Thanks again!!
Thanks for posting this video. My wife got me an ATLP60 in 2016 and I have been loving it! It's been running a bit fast recently but after watching this video I was able to fix it! I will keep this video as a reference for future turntable repairs. Keep up the good work!
I've been interested in analog medium (especially, cassettes) and been following your content for quite some time now, mostly because the way you deliver your content: great research, not biased or influenced by the thoughts or opinions from the "experts" from anywhere else... just really good, true and interesting content. And, because of this video, I'm now expanding my analog hobby to include vinyl and I just found a deal on an Aiwa PX-E850 (not the same as the one you demonstrated but 99.99999999999% similar).
With all the tips you provided in several videos (incl. this one), I hope I can upgrade my setup, get the most of it and enjoy the content that I am herding from various people in my social circle.
Please, do NEVER stop making this kind of content.
Congrats and thanks a lot, Mr.! 😊
P.S.: That organ intermission 👌🏼😂❤
The felt platter mat on my LP-60 had a bump on one edge. The painted logo somehow draws it up in that spot. I've noticed this on other UA-camrs' videos playing their records. It creates a wobble especially with 45s. Flip it over to the all black side and it lays flat. I've thought about ironing it with wax paper but I think I'd rather just get a new mat rather than risk damaging the original. ...or just stick with the all black side. It's fine.
Cletus Hunnicutt Felt mats are ok, but i recommend to get a rubber, cork or a leather mat. I used the at lp 120s felt mat and it was so static that i bought a leather mat and i have been happy with it. Then everyone recommended to get a cork mat and tbh my leather mat feels good and puts a small punch to the bass. Cork is good too.
It's the dark side of the mat
Brilliant. I've noticed this too (just got one) and its driving me nuts. Thanks 👍🏼
The clip of the kid with the 45 adapter made me laugh and then cry within seconds. Thank you. Two emotions I haven’t felt in a long time, especially so close together.
Same stylus and belt as my newish Sony ps-lx300usb turntable I got 5-6 months ago. Fine for my purposes and its good to know it has standard parts. Thanks for the vid!
I received this turntable (AT-LP60-USB) from my friend some time ago, and because of my stupidity (browsing r/vinyl like twice, I know now it's not worth going there) I was anxious about stuff, like if my records will get damaged, what about speed after sometime etc. This video helped get rid of it, and now I know what to do when something happens with it. Thank you!
This "model" could still be buyed new from several brands, I'd get a "Dual" one last year, new from amazon for 70€, to play my few early 90's bought records, and I'm satisfiyed with the results. Your video confirms it's a good buy for the money and the use.
I struggled a lot to find decent reviews of the audiotechnica at-lp60, but your videos have been a great resource!
I always wanted to get into vinyl but was discouraged by the apparent steep price of entry according to enthusiasts. I recently found the aforementioned model (or maybe a slightly newer revision) brand new on clearance for $50-ish and wanted to hear how solid it'd be from a bang-for-your-buck, beginner's perspective. The other video debunking the misconceptions levied by audiophiles as well as this video detailing possible upgrades and common beginner errors have been very helpful for someone with absolutely 0 experience.
I may find myself upgrading to a more expensive setup in the future but your vids have definitely calmed my nerves about dipping my toes in the water here.
Thanks man--the most honest channel for Phono on YT. Have had to slog through a lot of nonsense before finding your work!
16:11 "Make sure the printer prints it out at exactly the right size"
Actually it doesn't really matter if the printer prints it too small or too big; the number of strobe squares is always the same per revolution no matter how big you print them. Unless you distort the aspect ratio of course.
Since it's stobing, they should put a small animation on there too.
it is absolutely true. Replacing your conical stylus with an elliptical stylus will improve the fidelity of your sound by at least 30% no matter what price range your turntable was. Crisper highs and deeper bass...just like magic. And why would you WANT to disable the auto return mechanism? And why would you want to play 78s on a high fidelity system? The records themselves are not high fidelity. I have a vintage portable from around 1965 to play 78 and 16 RPM records.
Not everyone can find a vintage portable for 78s. There's also the factor of convenience. Imagine just being able to put a 78 right on your regular turntable instead of having to pull the portable out every time.
Thanks for putting these videos out! I didn't grow up with a turntable (my family wasn't fond of them and preferred tapes/CDs) so this is all new to me.
You offered some very valuable information. Thank you. I bought a Realistic linear turntable from Radio Shack 37 years ago, where I worked while going to school. Later, I purchased a very nice cartridge that sounded very good. I could hear the upgrade. I wanted to put that cartridge in my AT-LP60-USB, but I didn't think that was possible. You inspired me to simply replace the stylus. Duh! of course. I thought the cartridge made all the difference, but I sounds like just upgrading the stylus is all that is needed. If I recall correctly, the AT cartridge had a frequency response of 15-25k Hz. My stylus has a frequency response of 15-25K Hz? I can tell that the OEM AT cartridge in my new USB turntable doesn't sound very good. I didn't know that the stylus had a conical stylus. Again, I am grateful for this valuable information.
hey VWestlife... I have a Sony PS-LX63 (or something like that) which has a cartridge pretty much like the one this Aiwa has. I've noticed that on top of the cartridge shell there is a screw, which I believe is the one holding the cartridge in position.
Looking for a replacement stylus for my turntable, I came across the Audio Technica cartridge you mentioned. And I also see it's got a plastic bracket for a 1/2 inch mount which is screwed to the cartridge pretty much in the same place as the one on my turntable is.
My big question: Have you tried to see if the entire cartridge is replaceable by taking the mount off? Probably your Aiwa does not support cartridge replacement, but maybe you have a Sony around with which you could experiment. I'd like to restore my turntable (just got it) and replacing its 29-year old cart for a shiny new one as part of such project, but I'd hate spending money for a cartridge that I won't use.
You have a P-Mount turntable. Those use replaceable plug-in cartridges. These turntables are a more recent cost-optimized version that no longer allow the cartridge to be replaced (although obviously the stylus still can be replaced).
@@vwestlife Uh, no sir, it's not a P-Mount. I'm 100% sure of that because a P-Mount would be like a Shure M92E that I recently bought for my Numark Pro TT2, which comes with an adapter for a 1/2" mount. The adapter receives the cartridge, which you fix in place via a screw and nut which is, let's say, behind the cartridge, through the audio pins of the cartridge.
The Sony cartridge I'm talking about uses the very same stylus that you show here. I even removed it following your instructions from this video. I then managed to remove the cartridge by removing the screw at the top of the shell (picture the cartridge being held in place by a single screw at the center of the shell's top instead of the regular 2 of a 1/2" mount),and the cartridge was kind of glued with something that looked like a drop of silicone or RTV to the shell itself. That proved my theory that the cartridge can be removed.
I am almost sure that if I were to get one of those cheap AT3600L cartridges you suggest in this video, I can replace the one on my turntable by removing that 1/2 mount it has.
Chances are that in the case of this Aiwa turntable of yours, the cartridge is glued to the shell just like my Sony, that is if no screw at the top of the shell is visible.
EDIT: My turntable is a PS-LX63P. I missed the "P" when I mentioned its model.
My turntable is identical as the one in this video, just the model tag is different. Take a hard look at the shell and cartridge. You'll see the screw I'm talking about and you will recognize the stylus at first glance.
ua-cam.com/video/JeNZQ1M0jnc/v-deo.html
You are correct. On the type of turntables shown in this video, the cartridge is affixed to the tonearm with adhesive.
Hey! Nice. I just got the 4211-DE and swapped out the default 3600l stylus, I also got the LP GEAR saved in Amazon wishlist. Thanks for making a simple video about some basic adjustments rather than pushing expensive gear.
I had difficulty telling any difference with the stylus upgrades. The stock actually sounded superior to the green, with the LP Gear being slightly better than both. Honestly, it could be my imagination.
Yeah I agree- blue LP gear one sounded better :)
Thank you for giving actual advice and not trying to make profit from affiliate links!
To avoid shorting when making trim adjustments to the motor speed adjustment you can substitute a proper trimmer adjustment tool, which are insulated plastic or ceramic, to make the speed adjustment. That is the intended tool and they are insulated because they are often used to adjust the potentiometers and capacitor trimpots on live circuits (sometimes even very high voltage in the case old tube based gear). Trimmer tools come in a number of shapes and sizes, but in this instance you would want the flat/straight tools, though one may as well buy a small kit to keep on hand if they wish to tinker with adjusting their equipment themselves - though in general if one does not understand electronics they will want to limit their tinkering to only those adjustments that are very clearly labeled or per documented procedures.
When printing the rom speed check discs it really should not matter if your printer scales the size up or down a bit so long as it scales equally on both the X and Y axes since it is the degrees of rotation between AC line frequency flickers that actually matters and not their precise size and the degrees between each tick mark will remain unchanged so long as you scale up or down equally on both axes.
That Aiwa was my first turntable! (Still have it, it’s down in the basement). Some years before I upgraded to Project Debut, I did some tweaks that helped it sound better: speed calibration, gluing weights to the platter to give it more rotating mass, cork mat, adjusting the tracking force from 3.83 grams down to 2.8g (which was not easy since spring loaded tone arms have no adjustment function. I had to glue coins to the back of the arm).
That LP gear stylus was a considerable improvement over the stock one, wish I knew about it before I retired that turntable.
awesome...im noticing i am having some skipping problems with one of these...approx what weight did you glue to the platter and back of tone arm?!
Thank you for this video, I recently bought an Audio Technica AT-LP60X as my first turntable and this was very informative. I'll be upgrading the stylus to an elliptical stylus soon!
Turntables are hard to come by where I live, but I bought this exact model a couple months ago. It's my very first turntable, it costed about $25 but for me it was worth it since it didn't need any kind of repair, just needed the speed adjusted. I would've loved this video when I bought it, it explains very well how to get it going, which I had to figure out myself from multiple sources. Excelent video regardless, I truly love your channel. I just bought a Technics SL-QD33 yesterday for like $8 and I'll see how it performs
I used to have the Aiwa turntable (in Black) new in 1995 when I was 7. Had it with an Aiwa hi Fiona, and always remember the only aux input on it was labled 'video' on the display! The video button was where we plugged the turntable in.
AWESOME work. Very comprehensive and informative, especially for vinyl newbies. THANK YOU!
Great advice! Found a new in box Sony PS-LX250 at Goodwill a couple years ago which hadn't even been assembled yet. Great to have a good little turntable with a preamp built in, so you can play it through whatever.
I bought an ATLP60X as a second deck for testing second hand LPs, I'm putting it through the MM input on my Rega Aria phono stage and it sounds phenomenally good. It's testament to how fundamentally decent these turntables are that you can do something like this. If I was to pick out the biggest flaw, I'd say it's lacking some top-end sparkle that I suspect an elliptical stylus upgrade would resolve.
LP Gear has a real nice upgrade set with this elliptical diamond needle shown in this video and a belt upgrade. It’s $55 and it’s supposed to make a huge difference. I’m getting one for mine
I love the 80's era segues and really wish you would bring them back! Aside from being unintentionaly hilarious, it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside hearing that jingle.
I still use it in longer videos.
That guy with the 45 adapter confusion, oh god.
This is my exact record player. I inherited it from my grandmother in 2007, and it has never failed not once. I’ve had nicer ones, but I always just sell them and return to this. Original belt and needle. I have it running through a good hifi and it has always sounded good. I’ve always said that when it kicks it I’ll get a nice one, but it just keeps working perfectly. If it wasn’t for this player I wouldn’t have the collection I do now as I started buying right before the vinyl boom.
Mine is good also. But if you're running the original needle, wow man lol. Unless you barely use it I guess. But I noticed mine will skate sometimes when the needle is worn, a new one fixes it.
@@wrnchhead76 I actually upgraded it to the yellow stylus now, but I can bargain tell a difference. I’ve always been really careful with cleaning and dusting records though
Wonderful, comprehensive hi fi turntable demonstration video. I'm glad I found the correct way of replacing a stylus on an Audio Technica MM cartridge; thank you. Furthermore, I don't think I'd want to disable auto return on any turntable; in my case a semi-automatic. I want auto return enabled.
I love your content, the list of reasons why us endless, just classic electronics, taking stuff apart and debunking some stuff, like this, also I saw your recent comment on fran's video, we share common interests eh? :)
I'd really want to thank you for showing the speed adjustment thing. I couldn't figure out how to adjust that because i didn't see any screws inside the 33/45rpm holes. Didn't know i was supposed to go through the gasket with the screwdriver. It took a while to set the correct speed, my at-lp60 usb was spinning 34,5/46 rpm at the beginning (i used the app to check that out). Now i was able to set it down to 33,5/45,3 rpm and it made a huge difference. Records sounds now way more accurate than it used to.
I bought this model of turntable for a project to upcycle an Edwardian mahogany inlaid HMV gramophone cabinet that had been cut down / stripped out probably 50 years ago for a bedside table probably and had seen better days. This was more of project to test out my French polishing / carpentry skills before attempting more valuable furniture. The Awia / AT turntable were the only ones that fitted within the cabinet’s width. These are very cheap turntables second hand and I was most sceptical about it, but it performed well with the active loud speakers I used for the gramophone cabinet project so yesterday I connected it up to my main hi-fi comparing with a Rega planar 3 which has a Quad amp , B&W speakers and was surprised at how well it sounded compared to the Rega. I’m running a Rega Carbon on the RP3 which of course I now realise is the same AT 3600 as the Awia with a different mount. I only paid £25 for the Rega Carbon so it’s a cheap cartridge but it amazing it’s ‘Only’ a AT 3600 at heart. But why spend 10 times more ?
That 45 adapter part made me laugh. Because its true. I seen people use on top of a record like one of those record clamps/ weight.
My good friend has the same Aiwa turntable. He bought the all in one unit back in 1999 maybe 2000. He still uses it a lot. I have the Sony turntable I bought for my bedroom back in 2009. I recently updated the belt and replaced the needle. The new belt has more torque. The original belt kept slipping once in a while after around the 4th or 5th year of owning it.
Love your vids. Keep up the good work.
I thought the phone input on my flea market receiver was broken so I was playing my turntable through the CD input. I totally forgot to turn off my built in preamp!
Just bought myself a second hand Pioneer PL-990 to fit into my 90's era Pioneer stack project (complete with LaserDisc player on the bottom). This was mostly inspired by your previous videos on the subject. Good step up on my cheap n' nasty GPO Memphis which has been in use far longer than I intended. If I'd listened to the snobs I would've had to keep using it while saving up something "acceptable". Sure tables like the ones in this video aren't anything fancy but they are a good place to start/move up to if you know you're serious about amassing a collection without breaking the bank. Will maybe try that LPGear elliptical stylus when my existing one wears down. Love these videos, keep 'em coming!
I once converted an old BSR to use a magnetic head. I had to use a spring on the back end of the tone arm for balance to keep it from being too heavy.
It's best to remove C-clips with pliers or at least tweezers so that you can hold it after you remove it. But be prepared for it to spring out.
If a song on a record has a time on it you can time how long it takes to actually play the song. It's not exact but it can help point out if the song is playing too fast or too slow. It also helps to play a song you're very familiar with.
I picked up a turntable for free that had the speed adjustment out of whack. Once I adjusted it properly it worked fine. You can find plastic screwdrivers for adjustments but I can't recall where I got mine.
There's no (properly working) modern turntable that will damage records. You can damage records if you play a modern record on a 70 year old turntable because they're designed to put weight on the record and were never made for modern records. You can often spot these old turntables by the 78 speed and the flippable needle.
I upgraded the stylus on my three Numark TTUSB turntables from the stock “Groove Tool” to budget ones from Banpa which amazingly improved the sound. I also soldered a remote start wire to connect to my mixer. Worked like a charm. Generally these budget turntables always spin one step too fast and yes pitching between CDs and MP3s can have pitch issues.
Great comprehensive video. Not just for these turntables. Also some generally useable tips. Thanks!
And about snobbish haters: The hifi hobby is for everyone. Whether you have a small or a big budget. It's about the gear you can afford and get the best out of that. That's where the fun is. Tinkering to improve your system. It may even be more fun to have a small budget and having to be creative. It's easy to get a great sound if you have lots of money to spend, but getting a low budget system to sing and dance gives you a lot more satisfaction. And in the end it's about enjoying the music.
Great video as always! Inspired me to bust out my old trusty pslx300 to attempt adjusting it for 78rpm. Sadly mine didn't go as high, I suspect living in a 50hz country is the cause. Really enjoyable otherwise and that lp-gear at3600 seems pretty great for the price of a record these days. Keep up with the great vids!
I bought the recommended belt, for my Radio Shack version of this turntable, and it plays with a much steadier speed, now. Thank you!
Thank you for this video VWestlife, I bought a used LP60 and from watching this video, figured out that the stylus is busted. I'm going to return it to because it wasn't that great of a used deal and buying a new stylus would bring me back up to new price. Watching your videos has brought me up to speed really quickly on record players, so thanks again!
I'd never checked out Reddit before today, even though I've heard of it. I found that discussion thread about your older video. Those "experts" really pile on, don't they? I like your videos. I even watch your keyboard videos even though I'm not really a "keyboard" guy. Here's another thing I've never done that you mention quite often: I've never been to a dollar store!
3:08 I love that jingle!
I miss hearing that in your newer videos, lol.
Thank you so much for this video! It is such a solution jewel 💎 for a beginner audiophiles! I have bought a Sony lx300usb turntable for 80$ from my buddy who is moving, and it turnes out it has some things to improve that my friends haven’t noticed in 3 years of owning it 😝
1) Rpm is 34.6 instead of 33.33 and I’m kinda scared to get a wrong screwdriver or mess it up🪛
2) The tonearm mechanism is a bit off “falling” down to the record
3) Stock needle is dusty and I guess it needs to be replaced too
4) Belt is kinda ok but you’ve recommend to replace it too
I’m really wondering should I maybe return it & get the brand new audio technica lp60xusb instead, since it will cost me a bit of money to get all this replaced (equal to the lp60 maybe? 😂 ). If anyone will be kind enough to give advice to a newbie, this would be awesome.
13:00 perfect, exactly what I was thinking and then you edited that in. Perfect, sir.
Hello, writing this just to thank you for this video. I used your trick to correct the speed of my Pro-Ject Automat A1 that was playing about 2% too fast!
Have a nice week ✌️
Do you still have your Heathkit AM tuner? An updated video on that would be pretty darn cool.
Even though youtube you can hear a clear difference in the stylus... wow!!! I must get one of these upgrades to try in person. Thank you for the awesome tips!
16:12 Size doesn't matter since it is measuring angular velocity so abolute size doesn't matter as long as the proportions are correct and it is well centerd
I own that aiwa, I made some mods to the preamp, I replaced the op amp and remove some filters, the high pass filter because my amp do its own filtering of signals below 20hz and it's already DC protected in its inputs and I removed some filter that aiwa put there to reduce radio interference for people living near a radio station antenna. I also calculated the RIAA response and replace two resistor with 2 pair of resistor in series to get the value more closer to calculations and now the curve is more accurate. I glued two pennies as counter weight to get 3.5g. I also put an on/off switch in the 110/220 hole because I'm paranoid and the preamp is always on. I replace the transformer because the original was vibrating and making a 60hz hum (the reason for an on/off switch in the first place). The mods really improve the sound especially the removal of the filters because the filters used electrolytic capacitors in the signal path that degraded the sound quality.
IMO, even if the Crosley Cruiser (& clones) doesn't actually damage the records, I still think that it makes a bad first impression (of vinyl). Mainly do to the fact that it sounds like crap. I mean, if I knew of someone who wanted to get into the hobby, I'd be more likely to steer them towards a setup similar to that shown. In other words, to show them that vinyl is far more capable, sound-quality-wise.
It's basically about using a turntable and amp (or at least amplified speakers) instead of a record player. Record players have never been known for their sound quality.
Thanks for this and all of your helpful and informative videos. I'm pumped that I can upgrade my LP60 to an elliptical stylus!
I have this exact turntable model, and i simply love it! Another thing i realized is that the 78 rpm sounds very good on this turntale!
I just picked up an Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT-USB-BK as an additional TT to my old Hitachi. While the Hitachi works wonderfully, I wanted a more "plug and play" TT to play through my 4K home theater which involves my high-end 4K PC. This was more of an impulse purchase, but I am pleased with the sound produced by the AT TT. That being said, one of the things I DO NOT like about this particular AT TT is that there is NO tone-arm clamp. Luckily you shared that neat clip trick! I feel a little more confident now while using this TT knowing I likely won't experience the dreaded tone-arm "bounce" when placing an album on this unit. Small thing to some, big thing to others I guess ---- thanks for sharing that neat little trick!
Very good information. Did you have an opinion as to which elliptical cartridge sounded better? Or did they sound exactly the same? I'm sure they both outperformed the conical stylus.
When you played each stylus, white, green, blue, I initially assumed that I would not hear a difference. When the narrator started speaking and the green stylus was on the machine I clearly heard the music well under the voice level and the same but perhaps more clearly with the blue stylus. I had to go back and listen to the white stylus again. Sure, it was there but not as noticeable to me as with the elliptical stylus. Its subtle enough that I am not sure if it's some kind of induced mental perception like hearing the car wiper blades seem to be repeating "no more" over and over or a real objective difference. It was an interesting comparison and for a few more bucks I'd now go elliptical.
Although I have been using record players for my whole life, some young people that never had a player at home and are not accustomed to them have asked me some of the stuff you depict. I found it very interesting and very informative and not only for those begginers, I learned some stuff too. These players may be the stepping stone to begin a collection. Not everyone can have top dollar stereo and these can show you how good or how incovenient a record player can be. A well balanced buget player hooked up to a decente stereo with nice speakers can deliver nice sound. My 13 y.o. son have a sony record player connected to a sony shelf stereo, with tape, cd, md(lp), rds tuner and bluetooth through an adapter. A nice set up for wery little money. I might upgrade the stylus to the blue one you showed. Only tips I would add i to lubricate both the hinges with a silicone based oil and the motor shaft with a syringe and synthetic motor oil (Just one drop to minimize the hum/background noise. The other is to place the player on a rectangular foam or sponge. this isoletes the player and the stylus from adjacent vibrations, dampening all of them and cancelling the Haas effect.
LP blue stylus sounded best on my end- then close second was white AT stylus- green one was distant 3rd- but curious what your ear witness account was Sir. Love this content- you are the best channel on vinyl that I have found- and I've looked a lot- Fran has some good stuff too- Thank you for educating me about the hobby and entertaining us as well :)
I have a Teac P-A688 turntable just like the Aiwa in the video.Even has the same rubber mat. It was also made in 1999.I've always used a small rubber band over the tone arm.Once you get it just past the rest there is a small plastic hook on the rest backside at the bottom of it. You can hook the rubber band there for transport.Only reason I know this is bought the turntable new in 1999 and when I set it up that's what they had there to secure the tone arm.
I really liked this video a lot.Very informative with great tips on upgrading and adjustments. It helped me a lot! Well done man!
17:40 - Will it work with a Trisonic bulb? You know: "Tranquility is beauty. Equanimity is joy. Soi soi soi."
Yes, it will!
Incredibly helpful. I found an Optimus LAB-1100 for free on the side of the road and couldn't figure out why it was so quiet playing my records, now I know!!
I don't think printer scaling would be an issue with printing a strobe disc, would it? It would still be printing X number of lines in a circle. I guess maybe if you print it in a different aspect ratio and end up with an oval.
An excellent video. The first turntable I repaired was a Garrard, about 45 years ago. I haven't worked on a turntable in 20 years so this is a good refresher. Thankyou!
I have this turntable from Aiwa and I didn't realize that it has a preamp. I thought it was made that way and I bought it over a year ago. Now I know that the turntable is loud enough due to the preamp. Thank you very much.
Did you hear as much of the sound change as I did when you replaced that stylus with the elliptical one??? it was quite impressive, can't find them for those prices though on eBay or Amazon 😯
Im glad YT suggested me this video. Like many I'm the proud owner of an AT LP60. Thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge and experience.
Love the Capt. Picard double facepalm!
Stupid children!
But if you did have a 16⅔ RPM record, that's exactly half of 33⅓ so you could play it at 33 into a recorder and then play the recording back at half speed.
Nicely done. These TTs aren't so bad, as long as your expectations aren't too high. ;) I was able to score one for $26 and it was practically brand new; the original owner returned it as defective -- "it won't power on." Surprise, surprise: the original owner never bothered to take the instruction manual out of the sealed plastic bag, and therefore had no idea that the belt needed to be installed in order for the turntable to work. Read the f'n manual, people! Will it replace my Technics direct drive? Absolutely not. Is it good enough for a small bookshelf system in the bedroom? For 26 bucks, you betcha.
Man, that minisamples from others UA-camrs are so funny. Good video! ✔️
Was that a vinyl 78? It sounded very clean.
I saw this exact Aiwa turntable at a thrift store a while back for $7.99, I was tempted to pick it up but ended up passing on it. Not a bad starter though!
Yes, it's a vinyl 78.
Thank you thank you - I was ready to pull my hair out trying to get my new turntable to keep spinning! Your tutorial did the trick, and along the way I learned how it works and how to tear into it confidently!
I had that exact same Aiwa PX-E860 turntable and it wasn't too bad definitely better than the cheap ones you get these days.
Yknow, it might just be the UA-cam compression interfering with things, but I couldn't really hear much difference between the conical and elliptical styli. And I actually sampled all three into Audacity and compared them on a technical level, and couldn't find more than the tiniest difference - like maybe half a decibel or slightly more at the highest frequencies, which is basically within the sampling noise (as I was selecting the sample ranges by hand), and with no obvious difference in the midrange.
Which doesn't really make sense as I *know* that the needle shape should make a clear difference to the high frequency response, especially in the inner grooves of a 33rpm record... but, then again, it's quite reassuring that even the standard crappy stylus is managing to quite clearly return a strong signal upto and beyond 20kHz, even under those conditions, so if you're after ultrasound output from your vinyls, you'll definitely get it from an elliptical needle and 45s, or the outer grooves of a 33.
The integrated AT-3600L cartridge and its ATN-3600L conical stylus perform well above their pay grade. The stylus is NOT a "standard crappy stylus" though it is inexpensive. I had tried the Pfanstiel stylus from turntableneedles.com, and unfortunately while it sounded beautiful on most records it ended up mistracking on a few so I returned it for another ATN-3600L. This might have been an issue of not having my AT-LP60 perfectly level. I would like to try the LP Gear stylus; I have installed the LP Gear "SuperVivid" belt and noticed a very discernible improvement in speed accuracy and bass/dynamic quality, so their CF3600 stylus sounds interesting to me.
Thanks, I'm picking up the Audio-Technica LP120XBT-USB. I think this has the most bang for the buck. What do you think?
Cheap fixes & upgrades for cheaps cassette decks in a near future? Maybe?
I have an ION Tape2PC cassette deck that is of a very common inexpensive design sold today, just like these turntables, and I do plan to do a video about it in the future.
I'm anxiously awaiting this particular video! I was hoping you'd review one of these, at some point.
VWestlife Did you ever finish that video?
@@vwestlife I'm looking forward to your tips for fixes and upgrades on the ION Tape2PC. It doesn't sound bad for a very plain deck and it is very easy to make good digital transfers via my desktop PC, but mine has one drive (the record side) which no longer goes into play mode as well as some speed fluctuation issues.
Great video! I always wondered if exists a way of adjustment or improvement to this type of turntables as always we see on the web audiophiles working on very expensive turntables, so Thanks a lot!