the world of vinyl this week. I have been reading more and more about turntables and others experiences listening to vinyl. Finally build up the interest and time to give it a try and started my quest to find a TT. It just so happed that I mentioned this to someone at work and he in turn is going to let me have one of his units for a while to get a taste, it's a Marantz 6200 with a Stanton cartridge. He is also sending over some vinyl and cleaning accessories.

Cool, I can't wait to hear what I have been missing :music:

Oh, the only thing he said that I needed to do was replace the belt. Is that an easy task to do? Any issues?

Regards,
Danny

The belt should be no problem to replace, unless it has turned to goo. In that case, you will need to clean it off with some rubbing alcohol.

It's a good idea to clean the belt path anyway, so you should plan on doing it.

You'll love it.

Don't give up if you don't hear angels singing from the first scatchy record you play. You might want to spring for a brand new album of a good pressing so you know you have a decent source as a baseline. Then maybe consider replacing the stylus, aligning the cart and adjusting the VTA. Just see what've you've got and keep going forward. It gets better & better.

Promise.

The 6200 uses a Medium Flat belt 25.00"(63.5cm) long. Between 3/16" and 13/64" width.

Meggy is right on. If your friend doesn't mind you tinkering with his turntable, there's a good chance that the cartridge is in need of (re)alignment. The tonearm may need to be rebalanced and the tracking force reset (and set the anti-skate to match the tracking force). If you post the model number of the Stanton, we can give you some suggestions about where to go to get a replacement stylus at a competitive price. Most of the retailers are on the internet, and most of us have had experiences with one or more of them. Same with the belt.

It took me some time tinkering to get my tables "dialed in" to producing the caliber of sound that they are capable of. They "fun" of vinyl sometimes not the destination but the journey.

Welcome to the dark side, I think Whell pretty much sums it up with this statement:

It took me some time tinkering to get my tables "dialed in" to producing the caliber of sound that they are capable of. They "fun" of vinyl sometimes not the destination but the journey.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions and encouragement. I am looking forward to all the excitement of doing something new and complex. I am actually looking forward to the funstration of it all. Hope you will have patients for all the questions yet to come.

So far, I have read through the Stickys listed here and found several sites that walk one through step by step of alignments and cleaning. Very informative!

Also, I asked about the cartridge and found it is a "Stanton Calibration Series III" with very low hours of usage. Less than 10 hours.

As for a replacement belt, I had planned to purchase one from the "Needle Doctor". Talked with a person there Friday and he seemed very knowledgeable.

Later,
Danny

It sounds like your TT will be squared away soon and ready to play some good vinyl. :thmbsp:
In order for your records to sound their best, they need to be clean....or you get the dreaded hiss, crackle, pop....which you don't have to live with....now do some searches on cleaning vinyl.

Well..
I received the TT Monday and despite my questions/requests concerning packing, the guy still sent unit without securing the platter :( Kinda had that sinking feeling when I picked up the box and heard things rolling around inside the box.

Got the box home and found that the platter banged around inside and broke off the tonearm rest and sheered the stylist off the cartridge. Real bummer. Thankfully, cover and rest of unit was spared.

Luckily, in anticipation of the vinyl experience and possible cartridge rolling, I purchase a NOS Grado ZF1+ cartridge. Had not planned on using so soon but what the hey..

The TT cleaned up real good, I was able to super glue the arm rest and you would have to look real hard to see the repair. Didn't have a protractor so I ordered one of those (since found that these can be printed from online). Put on my first piece of vinyl and set back for a listen.

Hmm, left channel gone... Swapped RCA's at preamp and sound moved. Swapped pins at cartridge and same channel continued to work.

Ohmed out the tonearm pins and found erratic readings on left hot between end of tonearm and end of RCA plug. I Deoxed the pins and RCA plug to no avail.

Sounds like it's time to go inside.. Does anyone happen to have a service manual for a Marantz 6200 TT? If so, does it show details of the wiring between the end of tonearm and RCA? Details of the insides of the unit? I like pictures and diagrams :nerd:

Did someone mention something about a journey :)

Kind regards,
Danny

Danny,

Cover your butt on this one with the guy that has loaned it to you. I think that is the situation??

Tell him how it was received, and that you will not be responsible for any other unseen damage that may exist now. I'ld be concerned about the tonearm being bent or the tonearm and/or spindle bearings being messed up too. Maybe the cause of the wiring probs as well? If you have any alignment problems, might not be worth spending too much time on it.

Hope she works for you in the end though. Good luck :yes:

Sounds like a less than perfect start to your vinyl adventure. Seems like you are taking it all in stride, Kudos to you.

I'd go to a local pawn shop and see what's available in the way of a starter TT. At least you can see what you're getting. Put your new cart on it and order a stylus from NeedleDoctor. They ship the same day you order. You could be in business by Wednesday.

Are these guys near you? Maybe they have needles (or used TT's).

Good luck. No one should be without vinyl for more than 24 hrs. It's bad for your health.


SIGG Records 662-363-0110 1033 Prichard Rd, Tunica, MS 38676
Disc-O-Tech 662-349-0303 1030 Goodman Rd E, Southaven, MS 38671

So sorry about the damage. In the future, just so you know, the platter should be REMOVED, not just secured. Thankfully the damage was minimal. :thmbsp:

Not free, but reasonable, the service manual is available at ebay. Garage-a-records sells tonearm wire. If/when you decide to tackle it, report back first. There are a few pointers that will help.

You'll love it.
Just see what've you've got and keep going forward. It gets better & better.

Promise.

By now you've probably read and taken all this into consideration, but take it from someone who's been listening to vinyl for nearly 10 years, yet only started getting serious about turntables and equipment within the last 6 months: it's a long, often difficult, aggravating, expensive journey, but if you persevere (sounds like you already are) it will absolutely be worth it. Just in the past few weeks my new system is all starting to come together. I'm using a very modest cartridge (Shure M97XE, good to start with for many tts), and I am in analog bliss! So meggy and others' advice that it just gets better is dead on, I'm confident in saying you will be blown away by the sound that a decent setup will produce once you get it all together.

Audiokarma is invaluable as a learning tool. You'll need to do a lot of research, and you'll find the people on this site generously helpful and patient with beginners, so hang around.

A little more trouble shooting and I found the phono cable to be bad. I replaced both L&R with new cable and plugs and am now making :music: I managed to get in contact with the right person at Marantz today and he found a copy of the service manual, shot scans over via email and I was set.

My first taste of vinyl: Belafonte Sings The Blues - RCA Living Stereo

Man... give me more!!

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.:thmbsp::thmbsp::thmbsp:
.
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And with that last post, my Thorens just lost all power :(

Oh well, drag out the Dual - pop open the Thorens...

The journey never ends, we just get older.

The journey never ends, we just get older.

yeah... I'm seeing the journey to the VPI Scoutmaster store.