Thread: Want to improve your analog (vinyl) sound?

1. wadax

2. klaudio

And why not Eric?

Eric, I know some peoples who won't even read them reviews.

* Just for clarification: I'm not telling you anything. I put a question mark on my thread's title, and provided two links.
And I certainly did not say that your cleaning skills are completely ineffective; you did.

And you spend what you can afford, not what the reviews imply to from your own interpretation.

_______________

By the way, this subject got me banned for life earlier today from another audio forum!
If someone wants to know the exact truth, I can start a thread about it. But this thread right here ain't it.

I'm one of those people who don't read "professional" reviews ...

Maybe not but you sure love to talk about though.

_________________

It's ok Eric. ...Me I have read them (the two above reviews) among a trillion more (over the last 45 years); and when I asked if the Klaudio recording machine was revolutionary and indispensable for serious analog audiophiles, plus if there was some less expensive alternatives out there, my post got deleted!

It goes without saying that I was very upset. ...And I asked that it been restored immediately.
...No need for PMs and explanations as my post was totally correct and my few questions totally appropriate, respectful, polite, and perfectly honest and considerate.

Then I got banned for life! ...For having violating the TOS (rules); but nothing else!
...Which goddamn rule! ...The rule of being nice and asking intelligent questions??!!!

Today's a sad day for the audio community.

__________________

P.S. When I said in another post (yesterday) that the film 'Enough Said' seems to be a fine film,
and that I won't miss it when it comes to Blu-ray; that post too got deleted!

And Gary (GaryProtein) is the member who I was replying to in saying that: "Of course you do like movies Gary."
...Because Gary saw that movie about two weeks ago and he enjoyed it, and he said to Steve:
"See, some movies I do like." ... in a jovial way (good humor) to Steve.

* I am so tired of being wrongly mistreated like this! This is no friendly atmosphere at all; it is totally stressing and disturbing and emotionally draining!
The weirdest thing is this though: for the major part of the time everything's just fine. ...Several great members and all that cool jazz.

Sorry Eric, and everyone. I am totally devastated and heartbroken. This is no way to be acting in such nasty manner. You don't treat anyone like that. And it hurts real deep in the heart of good people.

-> I'm good now, back on topic with that magnificent review by Myles on the Klaudio Record Cleaning Machine, and the other review by Jim on that superb Wadax Preamplifier with integrated Phono Stage.

I hear you loud and clear Eric. ...And that's why there are people here like Rob and Jeff (two great analog vinyl experts).

I got nothing against expensive products that improve the sound. To the contrary, I rejoice with people who have one (Mike Lavigne, and few others) and who talked about it (Klaudio) in the past with great qualitative attributes. ...And $4,000 is not the end of the world for serious analog music lovers.

Even $40,000 for a quality preamp with state-of-the-art integrated phono stage is reasonable for the high heeled people.

_________________

But somehow my post was distorted or some' like that, and deleted! ...I have a sort of an idea why, but I'm just not sure, so I can't comment with certitude on that.
And no way that someone has the courage to say why. ...Because he knows that it is simply totally ridiculous and has no basis whatsoever for a deletion.

Then I'm emotionally stressed, and asked for a 'restore' of my post. ...And that's when I got banned for life!

Now, if you ask me; there are enough problems in our societies (you know what I'm sayin'), that we simply don't need more in the hobbies we love and are free to discuss, share, and learn some more about. ...And all the other younger people behind us, and who are looking for the best encouragement, the best information for them, and the best integrity from the people who provide such great info and share their knowledge.

What's good there truly is for an audio forum if the main priority is given to only a particular class of people with their own ideologies and philosophies?
...Financial agendas, bias motivated? ...Some places for sure.
Overcharged items, overpriced electronics? ...That too is another reality, and a very sad one.

I invested close to a million dollars in this hobby since I started, and I learned a lot along the way.
Ask yourself, anyone here, how much money and time you invested in your audio hobby since you first start of (software and hardware); some of you are going to be totally surprised by the huge dollar amount and time you invested during all those years; no doubt about it. ...Some of you are going to be in the several millions of dollars, and others in the six figures easily. ...And the time; reading, shopping, listening, purchasing, selling, tweaking, tweaking some more, investigating, evaluating, ... it's going to be in several years, and without sleep!

And that's how much I am deep into this audio love affair myself! ...So for me to get banned from the places where people like me share and learn their passion all together, without necessarily agreeing, but agreeing to disagree nonetheless, and always with respect, is simply a soulful outrage (to the most profound depth of my soul)!

I've been insulted, I've been ripped off, I've been beaten up, I've been humiliated, I've been harassed, I've been ridiculed, I've seen it all in my lifetime, and I just want to set free of it all, of all that injustice, snobbishness, ... I got not many years left, and I want peace for those last few remaining years. ...And respect, the same respect I give to all.

Originally Posted by MusicDirector

I hear what you say. To someone like me $4000 would be the end of the world. I nearly came to that end just on my speakers alone. It's just far too dangerous, this aspect of the hobby. With that and the fact that I have very little to no disposable income, a real fear of diminishing returns and live a stress-filled life where even with my skills in music therapy I only get a few minutes rest pit from it at any time and it is not often enough. No hobby is worth being put down, brow-beaten, etc. I've invested less than 5 digits in this hobby and it's more than I care to. I guess my love for the hobby is rather shallow based on that aspect and so be it. I thought the meaning of this hobby or the encompassing meaning anyway was to share discoveries in music and helpful gear and tips and info to make best use of what any one of us has on hand. There's nothing wrong with expensive gear for anyone who can afford it, but it can't be made the standard of measurement and should never be used to humiliate those of us who can not even dream of affording it or even anyone who could,but doesn't want it for that matter. Often times I am lead to believe that the meaning of this hobby is to out-spend each other and that's a club I can't begin to belong to.
What frustrates me most is the fact that people tell me that because I'm not spending x amount or don't have the same gear that I could not possibly get the same or similar results from what I have all while I am getting said results. It doesn't make sense.

This is great Eric that we're having a civilized analog discussion in one of the very best and most friendly and open audio forum of the entire Wide Web World.

We have the right to our opinions, and the right to ask the right questions as well. And if that right is denied to us, then nothing intelligent can come out of it, and we don't learn anything and we become slave of the people who are imposing (with or without their own knowledge) their restricted or dominating or highly biased or financially motivated or one-way views!

If we don't ask questions, how can we be certain for sure of what people are saying?
Should we simply believe everyone around us?

Thing is this: Without respect you are a nobody. Plain and simple. It's not because you are a pro that you are doing everything right.
Again, if you insult your kids playing in their sandbox, by yelling at them or swearing or telling names, no matter how big and how important your job is or was you are a nobody.

The Klaudio seems to be the real deal; until another better one and less expensive one is discovered by someone else.

And then, what's the use to pay fifty dollars for a remastered album by the greatest record label, if you need to clean it first to take full advantage of its superior sound quality?
Question like that will get you banned from some audio forums! Well, it did to me after it was deleted and then I asked that it been restored.

My deepest love in my audio evolution is with the turntable and the music records (albums).
And the more I tried to manually clean my LPs the more they sounded awful!
Because I simply did not have the right technique; I was making things worst by spreading the debris all over my LPs!
Do you know how frustrating is that?

But when I was a kid I wasn't anal like that and din't clean my LPs with special fluids, and special machines with motors and ionizer and and all that jazz; just a simple cleaning brush (that good old one with wood on top) and few drops of distilled water mixed with a little bit of isopropyl alcohol; few seconds, that's all.

Now, I got three turntables (all below $1,000), and my LPs are from the sixties, 70s, 80s, and 90s. ...I got about 5,000 of them 12 inchers, and few hundred 45s.
I don't buy brand new LPs (the good remastered ones) any more like I did for so many years, and I read everything there is to read about, and check everyone who has an ultra high-end analog rig like Michael Fremer, Mike Lavigne, Gary Koh, Christian, and others; for the fascination and higher learning.
Once I was in contact with that German fellow who built his own highly sophisticated turntable and evaluated at $650,000!
And I kid you not! I got PMs to prove it, and pictures too, but the thing is this: I've been banned from that forum and cannot access those files (PMs) anymore.

Then in relation to this, that $4,000 record cleaning machine is small peanuts.
Mikey's turntable alone cost $160,000 and you can still get better sound from the best open-reel tape machines (the pro ones).

We're all audio people; I'm a non-pro musician myself, and a music lover since I was born almost 60 years ago!
The main forums I visit and register on the Internet are Audio (and Video too) forums.
Plus some scientific ones too (Philosophy and Planet Construction).

We have all type of people, just in audio forums, but all of us with the same common interest; our love for musical sounds.
For some of us it's the ultimate euphoria/ecstasy into the 5th dimensional audio nirvana, the holy grail of all papal liberation of the complete universe; the absolute inter-galactic trip.
For others it's a business, for another others it's a living.

For me it is a spiritual food, an hallucinatory experience. ...A vision into my sixth sense, an allegiance with the unknown.
...The undiscovered countries.

Yeah, I want the best too, I want my records real clean, I want the best experience, I want respect.

Originally Posted by NorthStar

The Klaudio seems to be the real deal; until another better one and less expensive one is discovered by someone else.



My deepest love in my audio evolution is with the turntable and the music records (albums).
And the more I tried to manually clean my LPs the more they sounded awful!
Because I simply did not have the right technique; I was making things worst by spreading the debris all over my LPs!
Do you know how frustrating is that?

But when I was a kid I wasn't anal like that and din't clean my LPs with special fluids, and special machines with motors and ionizer and and all that jazz; just a simple cleaning brush (that good old one with wood on top) and few drops of distilled water mixed with a little bit of isopropyl alcohol; few seconds, that's all.

Now, I got three turntables (all below $1,000), and my LPs are from the sixties, 70s, 80s, and 90s. ...I got about 5,000 of them 12 inchers, and few hundred 45s.
I don't buy brand new LPs (the good remastered ones), and I read everything there is to read about, and check everyone who has a ultra high-end analog rig like Michael Fremer, and others.
Once I was in contact with that German fellow who built his own highly sophisticated turntable and evaluated at $650,000!
And I kid you not! I got PMs to prove it, and pictures too, but the thing is this: I've been banned from that forum and cannot access those files (PMs) anymore.

Then in relation to this, that $4,000 record cleaning machine is small peanuts.
Mikey's turntable alone cost $160,000 and you can still get better sound from the best open-reel tape machines (the pro ones).

We're all audio people; I'm a non-pro musician myself, and a music lover since I was born almost 60 years ago!
The main forums I visit and register on the Internet are Audio (and Video too) forums.
Plus some scientific ones too (Philosophy and Planet Construction).

We have all type of people, just in audio forums, but all of us with the same common interest; our love for musical sounds.
For some of us it's the ultimate euphoria/ecstasy into the 5th dimensional audio nirvana, the holy grail of all papal liberation of the complete universe; the absolute inter-galactic trip.
For others it's a business, for another others it's a living.

For me it is a spiritual food, an hallucinatory experience. ...A vision into my sixth sense, an allegiance with the unknown.
...The undiscovered countries.

Yeah, I want the best too, I want my records real clean, I want the best experience, I want respect.

As a near 70 year old life long audiophile/music lover with an extensive vinyl library, I can identify with what you say. The Klaudio really does it- much better than anything before, and adds greatly to my enjoyment of my music- well worth the price. Fortunately, I can afford it, and a great phono preamp as well.

Hi Tom,

You are not the only person as you well know who is very happy with his Klaudio machine.

And I read few comments by some of their owners, and I posted Myles' review right here for reaffirmation.
I'm a believer myself because I trust them people, I know they don't bull around when it comes to improved sound from their vinyls.

Mike here, our forum creator/founder/administrator requested suggestions for a quality preamp with integrated phono stage (because he is restricted for space), and that is also why I posted that other review by Jim.

As for if one can afford it or not that is the last of my problems. If a product costs one million dollars and performs like it I will recommend it to whoever can afford it.

Nice of you for dropping by and sharing your brief comment.

TIPS on cleaning your records (for better sound): Nitty Gritty 2.5 Fi RCM --- See post #2 --- And then post #4

* Please don't try this at home, with your CDs.

Eric, relax; it was only some humor (regarding the cleaning of CDs). ...You got it all distorted.

Why are you thinking that I might be putting down people who can't afford a Klaudio machine???
Where did you get this idea from??? In your head? Please, don't read nasty things in other people's words when/where there aren't any.
And understand the love and the good humor and the info sharing in them people. Thank you.
And I never put down anyone of my entire life; we are all equal, trillionaires and street people.
Eric, you don't know me very well yet. ...It's all in the heart.

- This thread is about the prowess of the Klaudio record cleaning machine, and the top-notch phono stage in the Wadax preamp, irregardless of their price. ...All in order to improve people's analog (albums) sound.
Get a grip, would you, please?

I can give you several links of people for who I have enormous respect and all praising the Klaudio machine.
And if I was back in my albums big time I would get the Klaudio myself. ...Without a single drop of a doubt.

_________

Stay tuned, you haven't seen anything yet. ...Turntable Isolation Platform (Active Vibration Control).
Herzan - TS Series => http://www.herzan.com/products/activ...ts-series.html

Wow, audio forums are just discussions among friends, pure and simple; about the music & gear we love,
and also the one we can dislike. ...And many other cool subjects intertwined between and among and more or less related to...

* The CD mention was my own: * "Please don't try this at home, with your CDs." ...In regard to cleaning your CDs with the Klaudio machine, that's all.

** The links I provided are there only for informative purpose (to ALL members); it's up to you to make your own mind.
{I started this thread for: Just like the title says.}

*** No sarcasm in me, it's not in my nature. ..Humor, yes, once in a while; I am human.

Have a great and happy day Eric.

Hey guys, can I join the party ?

Both of you are valid. It really comes down to what one can or is willing to spend if they enjoy what they have. My records sound prefect to me cleaned on my homemade RCM. No pops, crackles, hiss, etc. And with a Phonomena II.

Now might they sound better spending 8k more..perhaps..maybe even for sure. But here is the rub:
1) I cannot afford that
2) The % improvement would not be enough to be worth it to me

Seriously guys, its what one is willing to spend and what you feel you get out of it...and I don't think its very much...FOR ME

Now if 8K to me was like $80 to someone else, in other words money to burn on the hobby, I would consider it for the ease of use, surety, etc. Would I expect it to be 5 times as good, 3, 2 ? Nope. But with money to burn, I could be sure its being done right.

Also, I have a limited collection. Say, 250 albums...that's all I want. Now if I had walls of them, or a vinyl business, again, value add.

In the end, its hard for the guy with a 5K system (just an example) to understand why someone would spend that money and hard for the guy with the 60K system to understand, why not .

Peace unto all....LOL

Eric and Bob remind me of an old married couple.

Nice to see you Rob.

Here's my own take: It don't matter what we're happy with or not; what matters is what is out there that is better than what we have or not. ...To talk about, so that we are aware of what is available and better. ...Money is of no importance.

Simply put: It's not about "ME", it's about what's truly best.
- That Klaudio RCM seems to be the very best, right now.
- That Wadax preamp with phono stage seems to be very special indeed.
- And that Herzan active vibration control platform seems to be the very best turntable isolation table.

All in the goal to best improve the sound quality coming from our analog rig (TT & albums).

Originally Posted by NorthStar

Nice to see you Rob.

Here's my own take: It don't matter what we're happy with or not; what matters is what is out there that is better than what we have or not. ...To talk about, so that we are aware of what is available and better. ...Money is of no importance.

Simply put: It's not about "ME", it's about what's truly best.
- That Klaudio RCM seems to be the very best, right now.
- That Wadax preamp with phono stage seems to be very special indeed.
- And that Herzan active vibration control platform seems to be the very best turntable isolation table.

All in the goal to best improve the sound quality coming from our analog rig (TT & albums).

Ahh..I see...Good to see you too by the way...

so its about discussion, what is possible, etc...makes sense !

And stay tuned; coming up are the best turntables in the world, the best tonearms, and the best cartridges.

And! How to make them work all together (setups and all) for the very top performance. ...Including the phono stage preamp.

Want to improve your analog (vinyl) sound? ...Then read on, and even if you cannot afford anything from this thread.
It's for people who want to learn more, for people who want to share their own experiences, and for people who want to express their opinion.

Originally Posted by ohbythebay

Ahh..I see...Good to see you too by the way...

so its about friendly discussion, what is possible, etc...makes sense !

Yeah you got it Rob.

Originally Posted by Mike

Eric and Bob remind me of an old married couple.

Really?

Don't be so silly Eric.

* Then you should stop listening to CDs as well because you don't have a dCS Scarlatti digital CD/SACD rig.
[Four-box system: $82,246]

____________

Eric, it's not what YOU have, it's what's out there, in the landscape of dreams, and realities.
Just be happy with what you have and don't have. ...But nothing is going to stop this planet of orbiting the sun, and stopping people of learning more.

I love PORSCHE but does not mean that because I don't have one now I have to say that my life is
Fool of joy with my GL450!. We live in a consumer world and is not going to stop any time soon.

Every time I read something that Eric respond from the Forum is like He does not like to be here.
Everything is depressing and sometimes hateful in a way. I don't know you Eric but chill out, we don't
want your Drama. Be happy with what you have, thank god for your health , thank god you have hands
and ears. The rest economical things is optional. If you like what you have don't bother telling us that
You wasted your money or other sad things, is depressing.

I know I deserve to be banned for starting a personal discussion with you Eric, but somebody have to
Put a stop on your behavior .

I know you don't know me, I really believe I'm a good person even sometimes I felt stupid for
been too good , but that's me .

Love your self , love others , we love you with or without your equipment.
It's the music that keeps us together and that is the most important in our forum, Friendship.

Truly sorry if I in any way with my words I offended you but LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL, ENJOY IT TO THE FULLEST, NO REGRETS !!!

Please Mark, don't banned me for life .....


Regards,

Nelson



ARC4LIFE

Nelson, got anything for sale today?

I'm waiting to get banned but I know I deserve it
Joe, need your good word so Mark go easy on me

Mark, we are almost on Christmas be gentle





ARC4LIFE

Originally Posted by highEndguy

I'm waiting to get banned but I know I deserve it
Joe, need your good word so Mark go easy on me

Mark, we are almost on Christmas be gentle



ARC4LIFE

Our audio site here (Shark aquarium) is above the rest regarding our overall attitude and true friendship.
We understand and respect Eric's view. And we know how to discuss very intelligently.
I trust that I explained myself quite clearly, and that Eric understand the "life" (true reason of being) of this thread.

Never I will participate in any misunderstanding that would result in disharmony.
If I am misinterpreted in my wordings, I want to have the chance to clarify my stance.

____________

Don't be so silly Nelson; never anyone will dare to ban you. You're just too nice of a guy; you know it, I know it, and they all know it.
- Wish that the person who banned me for life at that other site would have that kind of spirit.

Thanks for the kinds words Bob,
Did you know that the first person who spoke to me on a forum was you ?
You bless me with your joyful treatment
And don't worry , they are the ones who lost a big asset on that forum .
We will have more of you here and that a good thing,

Well,
I'm going to try to sleep something now before my precious
new born child wakes up for food

Good night guys

Nobody is getting banned. We love all you guys. Thanks Bob for jumping in here.

My hero !!!

Originally Posted by highEndguy

Thanks for the kinds words Bob,
Did you know that the first person who spoke to me on a forum was you ?
You bless me with your joyful treatment
And don't worry , they are the ones who lost a big asset on that forum .
We will have more of you here and that a good thing,

Well,
I'm going to try to sleep something now before my precious
new born child wakes up for food

Good night guys

You're serious Nelson? ...Over at AA I bet.

You're a big inspiration Nelson; one only has to look at your new little boy to know the entire life's secret of joy.

Originally Posted by joeinid

Nobody is getting banned. We love all you guys. Thanks Bob for jumping in here.

---- ----------------------------------------------------------------

Okay..glad we got that settled....LOL

Been missing you guys but haven't had much to add lately...I may have to start spending money again...LOL

Thank you Eric for be a gentlemen
And you are among friends
Don't ever forget that

Sincerely ,

Nelson

Originally Posted by highEndguy

Thank you Eric for be a gentlemen
And you are among friends
Don't ever forget that

Sincerely ,

Nelson

+100

Absolutely!

Originally Posted by ohbythebay

Okay..glad we got that settled....LOL

Been missing you guys but haven't had much to add lately...I may have to start spending money again...LOL

Rob, Joe is a great adviser in that department. ...You're in great company.

Originally Posted by MusicDirector

Don't worry about it Nelson, I hear what your saying and I am not taking it in a bad way. I am or was happy with what I have and aware of what it took for me to get there. However, I also recall that I was more comfortable without some of it. So I made the decision to "simplify" (if that's the word I'm looking for) and put away that which was making things more difficult than they needed to be in accordance with my goal(s). My goal is the music, not the gear. For me, I'm a mid-fi guy, not a high-end guy because my goal is the music. I care about sound reproduction unfortunately because if experience, but I also can not afford to care down to the microscopic levels or to pursue the ultimate in sound with certain things. So since it takes a lot more work and money I'll never have to achieve even the rudimentary sound in vinyl analog, I've decided to just have the music in the format I already have all the necessary things to make it sound good. It's called practical and simple. I have stronger roots in CD than vinyl I guess, because people tell me with the same frequency that I need this DAC or that thing for my CDs, but I just don't listen because I know that I do not need them. With vinyl, one is always questioning what's going on and it's such a high maintenance thing that one often times never gets around to the music. So I choose to walk away from it. The other part of the story is that I am just not a high-end guy. I'm not comfortable with it and never will be. It's not in my DNA.

...Or your bank account.

I have only a couple of pieces that can be considered high-end or entry level high-end and that's more than enough for me.
I was chatted into joining this site (which is a good site, make no mistake about it), but was very hesitant because of the high-end mission statement. I can't speak the language and am having great difficulty learning it. So I figure if I simplify and focus on one main medium in my life (CDs) I might have an easier time of it. More importantly, if I just focus on the music making it both the goal and the means to an ends, that makes it even easier. Granted, it's not much of a talking point, but that's ok. I'll just talk about gear with folks here when I have a problem with one of my pieces or am in the market for a piece to replace what dies. (For example, I'm saving for a new amp/receiver and when I get close enough I'll want to ask here). ~Eric

By yours truly. ...And Joe gave you a big boost too in improving your digital sound.
I don't know anyone here more generous than Joe, and Mike.

And Nelson is abso!utely right: You are in the most friendliest company here among the most loveliest people of the entire audio community from the Internet's totality.
Nobody is above or below anybody. And low, mid and high end people are all welcome equally.
We don't take ourselves for someone else but only for who we truly are; real gentlemen/gentlewomen with a true heart beating inside all of us.

Look, I'm mainly a digital man in the year 2013. But I love analog, and the why I started this thread.
I am totally fascinated with all the manual rituals, the passion of nostalgia, the euphony, the beautiful TT designs, the sophisticated tonearms, the complexities and minute details of a state-of-the-art cartridge, the right combination of everything in the chain including the phono preamp stage with its RIAA curves, the RCMs, and again the gorgeous looking turntables out there. And I don't care much at all (just a bit) about that ultra modern, ultra solid using the most high tech (and not cheap) materials, and sophisticated $650,000 German turntable with digital readout and digital setup parameters.

I simply want to share what I learned over the course of my musical journey among the knowledge I gathered and exchanges I had with some of the most amazing analog audio people from all across the earth.

Am I rich? You bet I am!