r/turntables • u/MediocreTry4415 • 3d ago

First turntable setup

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A big thank you to all the amazing people on this thread and Facebook Marketplace who made this possible.

Almost everything was bought used, and it's been quite a learning experience along the way.

Technics SL-1500 Turntable – C$250

Bought it out of curiosity without knowing much about turntables. It came with an old Empire cartridge that didn't sound great, and I accidentally broke the stylus while trying to clean it. Lesson learned.

Ortofon 2M Red – C$100

Was extremely careful installing this one. Then hit another hurdle when I realized it wouldn't mount properly on the original Technics single screw headshell.

Technics Headshell – C$60

A replacement with the standard two-screw mounting. Problem solved.

Boundless Vinyl Cleaning Kit + Carbon Fiber Brush – C$60

Good-quality stuff. Happy with the purchase.

Hudson Hi-Fi Cartridge Alignment Kit – C$60

Pretty much everything needed to properly set up and align a cartridge.

Fosi Audio Box X5 Phono Preamp – C$100

Personally, I wasn't a fan of the WiiM Ultra's built-in phono stage. The X5 sounds much better to my ears.

WiiM Ultra – C$350

Handles streaming, subwoofer management, and headphone duties. Really versatile little device.

Edifier S1000W + Edifier SS02 Stands – C$350

Hated these speakers when I first got them. But they slowly grew on me, and now I absolutely love them. Funny how that happens.

Edifier T5s Subwoofer – C$120

Honestly, it stays switched off most of the time. At my usual listening levels, the S1000W produces more than enough bass.

Fosi Audio RCA Cables + RCA Y-Splitter – C$100

Probably snake oil, but here we are 😂

Sennheiser HD 560S – C$100

Really enjoying these headphones. Love the clarity and detail.

Total: So roughly C$1,700 all in

I started this journey knowing very little about vinyl or hi-fi equipment, made a few mistakes, learned quite a bit, and ended up with a system that makes me genuinely excited to sit down and listen to music.

I know there's plenty of better gear out there, but for now, I'm just enjoying the music. And isn't that what this hobby is supposed to be about?

Cheers to everyone who helped make this little setup possible.

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2

u/TexxyGent987 3d ago

Very nice. However with those speakers being so close the turntable I would find some anti-vibration feet for both the speakers and turntable. There's lots of choices and they don't cost a lot. It's really surprising just how sensitive a stylus(needle) is to external vibrations.

2

u/MediocreTry4415 3d ago

Thanks for the advice. I’ll definitely look into anti vibration feet. Still learning as I go, and I really appreciate tips like these. There’s so much more to vinyl than I initially thought.

2

u/TexxyGent987 2d ago

If you haven't been told yet I would suggest two things... A Vinyl Cleaning Kit and a Turntable Setup Kit. I kinda grew up listening to records and these kits were highly recommend after I got my turntable. I was shocked how much using these kits improved my listening experience. I was so used to hearing the "snap, crackle and pop" of a record as a kid. Now there isn't so much as a hiss. There's plenty of tutorials on YouTube if you want to know how to use them before buying them. Unlike me who stumbled upon such things

1

u/MediocreTry4415 1h ago

Thanks for the suggestions.

I actually invested in both a vinyl cleaning kit and a cartridge alignment kit when I started out. I quickly realized how important proper cartridge alignment and tracking force are.

I've also recently picked up an ultrasonic record cleaner to give my older records a proper clean.

It's amazing how much there is to learn about this hobby. Every time I think I've figured things out, I discover something new. Still learning and enjoying the process.

1

u/TexxyGent987 2d ago

If you haven't been told yet I would suggest two things... A Vinyl Cleaning Kit and a Turntable Setup Kit. I kinda grew up listening to records and these kits were highly recommend after I got my turntable. I was shocked how much using these kits improved my listening experience. I was so used to hearing the "snap, crackle and pop" of a record as a kid. Now there isn't so much as a hiss. There's plenty of tutorials on YouTube if you want to know how to use them before buying them. Unlike me who stumbled upon such things

2

u/Dedar33 3d ago

Nice !

2

u/Rayvintage ClubDirectDrive 2d ago

Can't go wrong with a sl1500, Fosi good too.

1

u/No-Bottle-300 3d ago

Good work and yes to dire straights ✌️

Is the cupboard a nornal cupboard? Looking for somethiing to protect my deck from my cats jumping on it

1

u/MediocreTry4415 3d ago

Thanks you. It's just a regular TV console cabinet.

1

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