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I use Spin-Clean for the initial cleaning. I then move it over to my Nitty Gritty with Fluid Injection to vacuum up all the cleaning fluid left behind by the Spin-Clean. I then pump distilled water and do a rinse followed by a vacuum... twice. Works for me!

video started at 2:40 but you may still have to skip. takes a while to cut to the chase.

I do about six different things with my vinyl at various time. But, the best new one I've found is the tool to make sure the spindle hole isn't too tight. That really helps with wow & flutter. It was really noticeable on the first Garbage album at 45 rpm. I tend to notice it on lower frequencies. And, don't take the colored vinyl. 😂😂

Good morning Rick. Upgrades, upgrades, upgrades!!! LOL I just ordered the Pro-Ject Tubebox S2 as an upgrade to the Schiit Mani 2. I like the Mani but looking for a warmer sound and something else to tinker with. In your experience, have you played with the Mani 2? I know you have played with the Pro-Ject Tubebox and upgraded to the Tavish. What are your thoughts on the Tubebox S2 as an upgrade over the Mani 2? Also, why did you move away from the Tubebox? Spin on! Thanks, Ron.

Funny just finding this video, curious about people’s opinion. I have probably bumped into you at Skeletone though! Repressing? Necessary evil but unfortunately usually the remastered editions. Personally I take the chance on OG/ early repress if possible with original mastering. Then there is an economic and availability factor. I try to look into the sourcing and buy high quality reissues when buying new. I have a 200g King Crimson- Red 1974 original stereo mix that Robert Fripp approved the new cut masters. Sound is unreal! The couple extra dollars at best on the right new copy can go a long way.

I love my RT85. I wasn't a fan of the 2M Blue, so I switched it out for an ATVM540ML/H and couldn't be happier. After the break-in period, it turned into a warm, smooth cart with little to no surface noise, rich bass, and improved highs. Definitely recommend it if you want to try another cart instead of the Blue.

Wally Tools are 🤌

Decades ago when I started buying lp's in earnest I bought a very good cart, an Audio-Technica AT15SS. Life happened and there were years when I listened to my records and a lot of years when I didn't listen to them. I've replaced the stylus five or six times. When I found them I would usually bought two. Can't find them any more so, recently I bought an Audio-Technical AT-VM95SH. I guess I'm not in the big league yet. I've always had a very modest system, back in the old days I bought a used system and my cart cost more than the whole system. Even If I could afford it my vintage 70's turntable doesn't have VTA, I'm going to have to jury rig it to get AT-VM95SH to work. The good news is that my records from the late 70's still sound great!

I'm happy to see people interested in this subject. I am a huge fan. I have a Linn LP12 and It still wounds wonderful.

J.R. has forgotten more about analog than anyone ln the industry ever knew, Peter of Soundsmith is the only other in his league.

I went down this path over the last couple years. I own nearly all of WAM’s tools and they have paid dividends.

Hey Rick thanks for venturing down THIS particular rabbit hole!! I mean....could or should anything be more important to us vinyl lovers than having a perfectly or near perfectly aligned phono cartridge...probably not! In the past (I mean more than a few years back) I used to change and align my own tonearm/cartridge combo but got away from doing it myself, and I must admit, there's a lot I've forgotten about the procedure...Anyway I plan on gettin back to hands on again cause it's good to know...really lookin forward to your next video...always so informative and enlightening!

My records still play / sound fine but when it’s a song with base or loud part I get slight muffled sounds isn’t as clear as I’d hope

I cannot wait for this next chapter, awesome.

Thanks for a useful video. But at least half the time was wasted on the tease of your message. A bit less next time please. BTW - Michael Fremer has been talking about these things for a long long time. You can find videos from him about how to get a perfect setup too. Personally, getting all the tracking angles and adjustments correct is important. I don't fuss that much on anti-skating. I think in the ballpark is good enough to great sound.

I’ve seen comments that say wait for the new Okki Nokki but we’ve been waiting for years, so is that really an option?

I hope the E2’s defects are fixed - getting progressively louder, the fragile motor mounts, dying after a few years.

I think if your records are pretty clean already an ultrasonic machine will bring that extra goodness, but if you buy grungy ones it’s going to leave dirt/fingerprints behind. I have experience with the VC-E but not with an ultrasonic so am I on track?

I read the instructions that came with the turntable. Thanks. This sounds like an option thereafter.

Are you using a Step up transformer for your mc carts with your phono pre? Try that rabbit hole

I am looking for a good quality semi automatic or automatic direct drive turntable preferably with an SME tonearm. I don't need or really want on-board bluetooth, wifi, usb, or an integrated preamp. My budget is $1000 but preferably less. Is there anything you would recommend. I currently have a AT LP5X and a Pioneer PL 707 and I need a third turntable and it must be semi or auto.

I need to check them out! I love the math behind everything, so naturally I love the math behind records. I'm like you, though. I will need some repetition to fully grasp everything these tools do. Anti-skate is such a pain. I also just did the "match it to the tracking force" thing. However, I also know I am not able to calibrate the anti-skate, so I don't know if the number showing on the dial is still correct. I tried doing it by ear with a mono record and headphones, but could not hear anything changing. I look forward to finally getting it right.

at the end of the day they still pop and tick

If you like REM and the replacement from the late 80's and early 90's; I would like to suggest the Del Amitri. Del Amitri band was big band across the pond. Check them out, they are still making.

Many of the recordings that I play are all over the map. I adjust the cartridge to the way it sounds. Nothing is perfect

one might also check out a computer program called analogemagik

Excellent video. Makes me want to run out and buy Wallytools....

The Wally tools page has very good information. But I think that if I one day have a good test disk with several frequencies, plus my oscilloscope and a distortion meter, I could make excellent adjustments, just like I already do on a Tape Deck from a test tape.

The best upgrade I made was to add a power amplifier

Wow! I'm so glad you are scoping this out for the rest of us. Very interesting information. I hate trying to learn very tedious stuff like this on my own. But, dang it, stop finding more rabbit holes! 😂

I watched the first three videos and got a headache from trying to pull my head out of the rabbit hole!🤣 I use a blank record to do my anti-skate since it's just easier to it that way. Would I like to try out the WAM tools? Sure, but I'm not sure I want to spend the extra money on them or not. They would probably work on both of my Technics turntables, but my Rega Planar 2 has that stupid magnetic anti-skate system they put in its tonearms (2016 model) and probably won't work very at all. I've tried making it somewhat adjustable, but it's not 100%. I have a touch of OCD when it comes to cleaning and alignment as I'm constantly watching videos from many others trying to tweak the best sound from what I can afford. Maybe I'll go back and watch the rest of the series to see what I can learn. Math was always my most hated subject in school, but I always managed to pass it!

Wallytools has come a long way from their beginnings. Happy listening 🎶 awesome vid. Greg

Wow I feel kinda dumb. Thought I was keeping up with all this. Not so much.

that's hardcore stuff, I admire your commitment. I guess I will *wait* with trying to understand this until I can replace my cartridge

I once had a turntable (expensive), which had a round hole in the wood on both the tonearm side and the opposite side. They gave you this tool which fit into the hole and turning it made the platter rise up higher on whicheverbside, depending on what hole you had the tool in. You could also make it lower the platter a bit on each side. Tonearms with removabable headshells you can improve the sound by tightening the locking collar tighter and tighter. Another rabbit hole.I began using a V shaped metal nutcracker to grip the collar where you plug in the headshell. I knew using the nutcracker I could tighten the collar tighter than just using my fingers. Of course before long, the black paint would reveal the color of silver metal underneath and around the collar, from gripping it with the nutcracker. It improved the sound to an amazing degree though. Playing something as tiny as a record groove, is a very delicate process, Precise is needed for best sound quality. The real question is; what's better? Adjusting anti skating with the tools or with your ears? Especially if you have trained ears

Awesome video! I always love learning new things. And you've gotta love a video that actually makes use of high school math :-)

Yeah it's really good Wally tools. for a long time I've never been a fan of the protractor overhang angle is better way of doing it. His discussion on zmith is very interesting have you changed the angle of the cartridge now in the headshell does it look slightly twisted now!

Yeah, I'd looked at that Wally Tools stuff before but it's not for me. Once I've gone through the basic setup and it sounds good that's it for me. If I have to buy those expensive tools and go through all of that then it's too anal for me, and I may as well just stick to CDs and enjoy the music But if that makes you happy then have at it my man.

Rick, I am nearly as happy as you are, for your success at recognizing the many importance nuances of cartridge alignment, and learning how and taking the steps to accomplish what few turntable enthusiasts have done. You are actually doing it, and you have been rewarded for your efforts with ear candy. Between your Pangea shelf, and professionally aligning your cartridge, you will have a listening experience that few others have had. Way to go!

What you said about math and algebra... right there with you, brother.

As I was watching this FedEx showed up with my new turntable, so fantastic timing. I briefly spoke with JR at the Dallas Audio Fest, and was going to attend the class after the show (went to the Kirmuss class instead). Thanks for this information, will watch the videos and have already checked out the website. Most likely will go with the Wally tools as well.

Got my spelunking gear at the ready, looking forward to taking a deeper plunge into the obsession!

Michael Fremer is the set up king for cartridges and turntable set up.

I’m very much looking forward to the future videos on your discovery journey specifically for these tools and yet another rabbit hole 😁