January 2010

Michael Fremer on DVD

Analog fanatics are a funny bunch. While we’re willing to spend hours expounding on our beliefs, few of us will admit we could use a spot of help in setting up our turntables and cleaning and caring for our precious LPs. Well, help has arrived from Michael Fremer, who is widely recognized as the authority on vinyl playback. In 2006 he released the DVD 21st Century Vinyl, his practical guide to setting up a turntable. Then in 2008 he released his follow-up, It’s a Vinyl World, After All, a guide to record cleaning, storage, handling, collecting and manufacturing. Between these two discs, anyone is sure to find helpful information -- whether they’re new to the realm of analog enjoyment or seasoned pros looking to extract that last degree of performance from their analog setup.

21st Century Vinyl has been around -- and favorably received -- for the last few years. Why? Because it does just what the title suggests: it shows even novices how to set up their very first table to start enjoying the benefits of vinyl. And for those of us who either grew up with the LP or have been listening to LPs for a number of years, Fremer offers many tricks and tips that will surprise and assist in tweaking turntables for maximum performance. I grew with the vinyl LP and never abandoned the format, but even I found some great ideas that I hadn’t yet tried.

Fremer goes through the setup procedures for three different turntables: the Pro-Ject RM-5, Rega P5, and VPI Scoutmaster. He chooses these three because the Pro-Ject is the type of table someone just getting into vinyl might purchase, and Fremer goes into exquisite detail about how to set it up -- both with proper tools and without -- so that anyone can do it properly. The Rega P5 is a table that the novice might graduate to as they find they want more of that superb vinyl sound. And while many aspects of turntable setup are similar, there are enough differences to warrant the help of an expert like Mr. Fremer. Finally, Fremer shows how to handle the setup of a VPI Scoutmaster table and arm (yes, all of these tables come with the arm already pre-mounted -- it’s one less thing to worry about). The VPI is very near the top of the line for the committed, but not over-the-top, vinyl enthusiast. And its unipivot arm and unique anti-skating mechanism require a bit more in the way of instruction. Thankfully, Fremer goes beyond mere explanation to show you every step.

What I found most helpful, especially for the newcomer, is that while there are many expensive tools to aid you in setting up your table, there are just as many ways of setting it up on a budget and achieving most of its potential. So if you really want to get into vinyl setup, this DVD will show you what tools allow the most accurate way. But if all you want is to set up a decent table as quickly and cheaply as possible to start enjoying your records, Fremer shows you that too. That’s why this DVD is so valuable for both the beginner and the long-time listener. I’ve been an avid collector of vinyl for over 40 years, and I’ve set up my fair share of tables over that span, but I still learned a few tricks that I’d never considered. For instance, his tip about using rubber wedges to hold the platter in place was new to me, but it makes perfect sense. I’ve also always had problems with cartridge mounting, and I’ve looked for methods that would simplify the process. But Fremer shows how threading just one screw in first can make mounting the cartridge leads much easier, as you can swing the cartridge to an angle that allows better visibility. These are just a couple of examples of how this DVD will help you achieve a higher-quality setup with less effort. If you love the LP, then you owe it to yourself to own 21st Century Vinyl. You’ll have plenty of reasons to revisit it as you upgrade your table, arm, or cartridge.

As a bonus, Fremer has a lovely chat with George Marino of Sterling Sound. Marino has been a mastering engineer for longer than he wants to admit, and he knows his way around a cutting lathe. His insights are helpful, especially his admission that there is no one proper angle for the stylus of your cartridge to track the groove of an LP, as the angle of the cutting head (which is what you’re trying to duplicate) is fixed at the factory and varies due to a number of factors. This explanation flies in the face of accepted audiophile wisdom, but once you hear it explained, it’ll make perfect sense.

The additional DVD-ROM PDF file is a treasure trove of detailed information that Fremer just didn’t have the time to delve into in the video. I highly recommend you study it carefully. And if you hunt long enough, you’ll find a little Easter egg that Fremer has included in the DVD to lighten the mood.

While setup is important, simply learning how to properly set up a turntable isn’t enough. With his second DVD, It’s a Vinyl World, After All, we find a DVD chock full of all the other information you’ll need about what you’ll be playing on that newly setup table -- vinyl records. Without records to play on them, turntables -- and our entire stereo systems -- are just expensive boat anchors. So Fremer uses this new DVD to delve into every aspect of owning LPs, from cleaning, handling, and storing them to building your collection, and he even looks at how they’re made. Much like the first DVD, this is a reference that any vinyl enthusiast will use more than once.

The disc starts with a visit to the Pallas record pressing plant in Diepholz, Germany, and Fremer later visits RTI for a session with Music Matters mastering one of their sweet Blue Note reissues. Through these visits we learn anything and everything you could ever want to know about how a record is made. You’ll also learn how each step, from cleaning the minted lacquer to specially preparing the labels before applying them to the LPs, is vital in pressing records that are worth listening to. And while these details may sound a tad boring, Fremer explains how the care that goes into the making of a record goes a long way toward the quality of what you hear at home.

After the visits to Pallas and RTI, Fremer gets into what we as record owners and listeners really need to know: how to care for our precious vinyl collections. For storing a collection, he says that keeping LPs vertical is essential, as warped LPs can sound ugly. He then offers a handy lesson on record cleaning, explaining that how carefully you clean your records will determine how long they stay in good shape and how they’ll sound. Fremer shows us many of the cleaners available today, and he demonstrates how to clean a record using a Nitty Gritty record cleaning machine. He also offers some practical advice on making sure you don’t contaminate your freshly cleaned side while cleaning the other side. I found this lesson to be of particular value -- he validated many of my usual methods, and I learned a couple of new tricks that will help me take better care of my records.

There’s also another well-written and informative PDF file on this DVD that will serve as an excellent reference any time you have a question -- so you don’t need to search the DVD for the information you want.

So here are two full DVDs devoted to turntable setup and record care. Who would have thought 20 years ago that even one of these would be necessary today? Michael Fremer always has. He’s carried the vinyl torch for all these years, through the dark days to the vinyl revival, so he knows what he’s talking about. If you don’t set up your table properly, you won’t extract all the information embedded in the grooves of your LPs. And if you don’t care for those precious LPs correctly, then even the perfect setup won’t give you the best possible sound. So while I wish I could save you some money (to spend on more LPs), these essential DVDs are just what the vinyl doctor ordered.

. . . John Crossett
johnc@soundstage.com

Vinyl Word Archived Articles
  • October 2009 - Pure Pleasure from Pure Pleasure Records
  • September 2009 - The Music Really Matters
  • August 2009 - The Pros and Cons of LPs Today
  • July 2009 - Bel Canto e.One Phono3 Phono Stage
  • April 2009 - Lamm Industries LP2 Deluxe Phono Stage
  • December 2008 - Blue Circle Audio BC709 Phono Stage
  • October 2008 - VPI Industries HW-27 Typhoon Record-Cleaning Machine
  • September 2008 - Tri-Planar Mk VII UII Tonearm
  • September 2008 - Lyra Argo i Phono Cartridge
  • August 2008 - Zyx Artisan Phono Stage
  • July 2008 - Furutech Ag-12 Phono Cable
  • June 2008 - Bellari VP129 Phono Stage
  • June 2008 - Ortofon 2M Black Phono Cartridge
  • May 2008 - Boston Audio Design Mat 1 Record Mat
  • May 2008 - TW-Acustic Raven AC Turntable
  • April 2008 - Zyx Atmos Phono Cartridge
  • April 2008 - KAB Electro Acoustics SpeedStrobe and Great Sound Escorts Stereo Canceler
  • March 2008 - Millennium Audiotrade M-LP Record Mat and Silentor Record Weight
  • February 2008 - Music Hall MMF 5.1SE Turntable
  • February 2008 - Origin Live Conqueror Mk III Tonearm
  • January 2008 - Audio Intelligent Vinyl Solutions Record-Cleaning Fluids
  • December 2007 - Artemis Labs PH-1 Phono Stage
  • December 2007 - Walker Audio Prelude Deluxe Record-Cleaning Kit
  • November 2007 - Audio-Technica AT-OC9ML/II Phono Cartridge
  • October 2007 - CanRong CR-B5 Stylus-Force Gauge
  • September 2007 - Furutech deStat Antistatic Device and DFV-1 LP Flattener
  • August 2007 - Found on Vinyl: Karrin Allyson, Annie Ross and Lauren White
  • July 2007 - Found on Vinyl: Mississippi John Hurt, Son House, and Buddy Guy & Junior Wells
  • June 2007 - Simaudio Moon LP5.3 Phono Stage
  • May 2007 - Found on Vinyl: Ella Fitzgerald, Jimmy Smith & Wes Montgomery, and Roy Eldridge
  • April 2007 - Found On Vinyl: Clark Terry, Rosemary Clooney & Duke Ellington, and Jim Hall
  • March 2007 - Found On Vinyl: Claire Martin, Madeline Peyroux, and Gerry Mulligan with Scott Hamilton
  • February 2007 - Furutech deMag LP Demagnetizer
  • December 2006 - Audio Research PH7 Phono Stage
  • November 2006 - Found on Vinyl: Kenny Burrell, Hank Mobley, and the Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane
  • October 2006 - Found on Vinyl: Three from Opus 3
  • September 2006 - Crystal Cable CrystalConnect Piccolo and CrystalConnect Micro Phono Cables
  • August 2006 - 21st Century Vinyl: Michael Fremer’s Practical Guide to Turntable Set-Up
  • July 2006 - Korato Anniversary Phono Stage
  • June 2006 - Aqvox Phono 2 CI Phono Stage
  • May 2006 - Found on Vinyl: Ray Brown, Ernestine Anderson, and Ray Charles
  • April 2006 - Pro-Ject Xperience Turntable
  • March 2006 - Found on Vinyl: Aaron Neville, Duke Ellington, and Leopold Stokowski
  • February 2006 - Ortofon Rondo Blue Phono Cartridge
  • January 2006 - Found on Vinyl: The Who, Neil Young, and The Alan Parsons Project
  • December 2005 - Audio Research PH5 Phono Stage
  • November 2005 - Nottingham Analogue Space Deck Turntable and Ace-Space Tonearm
  • October 2005 - Found on Vinyl: Sarah McLachlan, Beth Orton, and Grey De Lisle
  • September 2005 - ELP Corporation LT-2XRC Laser Turntable
  • August 2005 - Found On Vinyl: Primus, Patricia Barber, and John Lennon
  • July 2005 - Found On Vinyl: Johnny Griffin, Lee Morgan, and Sonny Clark
  • June 2005 - Ayre Acoustics P-5xe Phono Stage
  • May 2005 - Cardas Audio Myrtle Silver Heart Phono Cartridge
  • April 2005 - Bel Canto Design PHONO1 Phono Stage
  • March 2005 - Thorens TD 2010 Turntable
  • February 2005 - Origin Live Resolution Modern Turntable and Illustrious Tonearm
  • December 2004 - Found on Vinyl: Like Minds, Jacintha and Lee Morgan
  • November 2004 - Pro-Ject RPM 9 Turntable
  • September 2004 - Found on Vinyl: The Return of Mobile Fidelity
  • June 2004 - Found on Vinyl: Maria Muldaur, John Hammond and Eric Clapton
  • April 2004 - Clearaudio Emotion Turntable, Satisfy Tonearm and Aurum Classics Wood Phono Cartridge
  • March 2004 - Found On Vinyl: Jimi Hendrix, the Allman Brothers Band, and Pink Floyd
  • December 2003 - Found on Vinyl: Ray Brown, L.A.4, and Art Blakey
  • November 2003 - MSB Technology brush-1 Analog-to-Digital Converter
  • October 2003 - Belles 20A Phono Stage
  • August 2003 - Found on Vinyl: Peter Gabriel and Holly Cole
  • July 2003 - Found on Vinyl: J.R. Monterose, Johnny Griffin, and Roy Orbison
  • June 2003 - Lehmann Audio Black Cube SE Phono Stage
  • May 2003 - Found on Vinyl: Eden Atwood, Tom Loncaric and His Orchestra, and Mike Bloomfield
  • April 2003 - Linn Adikt Phono Cartridge
  • March 2003 - Thor Audio TA-3000 Phono Stage
  • February 2003 - Lamm Industries LP2 Phono Preamplifier
  • September 2002 - Found on Vinyl: Sundazed Bob Dylan Remasters
  • August 2002 - Found on Vinyl: Up, Bustle and Out; DJ Food; and Giant Sand
  • June 2002 - Found on Vinyl: The Blues on Analogue Productions Originals
  • May 2002 - Clearaudio Champion Turntable
  • April 2002 - Found on Vinyl: Bennie Wallace and Jacintha
  • March 2002 - Conrad Johnson EV1 Phono Stage
  • February 2002 - Found on Vinyl: Tom Waits, Anthony Wilson Trio and Bill Cunliffe Trio
  • December 2001 - Found on Vinyl: Blue Note 10" Reissues and the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
  • October 2001 - Found on Vinyl: GodSpeed! You Black Emperor and DJ Food
  • September 2001 - Joule Electra OPS-2 Mk V Phono Stage
  • July 2001 - van den Hul MC-One Special Phono Cartridge
  • May 2001 - Rotel RQ-970BX Phono Stage
  • March 2001 - Herron Audio VTPH-1 Phono Stage
  • December 2000 - Audiomat Phono 1 Phono Stage
  • October 2000 - Balanced Audio Technology VK-P10 Phono Stage
  • September 2000 - Music Hall MMF-5 Turntable
  • August 2000 - Audio Research Reference Phono Preamplifier
  • June 2000 - Lyra Lydian Beta Moving-Coil Phono Cartridge
  • May 2000 - Groove Note LP plus 45 Vinyl
  • February 2000 - Art Audio Vinyl One Phono Stage
  • December 1999 - Immedia Needle Nectar
  • October 1999 - Margules Magenta FZ47dB Phono Stage
  • September 1999 - The Jimi Hendrix Classic Singles Collection
  • August 1999 - LAST Record Care Products
  • July 1999 - Three Slick Gizmos From KAB Electro Acoustics
  • June 1999 - Blue Circle Audio BC-23 Phono Stage
  • May 1999 - Rega Planar 25 Turntable
  • April 1999 - Creek OBH-8 Phono Preamplifier
  • March 1999 - Nitty Gritty 1.5Fi Record Cleaner
  • December 1998 - Audio Note IQ-2 Phono Cartridge
  • November 1998 - Blue Note+Vinyl=Classic Records
  • October 1998 - Wilson Benesch ACT 0.5 Tonearm
  • September 1998 - Do The Tarantella!
  • July 1998 - Dynavector 10x4 Mk.II Phono Cartridge
  • June 1998 - The Music Hall MMF-2: An Analog System for the Economically Challenged
  • May 1998 - On a Safari in America's Heartland
  • April 1998 - The Virtues of Vinyl