New turntable, flat sound.

[bluesq55]

Just bought a TEAC TN-180BT. I realize it's entry-level, but the sound is disappointingly flat - no shimmer at the high end. Is there anything I can do?

 

[matthewpianist]

What do you have it connected to?

 

[record_spot]

Adjust your speaker position slightly.
New cartridge.
Give it time to run in more.

 

[bluesq55]

What do you have it connected to?

It's bluetooth, with a little cheapie adapter into a fine Yamaha receiver and Bose speakers. I know that the obvious culprit is that it's Bluetooth and a cheapie adapter, but streaming services bluetoothed into the system sound wonderful. I guess I was hoping that a turntable would open up the miraculous vinyl sound that everyone talks about.

 

[matthewpianist]

It's bluetooth, with a little cheapie adapter into a fine Yamaha receiver and Bose speakers. I know that the obvious culprit is that it's Bluetooth and a cheapie adapter, but streaming services bluetoothed into the system sound wonderful. I guess I was hoping that a turntable would open up the miraculous vinyl sound that everyone talks about.

I'm afraid you're expecting miracles where they don't exist. Try connecting it to your receiver with phono cables instead and see if that sounds better to your ears. It should be perfectly listenable and enjoyable, but don't expect it to blow away your streaming services because in this context you will be disappointed.

 

[Al ears]

I'm afraid you're expecting miracles where they don't exist. Try connecting it to your receiver with phono cables instead and see if that sounds better to your ears. It should be perfectly listenable and enjoyable, but don't expect it to blow away your streaming services because in this context you will be disappointed.

Quite so. Perhaps the best thing the OP can do is connect via phono cables as you say.
He may be expecting a bit much from a £195 turntable package but it should certainly sound better when cable connected.
The deck does have a built-in phono preamp so that's the way to go.

 

[daytona600]

$1 Generic chinese Cartridge fitted to this TEAC. You could upgrade the Stylus / Replace the cartridge for some Sparkle

 

[Gray]

a fine Yamaha receiver

Has the fine Yamaha got a built-in phono preamplifier?
If so, you should start by comparing its sound to the one that's built into your turntable.
(The turntable's own phono amp is switchable).

Don't take too much notice of 'everybody' talking about 'miraculous vinyl sound'.
It can sound fantastic - but not really for 200 quid and never via Bluetooth 👍

I see the deck comes with an AT VM model cartridge......swap that for a VM-95 model - that doesn't lack shimmer.
Music without shimmer is not music as far as I'm concerned (although there are some strange people out there that prefer symbols to sound as if they're covered in blankets).

 

[bluesq55]

Has the fine Yamaha got a built-in phono preamplifier?
If so, you should start by comparing its sound to the one that's built into your turntable.
(The turntable's own phono amp is switchable).

Don't take too much notice of 'everybody' talking about 'miraculous vinyl sound'.
It can sound fantastic - but not really for 200 quid and never via Bluetooth 👍

I see the deck comes with an AT VM model cartridge......swap that for a VM-95 model - that doesn't lack shimmer.
Music without shimmer is not music as far as I'm concerned (although there are some strange people out there that prefer symbols to sound as if they're covered in blankets).

Thanks to everyone for your thoughtful answers. Any suggestions for a turntable without Bluetooth in the $400 range?

 

[matthewpianist]

Thanks to everyone for your thoughtful answers. Any suggestions for a turntable without Bluetooth in the $400 range?

How large is your LP collection?

 

[Al ears]

Has the Yamaha got a built-in phono preamplifier, what is the Yamahas model number, or do you need one built into the turntable?

 

[nopiano]

Thanks to everyone for your thoughtful answers. Any suggestions for a turntable without Bluetooth in the $400 range?

This is a handy guide. https://www.whathifi.com/best-buys/hi-fi/best-budget-turntables

But it helps to know the answers already requested above. No point in buying a built in phono stage if your Yamaha amp is already equipped with phono input, for example.

 

[daytona600]

Any suggestions for a turntable without Bluetooth in the $400 range?
Project or Rega

 

[Jasonovich]

It's bluetooth, with a little cheapie adapter into a fine Yamaha receiver and Bose speakers. I know that the obvious culprit is that it's Bluetooth and a cheapie adapter, but streaming services bluetoothed into the system sound wonderful. I guess I was hoping that a turntable would open up the miraculous vinyl sound that everyone talks about.

Bose speakers are more lifestyle than HiFi, not saying you don't get a decent sound but you'll likely to get a more expansive sound from a good pair of budget speakers, such as the Wharfedale Diamond 12.1.

Feed the budget speakers to the Yamaha receiver and you should see some noticeable improvements to the sound. Also consider upgrading to an external phono preamp and possibly the cartridge.

 

[Gray]

Thanks to everyone for your thoughtful answers. Any suggestions for a turntable without Bluetooth in the $400 range?

Don't necessarily write off your turntable - wired, it should be ok (subject to adequate cartridge and phono preamp).

 

[matthewpianist]

Looking at the arm, I don't think a change of cartridge is an option - it's designed for the AT-3600L, with no facility for balancing the arm to suit anything different. That isn't a bad entry-level cartridge though, and probably as far as you would want to go on a turntable of this nature anyway.