u/Aestheticbacon88

I’ve been a fan of small smartphones since my old SE2016. The portability and how comfortable they are to use for a guy with small hands like me makes them a no brainer. After a couple of upgrade cycles I went from SE1 to 7 and then SE2.

3 years ago I was in need of an Android phone so I got a pixel 6A, which felt borderline too big but it wasn’t so heavy so it was ok; until its screen failed and got replaced by a regular 6. I guess I just dealt with it and ended up using the pixel as my main with an SE as a secondary until last week.

But still, I wasn’t completely comfortable and I had a couple of near misses where my phone almost fell of my pocket while riding my bike. Most of the time I was just taking the SE instead of the pixel.

So a couple of days ago I decided it was enough and just sold it. I found this 128gb blue 12 mini locally and just had to get it. No swapped parts, original battery and fine condition. Eventually will swap the battery and I hope to get at least two years of more out of it. The only bummer is that it was already updated to iOS 26 but it doesn’t run all that bad.

Size is just about right and I have any of the app optimization problems that my SE gets. I couldn’t be happier!

After my unbranded 3600L died because I moved the turntable while the arm was not secured, I’ve been trying to decide how to replace it. I really like how 0.6mil conicals sound on well-loved vinyl; and since a new stylus and another eBay special are almost the same price, I decided to get another cartridge (Actually branded this time).

Then I decided to hit my local marketplace to take a look and I got hit by a dilemma. There is a shure M70b with a conjugal stylus, New old stock available for $30.

Should I go with the Shure or the AT?

The reason why I prefer the 3600L is how cheap and readily available they are. Original Shure styli seem to be impossible to get by comparison.

I tend to frequent this place that is kind of a non-profit thrift store that sells records for $1. I've gotten my fair share of music from there, mostly albums but I try to scoop compilations from time to time.

​

But man... This Aretha Franklin comp just sound fantastic! It's dynamic, detailed and warm. It's an original 71 pressing with the standard Atlantic label.

​

Which bargain bin record surprised you sound-wise?

I've been doing vinyl to digital transfers to my girlfriend's grandpa, mostly stuff from his country that has never been on CD before. My quality had been very good until my trusty old Sony turntable started to have problems tracking on records while using low tracking forces.

​

While the problem didn't appear with my good old 3600L, fearing I might damage his irreplaceable records I just told him that I would stop for a bit until I could find a new turntable. He has given me a fair share of audio stuff recently, mostly some phono cartridges and cables, so it was fairly surprising when he offered me his old turntable.

​

This SL3200 had been lying in his garage for at least 3 years but after some cleaning it is now working again, minus the automatic return. It is not perfect yet but it's way better than before.

​

I need to find some replacement feet, but if someone knows some tips on how to polish the corroded buttons and switches it would be extremely helpful.

​

Today I was doing my morning scroll through Marketplace and I just saw this ad for some VHS machines. It only had two pictures where you can see a whole shelf full of just early 2000s decks and a couple of professional S-VHS ones. The description was non-existent and it was just priced as "free".

After glancing at it for a bit and deciding that a professional editing deck was too much for me (I am just digitizing some family videos), I asked if by any chance they had some regular consumer S-VHS decks. He replied with a picture of two Panasonic machines and a message that said "send me an offer". Meanwhile, I was expecting to get just one deck so I send him a $30 offer and he accepted it. In my country, machines like these are just worthless for most people so it was actually an ok offer.

He accepts it, I arrange the sale and once I arrive the guy tests the machines for me. I was thinking that maybe he will show that both works and let me pick one, but he just says "the offer is for both, please take them". After a very long cleaning process and a bit of love, both machines are mechanically perfect, one of them having issues getting Hifi audio but for $30 I cannot complain.

Since a couple of weeks ago, I've been going to my girlfriend grandfather's house to spend some time with him. He was an audiophile back in the day and has gifted me a couple of phono cartridges, mainly a Technics 270C that needs a new stylus, a Shure M91 with a M44 stylus and this bad boy. The cantilever was shot but he also included stylus in box in unknown condition.

I installed it, aligned it and tried to play a couple of test records that I keep around for these types of cases. I noticed that it is skipping on loud passages with big bass or it makes a resonant thump when playing music with a prominent kick drum

My turntable is a Sony 1150 and since the V15 is a high compliance cart, it is possible that the issues I'm getting are due to resonance and tonearm mismatching? Or could it be that the stylus is actually worn?

Treble actually sounds fine and it doesn't present the usual sound characteristics I associate with a worn stylus.

I have another turntable I can use with a lighter tonearm but I'm missing the counterweight and I'm currently expecting my payroll to order it (Pioneer PL-5).