I have been an audio enthusiast for over fifty years, and this is the BEST instructional video for turntable set up I have ever seen. I am going to re set up my turntable again right now. God bless this man for caring about what he dose to benefit all of us. Thank you sir.
@@rabarebra Hi there, just an expression of my appreciation, thats all. Hope I haven't offended you; certainly is not my intention. I also may have miss interpreted your comment, in that case LOL!😁 have a great day, stay healthy and happy.
I want to know why these under-arm counterweights are supposed to be better by keeping the centre of mass below the arm? they are sold as 'upgrades' on ebay.
@Cornelius Agrippa I am not sure what this "upgrade" is, so I am skeptical. I have had great results with turntables as they come from manufacture by just checking the alignment and tracking force, etc. In my opinion, I don't need to sink money into more upgrades when my system sings beautifully as it is.
I have the highest respect for a man who advises me to crack open a beer before getting down to the tedious task of aligning a cartridge. Very informative video. Highly appreciated!
A beer is better because you don't want doobie ashes on your Doobie Brothers LPs but you need to be calm and focused for the cartridge surgery. #trustaboomer #justkiddingimgenX #thosearentreal#s
If you opened beers, you might get confused somewhere during this process and stick the cartridge up your ass instead. So, just go with a heavy mug of coffee. Ya need to be alert and not be compromised on finger dexterity.
Love this guy! TH-cam has become so commercialized! This guy is just a Vinyl loving sensei who wants to share his love with the world. No hidden agendas! Keep it up man!
@@sharniff5892 yes, young people these days are spoiled and aren't disciplined enough to sit still and watch a video through fully. A pathetic and weak generation, indeed.
i think you must search for help in other place or you´ll never have your turntable correctelly set up,that´s why i never called my self a audiophile but a hi-fi enthusiast, audiophiles can be ....whatever, not good in the pictuire ,not having anything against you, we never met but some are really assholes soiled and everything"the SL-1200 never was ment to be a professional turntable but a audiophile turntable" as an example i only asked him "to whom are their good turntables?"than "check the technics 72 catalog" when audiophiles till 2010 said to be a working horse the SL-1200
Im back four years later to say i pass this vid onto many clients who pop by and get excited on seeing my turntable play flawlessly. Thank you once again 🎉
Thank you so much for making this video. You are an amazing instructor when it comes to learning about Turntables. My Dad recently passed and left me about 400 vinyl from 1962-1986. Liquid gold.
You are blessed. Many hours of memories and love await you. I have a similar journey to embark with several boxes of 1935 to 1950 Jazz and Classical from my Dad. 😊♥️
This is one of the most complete and helpful tutorials I have found on this topic. I have been listening to vinyl for 40+ years and this is the first time I have actually seen something that explains all these things in plain English. I love the fact that you’re doing this in the corner of your workshop dedicated to brewing beer. These are all signs of a true renaissance man in this day and age. Thanks for making my life 2% happier!
I happen to have the very same turntable, so that helps a lot, but I have to say that your video is the best I have seen. At 86, I am retired from the record business as a producer (Riverside, Columbia, Prestige) but I wish I had known what you teach with such clarity. Better late than never! Thank you, I will subscribe.
Oh my gosh! I am familiar with your work! It is incredible how small the internet makes the world. Your contributions to jazz music are appreciated. I am so glad that I came across you here!
I have a Techinics SL-23 that I bought new in the 80's, there was no set up for this unit, plug and play and it has served me well until now. I bought an Audio Technical direct drive a week ago and have had a hell of a time setting it up until I saw this video. Thank you so much , your a life saver!!
Like many here, I had to retire to find the time to set up my record player properly. I gave my 1000 record collection to my daughter years ago and bought her a cheap turntable combo to play them on. It was great as she started listening and loving the same vinyl music I did decades earlier. Then I started listening to them and the sound blew me away -even on the cheap thing I bought for her. Years later here I am, browsing 2nd hand shops for records and playing them on a vintage LXI direct drive turntable I just upgraded the cartridge on, slowly building another collection (no, I never asked for them back), finally setting it up properly. Thx for your clear direction on this. It was a big help.
Thank you for taking the time to teach the intricacies of turntable cartridge alignment and tonearm setup in such great detail. Your patience and expertise made the learning process not only enlightening but truly enjoyable. There is no better video on the subject than this one.
Wow, that was a learning...I'm 54 years old, so grew up with record players, but have never had anyone explain all these things in such depth...thank you! I have subscribed!
Thank you for this video. Been a long time listener to vinyl for 65 yrs now and have been away from setting up for 20 odd yrs. This is the perfect refresher course I needed, I was dead right all the way through, so can safely install my "new" cartridge, that I've had for 8 yrs (still in it's box, as it came to me from Japan. Thanks, from UK.
This reminds me of the Joe Walsh video for setting up a Les Paul guitar. It’s so generous to take the time to teach those who want and need to learn this stuff. It’s generational too!
I've had my Technics SL B21 since the mid 80's. After a long hiatus I am bringing my sound system out of retirement, as I am transitioning into retirement myself. I'd like to echo the sentiments of others in saying, this is the best explanation I've seen to demystifying the setting of those dials, to get the tracking right. Your enthusiasm is contagious. Thank you.
I'm finally getting around to setting this turntable up, which I acquired a few years ago. This is one of the best instructional videos on TH-cam. It's clear, precise, well shot...no superfluous nonsense, no insipid background music, but everything you need to know to set this up properly. Thanks so much.
This is amazing. I cannot get over how you made EVERYTHING so understandable to someone like I - the type who barely knows how to turn the darn thing on. Great tutorial!
I have followed this tutorial for years now. Since I do not need to change carts often, but every few years I do, and this is a video I have saved and always go back to. It has helped all the carts I have bought be the best they can, and sound. I want to say thank you for this video that is easy to follow, understand for everyone, and making it not about you need this, or that you need to get something expensive to get the job done. The only thing I would say you should buy is the digital scale, just like in the video. This could be bought in a kit for $25 (scale, alignment protractor, scale gauge block). Very happy that this video has been seen as much as it has. It shows how many people appreciate the video, and how many people have gotten into vinyl records/turntables.
Absolutely fantastic video!! Just installed a new Goldring E3 cartridge on my AT LP5 Turntable. Did not even know about the need to do all of these things before playing a record. Will be up a few hours this evening. Thank you for spending your time to teach us novices! 😊
@@rajeshkansara4505 it´s easy and fast to do, the only thing ,i think it was left out is when having the optimal weight on the stylus as it´s specifications allow if the anti-skating is the same as the weight but some songs in the end if the record are still not good as the ones in the beggining just had a bit on the anti-skating till they sound all the same(Perfect),normally analog instrumentrs on early cd years the sound is very bad compared to the vinil version ,if not something is wrong on the turntable ,i´ve tried several cartridges and stylus till 400€´s which in my opinion is already a lot of money ,they do normally sound worse than the stylus that came originally with the turntable, also i have to say that in the 80´s some of mine cartridges, refering to their stylus had not already being produced by the brand but at the time substitution needles were well built ,today they are very bad ,i worked in a laboratorium and i can still use the magnifying lenses to watch how they were assembled ,you can see the tip with a 30 cm´s measure and watch all work done ,i bought two for about 30 to 40€ and they are just garbage ,not a problem of the cartridge or the turntable itself but the badly built substitution needles, there are still well built ones but one needs to do a research , and make question about them to it´s seller ,regards
Really helpful, 62 years old and now have a turntable that needs setting up - not like the old philips thing I had as a kid that I had to run through an old wooden radio to get any sound. Thank you for your great explanation.
This is unbelievably phenomenal. Now I need this for my DUAL CS 508, BUT, I am sending the link to a few folk who probably have no interest in doing this and may not even have a turntable for all I know. I know they will enjoy your presentation so much. Your presentation is so clear, presented with so much care that every detail is digestible and with respect and affection for your audience. You care that anyone viewing this will fully understand every nuance of the job. I wish everyone I was trying to learn something from had been as clear, concise and careful when they were passing info to me. I am a 74 year old with lifelong ADD. You made it not only easy to understand but I know, with your gracious help, I will actually enjoy the job. Thank you sir!
I just moved my turntables to another room and came back after years to calibrate my cartridges again :) thank you for being on youtube all this years my friend. Cheers
This is absolutely the most clear and step-by-step instructions on a turn table I found. Even a dummy like me can have my records sounding great and running properly. Thanks
This is by far one of the best instructional videos on turntable setup I have come across. I am a beginner in vinyl and was really worried about all the setup. This person really breaks it down in very easy steps. I wish all the best for you and your vinyl love!
Well done. I've been looking for this information for a couple of months. This is the first tutorial I've found that helped me say "Oh, hey, I can do that right now!" A clear, well presented walk-through that didn't make me feel like I needed to get a Bachelor's in engineering first to set up my turntable rig and gave me confidence that it was technical and important, but that it wasn't rocket science either. Now I think that I've got it dialed in and can feel more confident about playing and ripping my records. Thanks!
I have been an audiophille for a good time now. This guy explains it all so well and with so much honesty and passion. This is indeed the best instructional videos I have ever seen. There is so much to learn from you. Patience and focus is key. Thanks man. Keep up the good work. Cheers !
Thank you! I’ve had my turntable for a year and half and my new Edifier speakers my husband gave me as a gift as I have a novice interest in Vinyl again. Back to my music roots. I have not been able to enjoy any of my vinyl until I followed each of your steps in this video! This happens to be the turntable I have; a HUGE thank you!!! 🎼💜💙🥰
Thanks dude! I followed your recommendations, printed the rulers on an A4 page, and I got the pain in the ass. My cartridge was never aligned, and was WAY off, even skew to the outside. It took me like an hour and a half to align it, specially the inner section, but I made the cartridge rock-steady once it was. Not a thing I would want to do every day, but It took off. At first I got a nicer warmy and detailed sound from my usual records. But incredibly I was blown away by this Carly Rae Jepsen vinyl from my daughter collection. Not my cup of tea but the calibration made it. I was on another insane sonic level. My Technica got revamped!.
Thank you so much for taking the time to make this video. I just bought my first turntable. I bought a Fluance RT85. I had to make changes to everything just a bit in most cases, but the first record I put on had wonderful imaging and sound without a hint of distortion. I was able to follow your guide easily and accurately. Thank you for helping take the fear out of setting up my first turntable! It was fun and sounds AMAZING!
I'm 66 years old and have just now learned how to setup my turntable. Just wondering how bad the sound was when I was younger. Did it matter or was I high? Now I need to go put on my magnifiers and just go do it. Thanks.
usually when i need a new cartridge,i buy it already all hooked up on the Headshell,and that is the first thing i check,out of the box.and YES.its usually perfecto
Having just jumped into the big leagues I just scored an SL-1200M3D today and was terrified to set it up. Wanting to always know the "why" this was probably the most comprehensive video I have found that explained everything perfectly and answered all my questions along the way. I am typing this as I enjoy my first LP on this machine after completing your setup and it sounds fantastic and also feel I learned a lot in 25min. Straight to the point and very effective, well done sir!
Wow! Very easy to understand. I can’t wait to calibrate my vintage turntable. It wasn’t working for the longest time. There was no sound coming from the turntable. I didn’t know if the problem was with the cartridge or the turntable itself. After checking continuity and wiring I still had no clue what was wrong. I decided to unplug the RCA cables from my preamp and plug in to a spare receiver and it worked. My problem was the phono input on my preamp. Most of my equipment is from the 1980’s and is still working with some minor fixes. I’m now a new subscriber. Thanks again!
Hi, this is truly the best video I've ever seen to explain the turntable adjustments, from its importance to finally how to do it. I really thank you for taking the time and effort to bring such high-quality information to all people across the internet. Pretty straightforward and carefully bringing our attention to what matters the most. Awesome work in here, I'll surely check the other videos later on.
Fantastic DIY video! Very informative and works like a champ. I couldn't believe how far out of whack my entire set-up was. Thanks so much for doing this!!
I finally decided to start my own vinyl collection. Im buying my first turntable this week and also picking up a few albums. Great video, very helpful.
Thank you for this. I've been collecting vinyl for years but only recently invested in higher quality table & amp. You explained this so clearly and with no pretense which I really appreciate. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
You Sir, are fantastic. This has to be the best How-To video I have ever watched (on any topic). You seem to me like the neighbor everyone wishes they had. Thanks for this great video!
This is still teaching folks like me how to do it. Thank you! Went through several videos and the instructions that came with my table without having an explanation that made any sense as to how to set the tracking force on the tonearm.
My dad was a DJ for a while, and I found this model while I was fixing up some furniture in the house. I'm learning all about this beautiful machine cause we've got a bunch of vinyl records. God bless you for this video
Excellent tutorial. Best I've found to date on TH-cam. Well, it'll remain the best because there's no need to look elsewhere now. I've DJ'ed (80's - to early noughties) and had a couple of SL1210 MK2's and my set up throughout the decades was a best guess. Info like this just wasn't readily available back in the day. I since sold my decks (5 - 6 years ago) but because I still have a shed load of vinyl I want to sell on, I need to invest in a sturdy, quality piece of kit in order to test my records before I flog them. I came here for reviews and stumbled across this video and have got to say, that even with my own 30+ years of vinyl/audio experience, this is the best piece of audiophile education I've ever received. You have a talent for this kind of thing, Sir. Thank you!
I'm in a similar situation and couldn't find the coin for a new pair of Technics, they're pricey. I did research and settled on a pair of Pioneer PLX 1000s with the Ortophon Club mkIIs and I'm beyond happy with my purchase. Ive dusted off all my old vinyl and my collection is growing every week. Good luck my friend 👊🏻
Thank you so much for this very in depth tutorial. I just picked up an Audio Technica LP-120XUSB as an upgrade from my LP-60 and I was able to easily get it set up correctly--tracking force, anti skate, cartridge alignment, leveling the deck--everything. I hadn't seen another video tutorial quite as detailed and informative as this one weeks prior from purchase and the research I was doing. I absolutely love this turntable and I'm well assured that everything is aligned and calibrated correctly. Thank you so much again!
Hi,just bought the same myself and thought could leave it as is,I'm checking that cartridge as soon as I get home today,living this turntable..buying a cork and rubber plattee mat too!
@@croeger82 No,I used the free online protractor shown here and cartridge was good,definitely needed to use the ground wire but then upgraded to better rca but still used original ground wire. As for platter mats research yourself what you may want or by need,I myself bought the cork and rubber one.
Audio técnica LP 120 USB é a melhor solução relativamente ao preço e qualidade não aconselho mais nada mesmo tenho um já tou velhote!!!! Já estou canssado de tantas coisas de áudio,uma coisa novatos eu digo não se deixem ir em tretas!!! Ok este produto é excelente mesmo espetacular incrível
I watched two other videos and read my instruction manual and it wasn't till i watched this i figured out what i was doing wrong. Best tutorial ever! Thanks my man!
52 Years old, just got back into vinyl and this is a whole lot more than I ever knew as a kid 😁 Thank you for the very informative set up procedure! Got the same turntable as you. Had no idea about setting the tracking and all that. Incidentlaly, I STILL have, in my attic, a Technics linear tracking turntable. Been up there for decades. No idea if it still works
Skating "force" is a vector pulling the tonearm toward the center post, caused by friction between the stylus and record groove when the platter is in clockwise rotation. This friction generally increases with stylus pressure, which is why the anti-skating torque is calibrated to vary with the tracking force. Stylus drag from friction also varies a bit with the frequencies, amplitude, stereophonic channel separation & phasing of the audio signals recorded in the groove, the effectiveness of any applied groove lubricants, and turntable speed. Most turntables are not designed to compensate for these factors, and are probably optimized for 33 RPM or some arbitrary speed between 33 and 45.
Omg, thank you so much. I got my first manual deck and have spent far too many hours trying to figure it out via the written instructions and other videos which all lacked the detail needed for me to understand. Thanks to you I’m not returning this turntable!
That's a really great cartridge setup video! Just a couple of things: To attach the wires to the cartridge wiring pins, it really helps to have a good pair of needle nosed pliers, thin ones. On some cartridges there is one last adjustment that should not be forgotten - the height of the tonearm is also important, so that the vertical angle that the stylus sits in the groove is also correct; this is called vertical tracking angle. For anti-skating, the best explanation I have ever seen are by Peter Ledermann, the creator of Soundsmith cartridges. It's actually simple to do.
Another important adjustment is the tonearm should be parallel with the platter with the stylus on the vinyl, too low at the pivot end and you'll have a slightly muddy bass sound.
I just received this info with open arms since I am on the search of my first TT and didn't know all these tips and logistics regarding the works and laws of vinyl players. Simple, clear, and understandable concepts and instructions for anyone to learn. Love this man for spreading his knowledge to the service of the world. Thank you very much , Sir!
Great video and really helpful advice too. Got myself an AT-LP5x recently and thought it was set up okay. Then I watched this video and, within minutes, had learned so much. Made a few adjustments, checked the level on the surface, and now the whole set up plays better and sounds great. Thank you! I hope you are keeping safe and well. D
I enjoy your style of teaching technical things! I enjoy your clear and concise plain English! The tone, the speed of your presentation, the relaxing mode of this video, every aspect is excellent! I have been a teacher, an experimental physicist and a laboratory veteran. I know what is the best style of teaching.
I have just bought a AT LP120 and I found this video really helpful, thanks for posted it, I will follow this process in order to get the best sound from my turntable!!
Thanks so much for this. I got a Onkyo turntable from Goodwill for $12. Purchased an average cartridge and stylus. By using your help I got it sounding like a $500 turntable. Setting the cartridge was the trick. Thanks much and I'll think of you every time I'm enjoying the great sound.
Hi I think the position of the cartridge to fit the correct tracking angle may modify the balance of the tone arm so I think it would be better to align the tracking angle first and secure the position of the cartridge in the shel and thereafter to balance the tonearm.
This afternoon Amazon delivered my first record player since I was 6 years old and spinning Disney albums. It's an Audio-Technica LP120XUSB like the one shown in the video. I followed the "instructions" (more like Ikea level drawings), hooked it up to my Onkyo recover and let her spin. And it sounded...like total garbage! My left speaker sounded so distorted the first thing I did was make sure I hadn't accidently loosened the wire during setup. But the speaker sounded fine with every other device. I was so discouraged. I was sure I had wasted money because obviously this just wasn't going to work with my system. I had to walk away and take a nap. When I felt better, I sat down and started doing some research. This was the 3rd video I watched and when I heard him talk about how poor calibration can actually cause distortion out of one side and not the other, the light came on. I went back through the setup instructions, this time following him. Guess what? My player sounds amazing! I'm so happy, it's what I dreamed it would be. I was ready to through this thing away. Don't give up. I'm a total analog nube and sure I have tons to learn, but at least now I can start the journey. Thank you for this video.
My stereo needed some work and in the process, my turntable's sound went sour. Tried multiple new parts with no success, then started reading and...GASP!!! There's a helluva lot more to this than I ever knew. Read, watched and researched yet still was overwhelmed until I found this video. Thank you so, so much for ending my 2+ week headache
Great video! Another adjustment that is described in the manual for my Technics TT is the distance between the stylus tip and the mounting flange of the headshell, which for me is 52mm. I suppose that the protractor would eventually get you to the right place, but I think setting the measurement first makes it easier. I also have the HiFi News test record to help with setting the anti skate.
Turntableneedles.com has an overhang gauge which is just what you need. I can't use it because I have a straight tone arm but for the S shaped arms it will save you a lot of time and work. As of this date (Nov 2020) they are selling it for $11.
I know its 2019 now but man, thank you for doing a favor for human/vinyl kind. I make vinyl records, and the special thing that we tell for our clients and people here is 3 things: 1-Adjust your advance/old turntable. 2-Buy a turntable with a good anti skating system. 3-Stay far far way from crosley/cheap ceramic turntables.. About anti skating, this is the most important thing in life, in special to your record not skip easily. one clue for all you people: got a piece of polycarbonate/petg/acrylic, make it a 30cm circle with a 7.2mm center hole, remove one plastic protection, clean with liquid wax (like turtle wax), put on the record and BINGO, you have a nice anti skating calibration. Put your arm on start point, put this "blank disk" to play and calibrate your anti skating until this stop to go one or other side, it have beem "locked" on every position you put the arm.. Hope it help you guys
I use an old laser-disk for anti-skate testing, very smooth surface and was a heck of a lot easier to find than an one-sided LP hat I have seen recommended elsewhere... and they come already sized at 12"
@@bumblerer it´s made in acrylic, thats why; O aways recomend 12 inches, because use a cd to calibrate can have eror margins, as the best point is in the start/middle point
Although basic most people who have turntables have no earthly idea how to set them up properly! You did a great and masterful job here to make the art of setting up your turntable very easy and informative! I learned several things I didn’t know as well, although I’ve been in the hobby for 45 years! Kudos!🎉
as i can recall back in early 70,s i had a test record for adjusting the turntable including the anti skate. It had test tracks and gave max effect for left right stereo separation ))))) surely they produce these test records again since vinyl is revived again
I just got a Dual CS518 (does not compare to the 1019-1219)... I spent a lot of time trying to adjust the VTF until I found this detailed video. I was ready to use a red brick on it...and feel good about it. Thanks a million for taking the time to post this.
I enjoyed this video very much. However I come from a different school of thought and would like your opinion. First, I do not align the cartridge, I align the stylus. Quality control is not what it used to be and sometimes a stylus is not perfectly centered in the cartridge and may lean slightly to one side so my focus is on the stylus tip and the cantilever. Second, I make alignment the first operation because tracking force and anti skate has an effect on how the stylus sits on the protractor. I am with you as far as using a cardboard protractor as opposed to one of those fancy ones. I purchased one and returned it because all it did was make life more difficult. I use the protractor that came with a Shure (RIP) M 97xE. I set the anti skate to zero and the tracking force to half a gram which gives the arm enough weight to stay in place. I also put a junk record on the turntable so that my adjustment is made at playing height. Using a strong light and a magnifying glass (I am over 65 years old so age considerations have to be made) I place the tip of the stylus in the null point and then look at the line the goes "head on" to the stylus tip. I adjust the cartridge so it is one continuous straight line from the line on the protractor, to the stylus tip, and up the cantilever. It takes just as long and is just as frustrating to align the stylus at both null points as it is to align a cartridge. Also, when I balance the tone arm to set the tracking force (a digital scale is on the "when I have a little extra money" list) I zero the counterweight when the needle is level with the record because I consider the playing height to be theoretically zero. I have a lower end turntable (Onkyo CP 1022) and sometimes you have to let your ears make the final adjustments and my ears tell me that my method works. I would appreciate hearing your thoughts please.
Glad you bring up the point about the zero balance being at the playing height. I completely agree. I also thought that the stylus pressure should be readjusted after the stylus alignment. I would think moving the cartridge in and out would affect the stylus pressure on the record.
I would love to see a video about cleaning records and cleaning the stylus and table. As it is I have a simple dish soap/water/lint free cloth system for my records. I would love to know your method. Currently I use one of my girlfriend's paintbrushes to clean my stylus. It seems to work okay, when our cat isn't trying to steal it away.
I bought a stylus brush on ebay. it's just a narrow brush that you use gently from the back, to the front of the stylus, GENTLY!!! 2 or 3 times and ur good to go.
Vinyl and homebrew. Am I the only one who notticed the carboy and all the brewing equipment in the background! Well done brother. Time to give my RT85N the once over. Thank you for your passion(s)
Don’t forget about the unnecessary expense, the shitty sound quality, and the carcinogenic toxicity of polyvinyl chloride. Other than that, it’s the future of music.
Sometimes We have to stay with Technology That Works For Us Even If It"s From the 19th Century!!!! The Record Has The best Sound Quality Around,,100% of the Music is Transfered Into The grooves with no analog to digital or digital to analog conversion (which can affect Audio Quality)
Needed to fill the space created when I sold my CD jukebox, so decided to get a record player again and revive my vinyl collection. Had only ever had cheaper ‘music centre’ kit (and hand-me-down radiograms before that as a kid), but with turntables so affordable now, I got a new one for Christmas and combined it with a cheap second hand (but quality brand) amp. Had nothing but trouble playing records until I found this video. I always assumed the various adjustment bits on turntables were just BS designed to make them look ‘flash’ as my records always played fine on the other record players that I had didn’t have them, but clearly they do make a difference. I followed these instructions, including the protractor alignment, which was massively out on my turntable and hey presto, no problems and my music sounds great. Thank you very much.
This is the most informative video for beginners I’ve found. I watched it all the way through and was engaged. Your enthusiasm comes through. Thank you, sir.
Me, 25 minutes ago: "I've been listening to vinyl for 40 years! Of course I know how to set-up a turntable!" Me, 25 minutes later: "Holy crap, there was a lot I didn't know about setting up my turntable properly!" Cheers.
I have an old shellac record that has only grooves on one side, so I use that to first fine-tune anti-skating, then adjust by ear. I've been using this technique on numerous turntables since 1978. You can also buy setup disks that have this function on one side, whilst on the other have test tones and other recordings to ensure that azimuth, alignment, and tracking pressure are optimised. They can still be found on auction sites.
Seriously Considering in the near future of buying me a turntable...again. Last time I played one was back in the early 1980's. This TH-cam video provided A LOT of valuable information. Thank You Very Much 🎼🎶👍
I'm probably the only person in the more than 3k reviews that just can't align a cartridge and I spent more than $500 on a decent Fluance TT to play my old vinyl. Oh well, I tried but should've known better tbh. Not to take anything away from you. Hands down the best instructional video on YT. And believe me, I've watched a ton.
This is really detailed and well explained, but haven't you forgotten the tonearm height adjustments?? I think it's very important too? Was waiting for that info. Anyway, thanks for the time explaining these compex things.
Just one question, what about the height ring where the tonearm is? What should that be set at. You never talked about that. I have the techniques SL 1200. There's a setting there as well. Thank you I learned more than I thought.
Just put a record on and see if the tonearm is leveled. Normally zero is fine. It's important for people using a thicker slipmat or a special cartridge.
I have been an audio enthusiast for over fifty years, and this is the BEST instructional video for turntable set up I have ever seen. I am going to re set up my turntable again right now. God bless this man for caring about what he dose to benefit all of us. Thank you sir.
Hear hear!!
What has God got to do with it?
@@rabarebra Hi there, just an expression of my appreciation, thats all. Hope I haven't offended you; certainly is not my intention. I also may have miss interpreted your comment, in that case LOL!😁 have a great day, stay healthy and happy.
I want to know why these under-arm counterweights are supposed to be better by keeping the centre of mass below the arm? they are sold as 'upgrades' on ebay.
@Cornelius Agrippa I am not sure what this "upgrade" is, so I am skeptical. I have had great results with turntables as they come from manufacture by just checking the alignment and tracking force, etc. In my opinion, I don't need to sink money into more upgrades when my system sings beautifully as it is.
I have the highest respect for a man who advises me to crack open a beer before getting down to the tedious task of aligning a cartridge. Very informative video. Highly appreciated!
Exactly,,,better grab 2..
That’s probably because he makes his own, that’s what all the stuff hanging in the background is for
I open a beer before doing anything with my turntables.
A beer is better because you don't want doobie ashes on your Doobie Brothers LPs but you need to be calm and focused for the cartridge surgery.
#trustaboomer
#justkiddingimgenX
#thosearentreal#s
If you opened beers, you might get confused somewhere during this process and stick the cartridge up your ass instead. So, just go with a heavy mug of coffee. Ya need to be alert and not be compromised on finger dexterity.
After 50 years on this planet I finally learned how to set up my turntable the right way. Thank you for that gift.
Love this guy! TH-cam has become so commercialized! This guy is just a Vinyl loving sensei who wants to share his love with the world. No hidden agendas! Keep it up man!
Just found him by accident but I’ve been watching his Homebrew videos for years!!
Dude is way too excited about fucking up your record player.
@@1000mg. ruh roh, did you make a mistake? Video was fine, and the guy didn't lay a finger on your record player.
Have learned a lot watching his videos
@@1000mg. ahahah!!!that´s the best coment on this section ,do you know he´s only 51,i´m 80 and i look younger
Great video. For the ADD impaired:
Balance tonearm 5:50
Anti Skating 8:47
Align Cartridge explanation starts 12:05
Align Cartridge protractor template 16:17
Align Cartridge shows aligned cartridge 18:01
Step by step aligning 19:20
Possibly camera trickery ;) 22:27
Thanks for Q ING up 4 us👍
Bless you
Many thanks making this excellent video more convenient.,
Funny,but i just learnded alot...lol.
@@sharniff5892 yes, young people these days are spoiled and aren't disciplined enough to sit still and watch a video through fully. A pathetic and weak generation, indeed.
I've been an audiophile for over 60 years and this is the best instructional video on setting up a turntable I've ever seen. Great video. Thank you.
i think you must search for help in other place or you´ll never have your turntable correctelly set up,that´s why i never called my self a audiophile but a hi-fi enthusiast, audiophiles can be ....whatever, not good in the pictuire ,not having anything against you, we never met but some are really assholes soiled and everything"the SL-1200 never was ment to be a professional turntable but a audiophile turntable" as an example i only asked him "to whom are their good turntables?"than "check the technics 72 catalog" when audiophiles till 2010 said to be a working horse the SL-1200
Every time I have an issue with my turntables I refer back to this tutorial. He explains everything so well.
Im back four years later to say i pass this vid onto many clients who pop by and get excited on seeing my turntable play flawlessly. Thank you once again 🎉
Thank you so much for making this video. You are an amazing instructor when it comes to learning about Turntables. My Dad recently passed and left me about 400 vinyl from 1962-1986. Liquid gold.
You are blessed. Many hours of memories and love await you. I have a similar journey to embark with several boxes of 1935 to 1950 Jazz and Classical from my Dad. 😊♥️
This is one of the most complete and helpful tutorials I have found on this topic. I have been listening to vinyl for 40+ years and this is the first time I have actually seen something that explains all these things in plain English. I love the fact that you’re doing this in the corner of your workshop dedicated to brewing beer. These are all signs of a true renaissance man in this day and age. Thanks for making my life 2% happier!
Same here!
Same here too!
Just getting into it currently, so much to learn
I happen to have the very same turntable, so that helps a lot, but I have to say that your video is the best I have seen. At 86, I am retired from the record business as a producer (Riverside, Columbia, Prestige) but I wish I had known what you teach with such clarity. Better late than never! Thank you, I will subscribe.
Oh my gosh! I am familiar with your work! It is incredible how small the internet makes the world. Your contributions to jazz music are appreciated. I am so glad that I came across you here!
Wow! Can you tell me a little about my favorite musician, Cannonball Adderley?
wow.. greatly appreciate your work. thank you sir. love riverside recordings esp those from c adderley
Nice! Riverside! I can only imagine what it was like working with Bill Evans
very nice Chris those are fantastic record labels 🤚😉
I have a Techinics SL-23 that I bought new in the 80's, there was no set up for this unit, plug and play and it has served me well until now. I bought an Audio Technical direct drive a week ago and have had a hell of a time setting it up until I saw this video. Thank you so much , your a life saver!!
,,Don't trust it, do it yourself.'' - Basically the best advise for life.
Hassebas Dotcom Except for putting a man on the moon, maybe.
Damn right
All priests muftis and rabis hate U
Nice Duster pic👍🏻
@@koszyk91 IPIPOo tutOo 468t 9 OP ot5t95
Like many here, I had to retire to find the time to set up my record player properly. I gave my 1000 record collection to my daughter years ago and bought her a cheap turntable combo to play them on. It was great as she started listening and loving the same vinyl music I did decades earlier. Then I started listening to them and the sound blew me away -even on the cheap thing I bought for her. Years later here I am, browsing 2nd hand shops for records and playing them on a vintage LXI direct drive turntable I just upgraded the cartridge on, slowly building another collection (no, I never asked for them back), finally setting it up properly. Thx for your clear direction on this. It was a big help.
Did you buy a decent amp and speakers? Albums are spendy, I wouldn’t know which to buy first. Want to pick out ones you won’t grow tired of.
Thank you for taking the time to teach the intricacies of turntable cartridge alignment and tonearm setup in such great detail. Your patience and expertise made the learning process not only enlightening but truly enjoyable. There is no better video on the subject than this one.
"If it's not the right size, it ain't going to work". My wife says that all the time. Didn't need to hear that again. Damn....such is life.
That's what friends are for!0)
Wow, that was a learning...I'm 54 years old, so grew up with record players, but have never had anyone explain all these things in such depth...thank you! I have subscribed!
Heh. I just posted almost the exact same comment.
I'm 65 and back in the good ol days, we didn't know about the protractor. Going to have to check my Technics TT.
these are called TURNTABLES, you dingbat! Did you not pay attention in his class???
I called - and still call - them record players. They play records! 👍😅
And all the record players I remember from the 80s were pretty crappy, no fine tuning on them.
Thank you for this video. Been a long time listener to vinyl for 65 yrs now and have been away from setting up for 20 odd yrs. This is the perfect refresher course I needed, I was dead right all the way through, so can safely install my "new" cartridge, that I've had for 8 yrs (still in it's box, as it came to me from Japan. Thanks, from UK.
My new turntable was skipping. Watched this video and now it’s pure silk. Great video
This reminds me of the Joe Walsh video for setting up a Les Paul guitar. It’s so generous to take the time to teach those who want and need to learn this stuff. It’s generational too!
I've had my Technics SL B21 since the mid 80's. After a long hiatus I am bringing my sound system out of retirement, as I am transitioning into retirement myself. I'd like to echo the sentiments of others in saying, this is the best explanation I've seen to demystifying the setting of those dials, to get the tracking right. Your enthusiasm is contagious. Thank you.
I'm finally getting around to setting this turntable up, which I acquired a few years ago. This is one of the best instructional videos on TH-cam. It's clear, precise, well shot...no superfluous nonsense, no insipid background music, but everything you need to know to set this up properly. Thanks so much.
This is amazing. I cannot get over how you made EVERYTHING so understandable to someone like I - the type who barely knows how to turn the darn thing on. Great tutorial!
I have followed this tutorial for years now. Since I do not need to change carts often, but every few years I do, and this is a video I have saved and always go back to. It has helped all the carts I have bought be the best they can, and sound. I want to say thank you for this video that is easy to follow, understand for everyone, and making it not about you need this, or that you need to get something expensive to get the job done. The only thing I would say you should buy is the digital scale, just like in the video. This could be bought in a kit for $25 (scale, alignment protractor, scale gauge block).
Very happy that this video has been seen as much as it has. It shows how many people appreciate the video, and how many people have gotten into vinyl records/turntables.
It's Amazing how much of a difference it makes when your tables are calibrated properly. You Sir are a gentleman and a scholar. Great video
Absolutely fantastic video!! Just installed a new Goldring E3 cartridge on my AT LP5 Turntable. Did not even know about the need to do all of these things before playing a record. Will be up a few hours this evening. Thank you for spending your time to teach us novices! 😊
@@rajeshkansara4505 it´s easy and fast to do, the only thing ,i think it was left out is when having the optimal weight on the stylus as it´s specifications allow if the anti-skating is the same as the weight but some songs in the end if the record are still not good as the ones in the beggining just had a bit on the anti-skating till they sound all the same(Perfect),normally analog instrumentrs on early cd years the sound is very bad compared to the vinil version ,if not something is wrong on the turntable ,i´ve tried several cartridges and stylus till 400€´s which in my opinion is already a lot of money ,they do normally sound worse than the stylus that came originally with the turntable, also i have to say that in the 80´s some of mine cartridges, refering to their stylus had not already being produced by the brand but at the time substitution needles were well built ,today they are very bad ,i worked in a laboratorium and i can still use the magnifying lenses to watch how they were assembled ,you can see the tip with a 30 cm´s measure and watch all work done ,i bought two for about 30 to 40€ and they are just garbage ,not a problem of the cartridge or the turntable itself but the badly built substitution needles, there are still well built ones but one needs to do a research , and make question about them to it´s seller ,regards
I’m pretty naive to the vinyl world and I’m glad to find a legend like you. Absolute information. Detailed and crisp. Thank you so much. 😊
Really helpful, 62 years old and now have a turntable that needs setting up - not like the old philips thing I had as a kid that I had to run through an old wooden radio to get any sound. Thank you for your great explanation.
This is unbelievably phenomenal. Now I need this for my DUAL CS 508, BUT, I am sending the link to a few folk who probably have no interest in doing this and may not even have a turntable for all I know. I know they will enjoy your presentation so much. Your presentation is so clear, presented with so much care that every detail is digestible and with respect and affection for your audience. You care that anyone viewing this will fully understand every nuance of the job. I wish everyone I was trying to learn something from had been as clear, concise and careful when they were passing info to me. I am a 74 year old with lifelong ADD. You made it not only easy to understand but I know, with your gracious help, I will actually enjoy the job. Thank you sir!
I just moved my turntables to another room and came back after years to calibrate my cartridges again :) thank you for being on youtube all this years my friend. Cheers
This is absolutely the most clear and step-by-step instructions on a turn table I found. Even a dummy like me can have my records sounding great and running properly. Thanks
This is by far one of the best instructional videos on turntable setup I have come across. I am a beginner in vinyl and was really worried about all the setup. This person really breaks it down in very easy steps. I wish all the best for you and your vinyl love!
Well done. I've been looking for this information for a couple of months. This is the first tutorial I've found that helped me say "Oh, hey, I can do that right now!" A clear, well presented walk-through that didn't make me feel like I needed to get a Bachelor's in engineering first to set up my turntable rig and gave me confidence that it was technical and important, but that it wasn't rocket science either.
Now I think that I've got it dialed in and can feel more confident about playing and ripping my records.
Thanks!
I have been an audiophille for a good time now. This guy explains it all so well and with so much honesty and passion. This is indeed the best instructional videos I have ever seen. There is so much to learn from you. Patience and focus is key. Thanks man. Keep up the good work. Cheers !
Thank you! I’ve had my turntable for a year and half and my new Edifier speakers my husband gave me as a gift as I have a novice interest in Vinyl again. Back to my music roots. I have not been able to enjoy any of my vinyl until I followed each of your steps in this video! This happens to be the turntable I have; a HUGE thank you!!! 🎼💜💙🥰
The best technician I've found on web and the best tutorial. For a beginner like me it was top top. Thank You a Lot.
My turntable is 54 years old, a Denon DP 1200, it's been in my closet for 22 years, and finally gets to be back in action. Thanks for the schooling.
You have such a calm and sympathetic way of explaining those things. Very helpfull video! Thanks a lot.
Must be because he's Canadian (I can hear it).
Thanks dude! I followed your recommendations, printed the rulers on an A4 page, and I got the pain in the ass. My cartridge was never aligned, and was WAY off, even skew to the outside. It took me like an hour and a half to align it, specially the inner section, but I made the cartridge rock-steady once it was. Not a thing I would want to do every day, but It took off. At first I got a nicer warmy and detailed sound from my usual records. But incredibly I was blown away by this Carly Rae Jepsen vinyl from my daughter collection. Not my cup of tea but the calibration made it. I was on another insane sonic level. My Technica got revamped!.
I am new to this turntable player,after this first detailed video ,came to know the entire settings,hats off to this person for detailed explanation.
Thank you so much for taking the time to make this video. I just bought my first turntable. I bought a Fluance RT85. I had to make changes to everything just a bit in most cases, but the first record I put on had wonderful imaging and sound without a hint of distortion. I was able to follow your guide easily and accurately. Thank you for helping take the fear out of setting up my first turntable! It was fun and sounds AMAZING!
I'm 66 years old and have just now learned how to setup my turntable. Just wondering how bad the sound was when I was younger. Did it matter or was I high? Now I need to go put on my magnifiers and just go do it. Thanks.
Great comment, I laughed
Niel Young Harvest sounds great anyway
You were doing it right man haha respect
😆
Agreed! I listened to records all the time, but didn't know any of this.
Thanks for keeping a great hobby of the previous generation alive. I no longer own a turntable but I do miss the ones I had.
Just used the same protractor and my Audio Technica LP120 is aligned straight out of the box. Someone in the factory must have been having a good day.
usually when i need a new cartridge,i buy it already all hooked up on the Headshell,and that is the first thing i check,out of the box.and YES.its usually perfecto
Assembly work is usually shabby on Monday's and Friday's. Yours may have been assembled on a Wednesday. Lucky you.
@@davidpaul4484 normally they never tune it to perfection but it´s an easy fix with those cards from ortofon they can be tuned to perfection
Having just jumped into the big leagues I just scored an SL-1200M3D today and was terrified to set it up. Wanting to always know the "why" this was probably the most comprehensive video I have found that explained everything perfectly and answered all my questions along the way. I am typing this as I enjoy my first LP on this machine after completing your setup and it sounds fantastic and also feel I learned a lot in 25min. Straight to the point and very effective, well done sir!
Nice chunk of change I suppose
Wow! Very easy to understand. I can’t wait to calibrate my vintage turntable. It wasn’t working for the longest time. There was no sound coming from the turntable. I didn’t know if the problem was with the cartridge or the turntable itself. After checking continuity and wiring I still had no clue what was wrong. I decided to unplug the RCA cables from my preamp and plug in to a spare receiver and it worked. My problem was the phono input on my preamp. Most of my equipment is from the 1980’s and is still working with some minor fixes. I’m now a new subscriber. Thanks again!
Best 25 minutes I spend on TH-cam for whole life 😊 thanks mate for your help
Hi, this is truly the best video I've ever seen to explain the turntable adjustments, from its importance to finally how to do it. I really thank you for taking the time and effort to bring such high-quality information to all people across the internet. Pretty straightforward and carefully bringing our attention to what matters the most. Awesome work in here, I'll surely check the other videos later on.
Fantastic DIY video! Very informative and works like a champ. I couldn't believe how far out of whack my entire set-up was. Thanks so much for doing this!!
I finally decided to start my own vinyl collection. Im buying my first turntable this week and also picking up a few albums. Great video, very helpful.
Thank you for this. I've been collecting vinyl for years but only recently invested in higher quality table & amp. You explained this so clearly and with no pretense which I really appreciate. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
You Sir, are fantastic. This has to be the best How-To video I have ever watched (on any topic). You seem to me like the neighbor everyone wishes they had. Thanks for this great video!
This is still teaching folks like me how to do it. Thank you! Went through several videos and the instructions that came with my table without having an explanation that made any sense as to how to set the tracking force on the tonearm.
I'm aghast at how badly I now realize my setup is. Thank you for this detailed enlightenment!
My go-to video for future setups.
My dad was a DJ for a while, and I found this model while I was fixing up some furniture in the house. I'm learning all about this beautiful machine cause we've got a bunch of vinyl records. God bless you for this video
Excellent tutorial. Best I've found to date on TH-cam. Well, it'll remain the best because there's no need to look elsewhere now.
I've DJ'ed (80's - to early noughties) and had a couple of SL1210 MK2's and my set up throughout the decades was a best guess. Info like this just wasn't readily available back in the day.
I since sold my decks (5 - 6 years ago) but because I still have a shed load of vinyl I want to sell on, I need to invest in a sturdy, quality piece of kit in order to test my records before I flog them. I came here for reviews and stumbled across this video and have got to say, that even with my own 30+ years of vinyl/audio experience, this is the best piece of audiophile education I've ever received. You have a talent for this kind of thing, Sir.
Thank you!
Wayne Cole are you selling any records from your collection?
I'm in a similar situation and couldn't find the coin for a new pair of Technics, they're pricey. I did research and settled on a pair of Pioneer PLX 1000s with the Ortophon Club mkIIs and I'm beyond happy with my purchase. Ive dusted off all my old vinyl and my collection is growing every week. Good luck my friend 👊🏻
I like his Style to explain😊. Very good and relaxing Time spend!
I was never introduced to such a high-precision setting up of the Record player. Thanks Sir.
This has to be without a doubt the most comprehensive and well explained turntable set up I’ve ever seen, brilliant! 😀
Wow* Awesome video, so Detailed! I’ve been a vinyl DJ for over 20 years and learned new things from watching this. Thank YōU !!
Thank you so much for this very in depth tutorial. I just picked up an Audio Technica LP-120XUSB as an upgrade from my LP-60 and I was able to easily get it set up correctly--tracking force, anti skate, cartridge alignment, leveling the deck--everything. I hadn't seen another video tutorial quite as detailed and informative as this one weeks prior from purchase and the research I was doing.
I absolutely love this turntable and I'm well assured that everything is aligned and calibrated correctly.
Thank you so much again!
How was the cartridge alignment right out of the box? I just ordered one and was wondering if I really need to align it
Hi,just bought the same myself and thought could leave it as is,I'm checking that cartridge as soon as I get home today,living this turntable..buying a cork and rubber plattee mat too!
@@HAZYWAY Just unboxed mine and will be checking it out tonight. Did you see anything way out of line?
@@croeger82 No,I used the free online protractor shown here and cartridge was good,definitely needed to use the ground wire but then upgraded to better rca but still used original ground wire.
As for platter mats research yourself what you may want or by need,I myself bought the cork and rubber one.
Audio técnica LP 120 USB é a melhor solução relativamente ao preço e qualidade não aconselho mais nada mesmo tenho um já tou velhote!!!! Já estou canssado de tantas coisas de áudio,uma coisa novatos eu digo não se deixem ir em tretas!!! Ok este produto é excelente mesmo espetacular incrível
One of the best TT videos I've seen since coming back to records recently after decades away. Thank you. :)
I watched two other videos and read my instruction manual and it wasn't till i watched this i figured out what i was doing wrong. Best tutorial ever! Thanks my man!
52 Years old, just got back into vinyl and this is a whole lot more than I ever knew as a kid 😁 Thank you for the very informative set up procedure! Got the same turntable as you. Had no idea about setting the tracking and all that. Incidentlaly, I STILL have, in my attic, a Technics linear tracking turntable. Been up there for decades. No idea if it still works
59 here !!!!
64 here
57 here, you need to get that Technics out and see if it still works!
Skating "force" is a vector pulling the tonearm toward the center post, caused by friction between the stylus and record groove when the platter is in clockwise rotation. This friction generally increases with stylus pressure, which is why the anti-skating torque is calibrated to vary with the tracking force.
Stylus drag from friction also varies a bit with the frequencies, amplitude, stereophonic channel separation & phasing of the audio signals recorded in the groove, the effectiveness of any applied groove lubricants, and turntable speed. Most turntables are not designed to compensate for these factors, and are probably optimized for 33 RPM or some arbitrary speed between 33 and 45.
Omg, thank you so much. I got my first manual deck and have spent far too many hours trying to figure it out via the written instructions and other videos which all lacked the detail needed for me to understand. Thanks to you I’m not returning this turntable!
That's a really great cartridge setup video! Just a couple of things: To attach the wires to the cartridge wiring pins, it really helps to have a good pair of needle nosed pliers, thin ones. On some cartridges there is one last adjustment that should not be forgotten - the height of the tonearm is also important, so that the vertical angle that the stylus sits in the groove is also correct; this is called vertical tracking angle. For anti-skating, the best explanation I have ever seen are by Peter Ledermann, the creator of Soundsmith cartridges. It's actually simple to do.
Maybe a tweezer?
Another important adjustment is the tonearm should be parallel with the platter with the stylus on the vinyl, too low at the pivot end and you'll have a slightly muddy bass sound.
I just received this info with open arms since I am on the search of my first TT and didn't know all these tips and logistics regarding the works and laws of vinyl players. Simple, clear, and understandable concepts and instructions for anyone to learn. Love this man for spreading his knowledge to the service of the world. Thank you very much , Sir!
Great video and really helpful advice too. Got myself an AT-LP5x recently and thought it was set up okay. Then I watched this video and, within minutes, had learned so much. Made a few adjustments, checked the level on the surface, and now the whole set up plays better and sounds great. Thank you! I hope you are keeping safe and well. D
Thank you for the detail on aligning the cartridge. That helps tremendously. Cheers!
I enjoy your style of teaching technical things! I enjoy your clear and concise plain English! The tone, the speed of your presentation, the relaxing mode of this video, every aspect is excellent! I have been a teacher, an experimental physicist and a laboratory veteran. I know what is the best style of teaching.
You are a really great teacher. I love Vynil Records but I never knew the turntable could be such an intricate instrument. Thank you so much
I have just bought a AT LP120 and I found this video really helpful, thanks for posted it, I will follow this process in order to get the best sound from my turntable!!
Thanks so much for this. I got a Onkyo turntable from Goodwill for $12. Purchased an average cartridge and stylus. By using your help I got it sounding like a $500 turntable. Setting the cartridge was the trick. Thanks much and I'll think of you every time I'm enjoying the great sound.
Hi I think the position of the cartridge to fit the correct tracking angle may modify the balance of the tone arm so I think it would be better to align the tracking angle first and secure the position of the cartridge in the shel and thereafter to balance the tonearm.
This afternoon Amazon delivered my first record player since I was 6 years old and spinning Disney albums. It's an Audio-Technica LP120XUSB like the one shown in the video. I followed the "instructions" (more like Ikea level drawings), hooked it up to my Onkyo recover and let her spin. And it sounded...like total garbage! My left speaker sounded so distorted the first thing I did was make sure I hadn't accidently loosened the wire during setup. But the speaker sounded fine with every other device. I was so discouraged. I was sure I had wasted money because obviously this just wasn't going to work with my system. I had to walk away and take a nap. When I felt better, I sat down and started doing some research. This was the 3rd video I watched and when I heard him talk about how poor calibration can actually cause distortion out of one side and not the other, the light came on. I went back through the setup instructions, this time following him. Guess what? My player sounds amazing! I'm so happy, it's what I dreamed it would be. I was ready to through this thing away. Don't give up. I'm a total analog nube and sure I have tons to learn, but at least now I can start the journey. Thank you for this video.
Thank you, this is exactly my same situation. Can you be more specific on how you resolved it? Did you increase on lower the antiskate?
My stereo needed some work and in the process, my turntable's sound went sour. Tried multiple new parts with no success, then started reading and...GASP!!! There's a helluva lot more to this than I ever knew. Read, watched and researched yet still was overwhelmed until I found this video. Thank you so, so much for ending my 2+ week headache
THANKYOU! I was just about to give up and go to a shop for the adjustments, this is the best set up video I have seen yet!
Great video! Another adjustment that is described in the manual for my Technics TT is the distance between the stylus tip and the mounting flange of the headshell, which for me is 52mm. I suppose that the protractor would eventually get you to the right place, but I think setting the measurement first makes it easier. I also have the HiFi News test record to help with setting the anti skate.
Turntableneedles.com has an overhang gauge which is just what you need. I can't use it because I have a straight tone arm but for the S shaped arms it will save you a lot of time and work. As of this date (Nov 2020) they are selling it for $11.
this guys a legend, learnt how to homebrew off him 10 years ago and now he's teaching me about how to use my recently purchased turntable!
I know its 2019 now but man, thank you for doing a favor for human/vinyl kind.
I make vinyl records, and the special thing that we tell for our clients and people here is 3 things: 1-Adjust your advance/old turntable. 2-Buy a turntable with a good anti skating system. 3-Stay far far way from crosley/cheap ceramic turntables..
About anti skating, this is the most important thing in life, in special to your record not skip easily. one clue for all you people: got a piece of polycarbonate/petg/acrylic, make it a 30cm circle with a 7.2mm center hole, remove one plastic protection, clean with liquid wax (like turtle wax), put on the record and BINGO, you have a nice anti skating calibration. Put your arm on start point, put this "blank disk" to play and calibrate your anti skating until this stop to go one or other side, it have beem "locked" on every position you put the arm..
Hope it help you guys
I use an old laser-disk for anti-skate testing, very smooth surface and was a heck of a lot easier to find than an one-sided LP hat I have seen recommended elsewhere... and they come already sized at 12"
@@bumblerer it´s made in acrylic, thats why; O aways recomend 12 inches, because use a cd to calibrate can have eror margins, as the best point is in the start/middle point
Very instructive and helpful. You have a terrific presenting style, relaxed and laid back but always focused and articulate. Thank you. 🤗
Although basic most people who have turntables have no earthly idea how to set them up properly! You did a great and masterful job here to make the art of setting up your turntable very easy and informative! I learned several things I didn’t know as well, although I’ve been in the hobby for 45 years! Kudos!🎉
Craig -
i've been waiting for you to do this video since your 1st vinyl tv video.
YOU DIDN'T DISAPPOINT!!!
thank you so much. this was a big help.
as i can recall back in early 70,s i had a test record for adjusting the turntable including the anti skate. It had test tracks and gave max effect for left right stereo separation ))))) surely they produce these test records again since vinyl is revived
again
I just got a Dual CS518 (does not compare to the 1019-1219)... I spent a lot of time trying to adjust the VTF until I found this detailed video. I was ready to use a red brick on it...and feel good about it. Thanks a million for taking the time to post this.
I enjoyed this video very much. However I come from a different school of thought and would like your opinion. First, I do not align the cartridge, I align the stylus. Quality control is not what it used to be and sometimes a stylus is not perfectly centered in the cartridge and may lean slightly to one side so my focus is on the stylus tip and the cantilever. Second, I make alignment the first operation because tracking force and anti skate has an effect on how the stylus sits on the protractor. I am with you as far as using a cardboard protractor as opposed to one of those fancy ones. I purchased one and returned it because all it did was make life more difficult. I use the protractor that came with a Shure (RIP) M 97xE. I set the anti skate to zero and the tracking force to half a gram which gives the arm enough weight to stay in place. I also put a junk record on the turntable so that my adjustment is made at playing height. Using a strong light and a magnifying glass (I am over 65 years old so age considerations have to be made) I place the tip of the stylus in the null point and then look at the line the goes "head on" to the stylus tip. I adjust the cartridge so it is one continuous straight line from the line on the protractor, to the stylus tip, and up the cantilever. It takes just as long and is just as frustrating to align the stylus at both null points as it is to align a cartridge. Also, when I balance the tone arm to set the tracking force (a digital scale is on the "when I have a little extra money" list) I zero the counterweight when the needle is level with the record because I consider the playing height to be theoretically zero. I have a lower end turntable (Onkyo CP 1022) and sometimes you have to let your ears make the final adjustments and my ears tell me that my method works. I would appreciate hearing your thoughts please.
Glad you bring up the point about the zero balance being at the playing height. I completely agree. I also thought that the stylus pressure should be readjusted after the stylus alignment. I would think moving the cartridge in and out would affect the stylus pressure on the record.
I would love to see a video about cleaning records and cleaning the stylus and table. As it is I have a simple dish soap/water/lint free cloth system for my records. I would love to know your method. Currently I use one of my girlfriend's paintbrushes to clean my stylus. It seems to work okay, when our cat isn't trying to steal it away.
Magic Eraser works like a charm, check around for some youtube vids on how to use it and which one to buy. You really can't beat it for 2$.
I bought a stylus brush on ebay. it's just a narrow brush that you use gently from the back, to the front of the stylus, GENTLY!!! 2 or 3 times and ur good to go.
Vinyl and homebrew. Am I the only one who notticed the carboy and all the brewing equipment in the background! Well done brother. Time to give my RT85N the once over. Thank you for your passion(s)
the best part about vinyl is the extreme inconvenience
Inconvenient, and expensive?? I'm in
Its sounds good doe
Don’t forget about the unnecessary expense, the shitty sound quality, and the carcinogenic toxicity of polyvinyl chloride. Other than that, it’s the future of music.
Sometimes We have to stay with Technology That Works For Us Even If It"s From the 19th Century!!!! The Record Has The best Sound Quality Around,,100% of the Music is Transfered Into The grooves with no analog to digital or digital to analog conversion (which can affect Audio Quality)
And the missus telling you to get that stupid "record player" out of her living room.
Needed to fill the space created when I sold my CD jukebox, so decided to get a record player again and revive my vinyl collection.
Had only ever had cheaper ‘music centre’ kit (and hand-me-down radiograms before that as a kid), but with turntables so affordable now, I got a new one for Christmas and combined it with a cheap second hand (but quality brand) amp.
Had nothing but trouble playing records until
I found this video.
I always assumed the various adjustment bits on turntables were just BS designed to make them look ‘flash’ as my records always played fine on the other record players that I had didn’t have them, but clearly they do make a difference.
I followed these instructions, including the protractor alignment, which was massively out on my turntable and hey presto, no problems and my music sounds great.
Thank you very much.
This is the most informative video for beginners I’ve found. I watched it all the way through and was engaged. Your enthusiasm comes through. Thank you, sir.
Me, 25 minutes ago: "I've been listening to vinyl for 40 years! Of course I know how to set-up a turntable!" Me, 25 minutes later: "Holy crap, there was a lot I didn't know about setting up my turntable properly!" Cheers.
Isn't that the truth! Can't wait to give mine the once-over.
I have an old shellac record that has only grooves on one side, so I use that to first fine-tune anti-skating, then adjust by ear. I've been using this technique on numerous turntables since 1978. You can also buy setup disks that have this function on one side, whilst on the other have test tones and other recordings to ensure that azimuth, alignment, and tracking pressure are optimised. They can still be found on auction sites.
All Things Must Pass - George Harrison has a blank side. It was the first double album with a blank side!
Seriously Considering in the near future of buying me a turntable...again. Last time I played one was back in the early 1980's. This TH-cam video provided A LOT of valuable information. Thank You Very Much 🎼🎶👍
the bob ross of turntable tutorials.
God Bless
lol
It's a happy little turntable...
Oh yes sir he is!
real talk.. He is the man!
Ok Dude I tried all this but that CD still won't play
😂😂😂 I'm dying
Put it in the 8 track player, this turntable is for vhs
Same, if anything it's completely scratched my CD collection.
Flip it over. Cds are one sided.
Haaaaa!
I'm probably the only person in the more than 3k reviews that just can't align a cartridge and I spent more than $500 on a decent Fluance TT to play my old vinyl. Oh well, I tried but should've known better tbh. Not to take anything away from you. Hands down the best instructional video on YT. And believe me, I've watched a ton.
This is really detailed and well explained, but haven't you forgotten the tonearm height adjustments?? I think it's very important too? Was waiting for that info.
Anyway, thanks for the time explaining these compex things.
Just one question, what about the height ring where the tonearm is?
What should that be set at. You never talked about that.
I have the techniques SL 1200.
There's a setting there as well.
Thank you I learned more than I thought.
I have the same question. SL 1800 Mk2
Just put a record on and see if the tonearm is leveled. Normally zero is fine. It's important for people using a thicker slipmat or a special cartridge.
@@timheldmann7941 Thanks I'll check that out.