Get your alignment right or dont bother with LP's

Posted by: jonni on 11 March 2003

I've listened to so many bad turntables in my life that it is apparent that most people dont set them up right.These same people then moan about the sound of their turntable and blame all their problems on it or and look for the next up-grade.
Simple fact is a correctly aligned cartridge is a bigger upgrade than anything I can think of.
Get your self a decent protractor and a good magnifing glass,but first measure the pivot to spindle distance of you arm and make sure it is in the right place , within 1mm or less.If your arm is not set in exactly the correct place all alignment is a waste of time , it will always be out.If need be get a new arm board and re drill it acurately.
Many people have the VTA too low because the cartridge is mistracking and causing harsh treble, with correct alignment you will first get a cleaner fuller sound with much reduced distortion and deeper bass , you will then find you can raise VTA and bring in a crisper treble with no harshness or distortion.
Dont think about upgrading cartridges . powersupplies or arms until you have this sussed.
Jonni's rant is now overfor today.
Posted on: 18 March 2003 by Stuart M
Isn't this what you pay your dealer to do......

Linn was setup by jay (Ex RPM) and many years later (They have recognised his setup) only work done when a cartridge was changed but apart from a new belt (oh so many years later it still does a good vertical bounce)

To err is human; to really foul it up requires a computer.

[This message was edited by Stuart M on WEDNESDAY 19 March 2003 at 03:14.]
Posted on: 19 March 2003 by jonni
Hello sjr69.

If you are very inexperienced you could take it to a dealer, but setting up turntables is a job anyone who can change a plug or change a tyre on a car can do.What is needed is knowledge, care and the right tools.
There are so many people who work in hifi shops that have never owned a turntable let alone can set one up.If you find a good dealer use that for major things but really no one should be tacking their turntables to dealer to have tracking force or vta adjusted.

Anyway on to the advice.Best thing to do is get a tracking force gauge like a cheap ortofon for £5-10 .rest the stylus on tha balance if tracking force is too low turn weight forward etc(with the stylus off the gauge) and re measure.
You can do it another way with rega's.Realease the arm from its clip and turn the weight back so that the arm raises and is level then turn the weight forward, I beleve each turn of the weight 360 is 1 gram tracking force, (someone correct me if I'm wrong it could be half a gram)till you get the approximate setting.Stylus gauge is the best way to go.
Set the bias to the same setting as tracking force.
As to aligment you will need a rega alignment protractor, this should cost about a tenner .
Loosen the allen head screws holding the cartridge slightly so the cartridge just moves but not too much , get the stylus on the aligment point and adjust backward and forward till the headshell is parallel with the set up lines while the stylus is on the alignment point, make sure the stylus is also dead straight.
If yo are a bit clumsy you do risk knackering your cartridge so you may want to get a dealer to do it, this should be free when you purchase a new cartridge.
There are lots of site that give better and more detailed info than I've got time for here .
Just remmeber if in doubt leave it out.
Posted on: 19 March 2003 by jonni
Yes sorry change a wheel , but you knew what I ment. Wink
Posted on: 19 March 2003 by Andy B
Jonni. I am probably one of the people you refer to who have their turntable set up incorrectly.
I had a Rega P3 bought as a present and have never taken a serious look at how it's set up, other than using the alignment card that came with it.
If you've got any info you could send it would much appreciated.

Regards,
Andy.