Fear of Turntable setup?

Mike

Mike

Audioshark
Staff member
Joined
Apr 2, 2013
Messages
30,423
Location
Sarasota, FL
I noticed a few people saying they would really like to get into vinyl, but are afraid (or a bit nervous) of the turntable setup. Well, I'm here to tell you - DON'T BE!

The instructions with most tables are excellent and the Fremer DVD on TT setup is an excellent resource too (available from Amazon).

And....we are lucky here at AS to have Jeff, who is not only extremely knowledgable, but patient beyond belief (assuming of course you buy your table from him!! :) )

I got stuck with getting the azimuth just right and Jeff was right there! Thanks Jeff!!!!!

Mike
 
Mike said:
I noticed a few people saying they would really like to get into vinyl, but are afraid (or a bit nervous) of the turntable setup. Well, I'm here to tell you - DON'T BE!

The instructions with most tables are excellent and the Fremer DVD on TT setup is an excellent resource too (available from Amazon).

And....we are lucky here at AS to have Jeff, who is not only extremely knowledgable, but patient beyond belief (assuming of course you buy your table from him!! :) )

I got stuck with getting the azimuth just right and Jeff was right there! Thanks Jeff!!!!!

Mike
Click to expand...

I am sad...

You never plug my FREE setup video for beginners...sniff

Basic Turntable Setup

It has 24,950 views..if I redid it a bit, charged 5 bucks a piece, I could have made $100K

Maybe its time...
 
ohbythebay said:
I am sad...

You never plug my FREE setup video for beginners...sniff

Basic Turntable Setup

It has 24,950 views..if I redid it a bit, charged 5 bucks a piece, I could have made $100K

Maybe its time...
Click to expand...

Oh geez! I didn't even know Rob! That's cool!

Ok....add that to the list of great TT setup resources! Thanks.
 
Allow me to go to the front of the line of confessing fear on this one! *raises hand jumping up and down yelling "pick me pick me"* I've set up only two turntables and I'm still very fearful. I did them before discovering Rob's video which personally I find far better than Mr. Fremer's. Alignment protractors were a complete mystery to me. It took me 3 weeks to set up my first turntable because I kept second guessing myself. (I still do that). After watching Rob's video the mystery of alignment protractors (at least one kind) was gone. Sadly my eyes are not geared towards turntable set up now days. So when I go to do my Denon eventually, I may be in a world of hurt and not able to use it because I can't set it up. The thing that runs through my head is that everything on a TT must be absolutely perfect and yet there is no such thing as perfect. I got lucky with my Pioneer PL510 in setting it up (that's the one that took 3 weeks). It just happens to track perfectly, but again that was pure luck. ~Eric
 
No worries..I did that video on a whim..I am truly thinking of a replacement with a bit more detail with close up pictures of certain things...

MD - do you have close-up work glasses ? The type you buy at the pharmacy with different numbers ? That's what I use as my eyes are not as they were...especially for alignment and azimuth...LOL
 
ohbythebay said:
I am sad...

You never plug my FREE setup video for beginners...sniff

Basic Turntable Setup

It has 24,950 views..if I redid it a bit, charged 5 bucks a piece, I could have made $100K

Maybe its time...
Click to expand...

Just checked out your video.What a great job showing the way on this.I saved it as a fave for when i get my next new cartridge.
 
TubeBias said:
Just checked out your video.What a great job showing the way on this.I saved it as a fave for when i get my next new cartridge.
Click to expand...

Thank you ..after several years of hearing the same questions from people (some ne, some had tables for years) I felt it was easier to visually demystify the process. So many people come to the boards and hear alignment, anti-skate, VTF, etc. and not 100% sure of it all. Legacy manuals always gave the half hearted method of setting VTF, vague anti-skate and level the tonearm (even if the tonearm didn't feature VTA which made no sense). They never talked about cart alignment but relied on cart overhang.

Many of those things got you close but to really dial in a few extra simple steps. Digital scale - $15, protractor - $18 - Good test record $25...:panic:
 
Tools of the trade! I actually enjoy the challenge. It was a bit mentally tiring yesterday, but I enjoyed the challenge of the JMW Tonearm. Taking lots of breaks, not rushing, not getting frustrated were all important mental keys. I will admit, the VPI is more challenging to setup than previous tables like the Rega or Avid, but I felt better after talking to Jeff for a brief mental therapy session and some other tips and hints, and him telling me that VPI tables have taken him several hours to setup too.

I'm enjoying VTA on the fly - not for different thickness of records, but for really tuning in the diamond tip angle. As many are aware, raising the back of the arm makes the diamond tip lean more towards 88 degrees and results in a slightly brighter sounding. Lowering the back of the Tonearm and striving for a 92 degree angle has produced a much more balanced sound, with better bottom end and smoother top end. Of course, a powerful magnifying glass (not expensive!) is necessary to see the diamond tip and its angle. The VPI has VTA on the fly - so while listening to an LP, I can be lowering or raising the back of the tone arm and really dialing in the sound. None of my previous tables had this feature. Then, playing with different loading options on my Phono stage mean that you can really dial this baby in. Beautiful and brilliant!
 
MIke,

Glad you got it dialed in..YES, the VPI is much more sophisticated to setup BUT the results are that much more a cut above...

RTAN...It will always be free...LOL..But I am overdue for a new one...just hard to give up the one with almost 25K views...lol
 
ohbythebay said:
No worries..I did that video on a whim..I am truly thinking of a replacement with a bit more detail with close up pictures of certain things...

MD - do you have close-up work glasses ? The type you buy at the pharmacy with different numbers ? That's what I use as my eyes are not as they were...especially for alignment and azimuth...LOL
Click to expand...

Interesting you mention that. I'm actually thinking of getting something from amazon. It's this whole head thing and can mount a light on it.
I can use it for my other tables. However, I just found out that I won't be able to use my mirrored simpler protractor on the Denon, it's not compatible for the tone arm. I may have to have someone set it up for me which is just not going to happen. I don't know who does that in my area and the cost would not be worth it. I'm thinking I may have to chuck it in. We'll see, I'm not going down without a fight because I really want vinyl ability on my "Paradigm system".
~Eric
 
MusicDirector said:
Interesting you mention that. I'm actually thinking of getting something from amazon. It's this whole head thing and can mount a light on it.
I can use it for my other tables. However, I just found out that I won't be able to use my mirrored simpler protractor on the Denon, it's not compatible for the tone arm. I may have to have someone set it up for me which is just not going to happen. I don't know who does that in my area and the cost would not be worth it. I'm thinking I may have to chuck it in. We'll see, I'm not going down without a fight because I really want vinyl ability on my "Paradigm system".
~Eric
Click to expand...

Why wont it work with the Denon ? Baewald should work with anything ?
 
ohbythebay said:
Why wont it work with the Denon ? Baewald should work with anything ?
Click to expand...

I read on Vinyl engine that the tone arm is closer designed for the Stevenson. I also read somewhere that the Denons like my model were set up in factory with a Denon MC cart and they used a proprietary protractor. I also read that there is a height adjustment screw someplace, but I also read that I should not touch it. It sounds like this thing will be too challenging for me. I'm debating if I want to try it or not when the time comes. If I try it I could render it useless junk or succeed. I'm really worried about getting it exact so I don't ruin records.
 
If you take your time and watch the video you will do fine always! And the rewards make the difference! in the sound! ;)
 
True words...

First, no reason at all your Denon arm wont' work with Baerwald alignment.
second, as long as you have some magnifying glasses to help your eyes, we wont let you screw it up..LOL

Truly, it is NOT that hard and well worth the effort
 
I've found that the "final touch" on having a great vinyl experience is setting the azimuth correctly... No, you can't set it by eye or with mirrors. A ton of very good cartridges do not have the stylus centered (perpendicular to the record groove) on the cantilever. This will give you a "skewed" L/R channel balance. The Fozgometer with a test record will balance your L/R channels perfectly, giving you heavenly imaging...

If anyone in the LI / NYC wants to borrow (or better yet, have me "Fozgo") my Fozgometer, let me know. It makes a huge difference.

My $0.02,
Pete
 
Don't know which Denon TT you are referring to but the vintage ones, all use a 50mm overhang shortcut, which with the cartridge square in the head shell will give you the Stevenson alignment the tables were designed with. You can just print the Stevenson protractor from VE and verify.
 
I've been eyeing a Fozgometer for a while now. Maybe it would be worth it...especially since vinyl is 90% my source.
 
Triode Wire Labs said:
I've found that the "final touch" on having a great vinyl experience is setting the azimuth correctly... No, you can't set it by eye or with mirrors. A ton of very good cartridges do not have the stylus centered (perpendicular to the record groove) on the cantilever. This will give you a "skewed" L/R channel balance. The Fozgometer with a test record will balance your L/R channels perfectly, giving you heavenly imaging...

If anyone in the LI / NYC wants to borrow (or better yet, have me "Fozgo") my Fozgometer, let me know. It makes a huge difference.

My $0.02,
Pete
Click to expand...

Hey my LI friend...How I WISH right now I still lived in Huntington (if only to take you up on your KIND offer of the fozgometer loan) . I live in Seattle now so the commute to NYC is tough...LOL

Your words are very very true. The same holds true for alignment. Many people align to the cart body and wonder why things are not quite right. You have to align to the cantilever. Our friend here Elcoholic makes amazing protractors for just this purpose...Check out pics.

Anyway Pete, again, welcome aboard and great way you jumped in to the shark tank !!! :exciting:

IMG_1759.JPG


IMG_2622.JPG


IMG_2664.JPG
 
Jack said:
Don't know which Denon TT you are referring to but the vintage ones, all use a 50mm overhang shortcut, which with the cartridge square in the head shell will give you the Stevenson alignment the tables were designed with. You can just print the Stevenson protractor from VE and verify.
Click to expand...

When I'm ready to do it, I'll post pics so all can see what I'm dealing with. I don't know about that 50mm overhang shortcut. That's not what I read on VE. When I'm ready to do it I'll come in for guidance. First, I need to treat the room and then get a cart and a preamp and eyesight help items. So it's going to be at least a month.
~Eric
 
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