how to set tracking force on turntable

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Date: 12/12/2022

Still having trouble, check out this quick and helpful tonearm balancing video here. Be careful not to damage the exposed stylus. The concept of a penny on the stylus is smart in theory since its essentially giving attention to the tracking force and trying to prevent skating. The second part of this series on how to set up a turntable details VTA adjustment. Start with the turntable powered off, and make certain that the counterweight is installed correctly on the rear of the tone arm so that the numbers on the stylus force gauge ring face the front of the turntable. Tonearm balance and tracking force are a crucial part of your turntable setup. Your tracking force will need to be different depending on the type of cartridge and record player you have, so its important to pay attention to it to avoid unnecessary damage, or compromised sound quality. Now you should be good to go. . Heres Why, How to Break in a Pair of Boots the Right Way, 18 of the Most Popular Weed Strains, Explained, Own an Espresso Machine? How to arrange your speakers for the optimal listening experience. How to Balance a Tonearm & Adjust Tonearm Weight for Correct Tracking Force. This article explains why when we adjust the height of the tonearm, we are changing an angle called the SRA (stylus rake angle), and that changing VTA is a bit of a myth. It is important to note that not all turntables have the capacity to adjust VTA. Note that the entire turntable setup process from beginning to end may be found in these popular blog posts: Set up the AT-LP120-USB Turntable Part 1, Part 2. When setting VTA we are aiming for the tonearm to be parallel to the record. If your turntable has an anti-skate setting, youll make it match the counterweight (so if its a tracking force of 2 grams, set your anti-skate to 2 as well). VTA refers to a specific angle that is pre-set by the company that made the cartridge. If your dial is marked in tenths of grams, you need to rotate the counterweight so it goes once around completely, and then settles with the 2 or 3 in the top or 12 o'clock position. In the vast majority of cases, this angle is 20 degrees. It is best to set the tracking force to 2.0 grams for the AT95E cartridge. If you own an automatic turntable, all you have to worry about is setting the tracking force. How Do I Balance the Tone Arm and Set the Tracking Force for the AT-LP120-USB and AT-LP1240-USB Turntables? A cheap stylus force gauge will make turntable set up easier and more accurate. The Pro-ject USA Measure it S2 is an electronic balance that can measure up to 5 grams of tracking force, and measures in precise 0.001 gram increments. The Pro-ject USA High-Precision Cartridge Alignment Protractor will help you align and adjust your cartridge and tonearm, which alongside great tracking force makes for smooth playing. Once youve confirmed the scale is measuring correctly, youll set your anti-skate to 0, and gently lower your tonearm onto the scale to get a reading. The entire counterweight assembly must be . Kain says these are sometimes included in the box with your turntable, but they are also available separately. First, youll want to reset the tonearm so it can hang like a seesaw in mid-air. If the calibration weight is 5 grams, then youll obviously want to make sure the number on the scale matches up. As a result, the stylus will not sit centrally in the groove.To counteract this issue, we need to apply a small amount of outward pressure and pull that stylus back to accurately track the groove.If your turntable has an anti-skate dial, you can set this to the same number as your tracking force and this will get you in the ballpark. If your tracking force is optimized but things sound off, make sure youve set your alignment with a turntable protractor. Happy spinning! It may take a few moments to find the correct weight. But the counterweight is equipped to actually measure tracking force and will give you the ability to adjust precisely and protect your gear. Regular linear trackers are the ones mentioned from Revox, Pioneer, Yamaha but also the Sony PS-X800 and X555ES. Juke Box E is a record player, phono stage, a Bluetooth receiver, a line preamplifier, and a power amplifier in one. Gently hold the headshell to stabilize the tone arm while releasing the tone arm locking clamp. Free eBook: includes BONUS cleaning tips! Id love to review one, Nice simple video , that explains the mystique of setting up an arm nice one many thanks, the horizontal is also something that I would forget ..thank you. Its all about trial and error. For the most part, your adjustments wont be that noticeable in the basic audio equipment arena. It's not as simple as clicking "reset", but it's not rocket science, either. Gear Patrol participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Even if youve never done it yourself, its likely youve heard or witnessed people place a penny on their record player during playback. Method 1: Digital tracking force gauge A digital tracking force gauge is an inexpensive scale you can purchase that can potentially save you tons of money. I always just used common sense, and I thought that was enough. The final part of VTA adjustment is done by the listeners ears. However, if youre going to wager which is worse for your needle, its a lighter force, since that most often causes consistent skipping, skating, and mistracking. Now turn the tracking force dial to the correct tracking force. One easy trick is to use the blank side of a single-sided recordin my case the reverse side of a 12-inch single. Conversely, if the tonearm has an upward slope, it must be raised at the pivot point. 1 Reset your tonearm. A digital gauge, such as this one, isnt expensive and it will give you peace of mind that your cartridge and stylus are tracking at the optimum force for audio quality and record longevity. In a sense, the penny on the record player trick has been used as a DIY anti-skate setting. With an entry-level turntable, there isnt much to balance, says Ron Kain, a turntable school graduate and audio specialist at New York Citys Stereo Exchange, which has been supplying high-end equipment to masters of the universe and audio enthusiasts since 1984, when it was just down the road from now-defunct Tower Records on Broadway, just above Houston Street. If using the ATP-2 cartridge, set the tracking force to 3.5 grams. Make sure the tonearm is locked in before you do this. The Pro-ject USA Measure it S2 is an electronic balance that can measure up to 5 grams of tracking force, and measures in precise 0.001 gram increments. Due to physics, as your tonearm moves from the outside of the record to the inside, it will have a tendency to move inward (or skate) to the inside of your record. Set the anti skating. Failing to set this correctly can result in poor sound quality, or worse, damaged records. This website includes affiliate links to some products we recommend. The easiest way to measure and check if your tracking weight is on point, is to check the counterweight. The stylus needs to make contact with the record at the ideal weight to create beautiful playback and prevent unnecessary damage. You can adjust the weight of the tonearm by turning the counterweight to a specific number. This great-sounding belt-drive deck comes with the Ortofon OM 5E cartridge mounted & aligned, the tracking force & anti-skate set. Will it Harm Your Needle? Put a record on your turntable and turn on the power. Be careful not to touch the counterweight as you do not want to lose your balance point. Not all vinyl records can be played at the same speeds, and not all turntables can play at the same speeds, so ensuring your vinyl matches with your record player is essential. I dont worship vinyl the way some audiophiles do I just want what everyone else wants: Music thats free from skips, scratches, or any other unexpected breaks. 6. These audiophile units also allow for modular options the ability to swap out your plastic tonearm for a lighter carbon fiber one or add a thicker or higher record platter and in these cases youll need as much customizability as possible. These are the trickiest parts of turntable setup & we've taken care of them for you. In this case, the optimum recommended tracking force is 1.8 grams. This is usually at the rear end of the tonearm, and likely to have numbers detailed along it. Carefully rotate the counterweight on the rear of the tone arm until the tone arm is horizontally balanced. If your turntable does not have this capacity, go ahead and skip to the next part in the series of turntable setup. Once you have your tracking force set, its recommended that you check up on it annually. What is Tracking Force: What to Know Before Playing Records. Lowering the tonearm will generally improve bass, and raising the tonearm will generally improve treble. That is 1.2 or 1.3 grams of force - You can verify that you HAVE downward force by lifting up the front of the arm slightly and watching it fall rapidly. Accessing our website tells us you agree to our use of cookies. Hopefully its helpful to those just getting started with vinyl. To demonstrate, Kain set the gauge right on a test record on the Thorens TD209 automatic turntable, then placed the cartridge on the gauge, which has a digital readout. Since complex grooves force turntable styli to vibrate as fast as 10,000 times per second, keeping your force on point is essential. When it comes to audio equipment, Im like most people: a mass consumer who doesnt have $3,000 or more to spend on a turntable (not including the tonearm). Each cartridge manufacturer should include the ideal tracking force range in the manual, but if you dont have the manual, you can also look it up online based on the model. Turntable Setup: Proper Vertical Tracking Force Turntable Setup | Proper Tracking Force 2,893 views Mar 24, 2019 113 Dislike Share Save Joe Collins 119K subscribers "It's not about. Slide the cover straight forward off the front of the cartridge. When you purchase a turntable and start playing music, you may notice that you need to set the tracking force. Turntable Setup: Setting Tracking Force and Anti-Skate Once you have achieved a level tonearm, you can now go ahead and set the tracking force and anti-skate. Set up is easy since Juke Box E comes pre-adjusted out of the box and offers superb sound quality. In most cases, the counterweight can be found on the rear end of the tonearm (furthest end from the needle), and it will have numbers on it. It will ensure that the tonearm won't move outward while you find the balance point. The counterweight is the round numbered dial on the end of this Pro-ject USA 12-cc Evolution Audiophile Carbon Fiber Tonearm. And then it's time to set the tracking weight - the amount of force the stylus puts on the record. Thank you for your support! When I set out to write an article on balancing a tonearm, I thought: how hard can it be? This marks the current counterweight position as balanced or zero gravity., Set the recommend stylus tracking force by rotating the. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. If you don't know this offhand, it's usually a safe bet to go with 2-3 grams. Then he adjusted the counterweight dial until 2.5 grams showed up on the readout. 6. Worth mentioning though that cart settings are interrelated - VTA and tracking force especially. Conversely, if the tracking force is too light, the force from the grooves can potentially throw the cartridge up, causing the needle to skim or skate across the vinyl record. If you have the, Locate the black stylus force gauge ring on the front of the counterweight. Now that you have properly set the . For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Its not as simple as clicking reset, but its not rocket science, either. Skip to main content Close JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Step 1: Install the Counterweight. Select an average shape (as mentioned above) record that has detailed music, preferably one that contains a good selection of highs and lows. When setting VTA we are aiming for the tonearm to be parallelto the record. One option is to use a specialized gauge to set the tracking force. Theres something so personal and satisfying about watching the tonearm drop into place before the sounds of your favorite artists fill the room. Higher-end turntables are all about getting to the deepest blacks in the music by eliminating all the background white noise, says Kain, comparing audio to video briefly. Some tonearms including those from Rega and Thorens feature a tracking force dial on the side of the arm, which should also be set to the zero position. Adjust the counterweight until the dial reads the correct tracking force. The long list of iconic models produced or imported by SUMIKO reads like a whos who of analog audios illustrious past. This is commonly controlled by a numbered dial near the tonearm or a physical weight attached to the tonearm by a thin piece of fishing wire. If you thought that a starter turntable system is complicated to set up, Juke Box E1 will show you otherwise. Best Turntables is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Although VTA adjustment is important, it is unrealistic to think that the parameters you decide on will stay set in stone. Raise the dust cover (if installed) and place the record you want to listen to on the platter. Even with identical set ups - same table and cart - if one guy has his tonearm set up with a slightly higher VTA than the other guy then that can influence which tracking force sounds ideal. 4Move to the high end, consider tonearm balance. Vinyl 101: Why Does My Record Player Sound Bad. An First, youll power up the digital scale and make sure its calibrated. As you likely guessed, youll use the same process detailed above. Playing a warped record might result in the VTA changing every second of playback. Classical or electronic music is optimal. Exceptions to this rule are turntables with a factory-set tracking force, or occasions where the retailer sets the turntable up for you. Im obsessed with not only not wearing out my record and cartridge with too much weight (an urban myth, it turns out), but also avoiding that jolting needle rip as it passes across an LP with too-light tracking. L. VTA* adjustment screw (page 20) * Vertical Tracking Angle. The tracking force and anti-skate feature on turntables are, after all, symbiotic pairs. Set the recommend stylus tracking force by rotating the entire counterweight assembly counterclockwise. Each cartridge will have its own recommended tracking force. Ive owned a turntable and played vinyl since way back when vinyl was still king. 2: Make sure that your turntable's anti-skating dial or weight is set to zero (you don't want any additional weight on the tonearm at this stage). Turntable Setup: Stylus TRACKING FORCE 27,541 views May 3, 2015 367 Dislike Share Save HiViNyws channel 29.9K subscribers Correct Stylus Tracking Force is critical for many reasons. Cheers, But for those who like to get it right (or those new to vinyl who have never had the opportunity to learn this procedure intuitively), there is a proper way. Every cartridge has an optimum tracking force as specified by the manufacturer. Within a few minutes even a turntable novice can have the Theory plugged in and ready to play. With the tracking force set, we can set the anti-skating force. There are specific reasons why youd want to adjust a tonearm. 1Reset your tonearm. Its likely, if youre reading this, that youve at least heard the term tracking force before. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. The pictures show the functions and controls better than I night try to describe them individually. The counterweight is the main component on the tonearm that lets you shift the tracking force. Controlling the Turntable. If you have questions about tone arm setup, feel free to contact our Audio Solutions Department for assistance. This practice originated from the belief that pennies can act as anchors helping ground the needle, and preventing it from skipping or jumping out of the grooves. As for me, Im still happy with my Technics 1200 and have no plans to upgrade (nor do I have the patience to take apart my turntable, which likely would open up a whole can of optimization worms). Adjusting your tonearm tracking force is one of the most important aspects of setting up your turntable. Kain used the Clear Audio Cartridge Weight Watcher ($250), which can measure tracking force down to 1/100th of a gram, but there are more affordable and serviceable devices such as the Shure SFG-2 Stylus Tracking Force Gauge ($39), which can handle measurements up to 1/10th of a gram. It is also a good idea to check the balance and tracking force (and make any necessary adjustments) during routine maintenance, and whenever you replace the stylus and/or replace the entire cartridge. Mario. It varies from manufacturer to manufacturer and its ultimately all about getting it to work right with your system.. 2. Actually changing the VTA will vary greatly depending on the tonearm used, but generally there will be some sort of dial or screw mechanism that allows the tonearm to be raised up or down and locked in to place. Luckily for all of us, we dont need pennies to do the heavy lifting of tracking force, since our turntables are designed with all the gorgeous components we need. The Sherwood ST-903 is a fully automatic two-speed belt driven machine with up-front controls including pitch/speed control with illuminated strobe for fine tuning. And if you have a higher-end turntable and you have to ask, then you should probably get a custom installer to tackle it for you. Remove the tonearm from its rest and make sure the cueing lever is in the up position. If your tracking force isnt set correctly, your cartridge could easily be sitting too heavily or too lightly on the grooves. Written in plain English - no technical jargon. You will need to read the manual for your cartridge or otherwise Google its specifications. Now that youve found your counterweight, you may be wondering how to set the tracking force, or more specifically, how you decipher which number is best. The extra weight can create a stilted stylus tip edge which then scuffs the surface of the grooves. In order to use the electronic balance, youll set it on the turntable (not on top of a record, though). Install the platter and motor pulley cap. (More on this later on). One of the first settings one must familiarize themself with is the speed of playback. In my experience, nine times out of 10 Im adjusting on the fly with my plain old eyes, depending on the condition of the vinyl. Once youve found the ideal tracking force for your model, youll simply set the counterweight to the suggested number. Unless theyre audiophiles or luxury goods buyers, most people dont usually shell out $4,600 for an audiophile-grade and thats just mid-range turntable. On the motor. Simply put, tracking force is the amount of weight your turntables cartridge places on the record. * Vertical Tracking Force. What all the bits of a turntable do. Tracking force and anti-skating of the turntable section are carefully set. First, set the anti-skate or bias adjustment to zero, usually using a dial on the base of the tonearm or a slider beneath the arm itself, as found on many Rega tonearms. This point is half way between the scale for 1.5 and 2 on the dial. The force gauge ring will move along with the counterweight, allowing you to set the counterweight for a specific tracking force. Its always difficult to balance detail and being easy to follow. Yea, Ive seen this. If your turntable has a physical weight, you can now loop this onto the central notch, ready to spin records.You can check how accurate your anti-skating is if you have a one-sided record, or a test record with a blank (non-grooved) area. 3Adjust the weight per your audio needs. Question: How do I balance the tone arm and set the tracking force for the AT-LP120-USB and AT-LP1240-USB turntables? If the gauge has a hole for the turntable spindle, make sure youve mounted the device properly. The needle will then land on a random place in the groove, and cause both skipping and potentially damage the record. The cartridge manufacturer will have a specified figure here, so there's no guesswork: just use a tracking-force . Remember if you are using any other cartridge, use the recommend tracking force for that specific cartridge. However, as any audiophile knows, the process of setting up and maintaining your record player is often complex. When I used the blank record, the dial measurement was different than the counter-weight dial, indicating that the dial is off, which I suspect is on most players. Same goes for the T4P Sony's like the PS-FL7, FL77, FL9, FL99. 2: Calibrate the adjustable anti-skate feature However, if you accidentally knock your tonearm out of place, or move your record player to a different location (even a new surface in the same room), its suggested that you reset it. And for that, a simple micro-turn of a tonearms counterweight is just right. Improper setup may cause such issues as distortion, sound from only one channel, and other ill effects. the cartridge holder itself should not be dragging along the vinyl surface has served me well. You will need to balance the tone arm and set the tracking force when initially setting up the turntable. Tracking force is dependent on your cartridge. First, set your anti-skate setting to 0, then adjust the counterweight (the big cylindrical knob) until the tonearm looks more or less balanced, like a seesaw or scale with either end at the same height. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. The counterweight dial turns independently of the weight; set this to zero. You Need a Knock Box, Why Electric Motorcycles Can't Beat Combustion, Bookshelf vs Floorstanding Speakers: Explained, How to Adjust the Tracking Force on Your Turntable. [If you use a Concorde style cartridge you can skip this step and go to step 3. Edge the counterweight backwards and forwards to the suitable tracking weight. and the excess drag can even cause serious damage to the vinyl. This manual explains how to set up and operate this unit. Assuming your tonearm is pre-fitted with a cartridge, here's how to set the tracking force. How Do You Set A Track Force Turntable? Top Record Cleaning Tools for Better Sounding Records. If you own any 180 gram vinyl pressings, you will know that they are much thicker than normal pressings. But you may still be wondering what precisely tracking force is, why it matters, and how you can check if its correct. And those that dont simply get a custom installer to adjust it for them. Answer: Applying the proper tracking force for the cartridge you are using is a very important step in maximizing the performance of your turntable. Do invest. This can cause distortion, a reduction in detail, and overpowering bass. This is either a broken or worn belt, or a gummed up mechanism that controls the tone arms movement. However you can change your cookie settings at any time. Top of the turn table. Next up, lift the tonearm from its rest and adjust the counterweight backwards and forwards until the tonearm balances horizontally in a level position. It is the angle between the cantilever (the arm that has the stylus at the end of it) and the surface of the record. Set anti-skating to zero or remove the weight. Connect the grounding cable to the ground post/chassis screw located at the rear of the turntable. 2) Locate the anti-skating and set it to "0". You can purchase a digital tracking force gauge that you attach to the turntable for measurement purposes. All youre doing is balancing the weight of the cartridge hitting the record. In other words, the only thing I can control on a standard automatic turntable is the tracking force, which is the process of getting the cartridge to sit on the record with the ideal amount of weight not only making your record sound better, but also preventing the tonearm from flailing about wildly and scratching your record in the process. Overall condition is very good, comes with a fresh tune-up including a new belt. Cartridge alignment is one of the most mystifying aspects of turntable setup. The Best Holiday Deals You Can Shop Right Now, 3 Vacheron Novelties You Will Not Want to Miss, A Brief Guide to Affordable Vintage Rolex Watches, The Chore Coat Is the Perfect Garment. How to Adjust Tracking Force The main component on the tonearm that allows you to adjust the tracking force is the counterweight. With the tone arm locked in the rest position, carefully remove the protective cover from the stylus. Great to hear I got it right here :). With a solid aluminum housing and 4-digit LCD backlit display, the Measure It massively simplifies the process of measuring your force and gives you weight down to the fraction of a gram. 3000 Series Wireless In-Ear Monitor System. This means if the counterweight is set at 2, your tracking force is 2 grams (and so forth). How To Set Your Turntable's Tracking Force. If your arm has no counter-weight dial or screw thread, rest the tracking weight gauge on the platter and the stylus on the gauge. Looks cool. Should you choose to purchase through one of our links, we may take a small commission for the final sale. Identify which cartridge you are using. 2Set the gauge right on the turntable platter. An acrylic dust . The amount of weight pushing down on the stylus (and thus on the records) will affect both the sound quality and the amount of record wear you see from the stylus tip. As setting VTA is about adjusting the height of the tonearm, by having a thicker or raised record we are effectively changing VTA by altering the height at which the stylus comes in contact with the record. Thankfully, balancing a turntable arm and adjusting the tonearm weight correctly is a straightforward task that anyone can do at home. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Therefore, the height of the tonearm should be equal at both measured points. So without further adieu, lets dig into the grooves of all the FAQs about tracking force. If your collection is made up with primarily one or the other, then select that type of record to set VTA with. Those who prefer correctness might refer to this whole process as setting SRA. Is Mono Vinyl Better Than Stereo? In doing so, we thank you for your support in allowing us to continue producing free content. Screw the adjustable feet of the turntable in and out accordingly to raise and lower the corners of the plinth until the bubble is precisely in the centre of the bullseye marking on the spirit level. Every product is carefully selected by our editors. Thanks Phil! Featuring the best tips, tricks,and features to enhance your love of vinyl records. What looks like a reasonable amount of pressure on the record and cartridge i.e. If your turntable has an anti-skate feature (meant to keep the needle from skating towards the center of the vinyl), youll change the anti-skate setting to 0. Now that weve covered the basic low-down on what tracking force does, why it matters, and how to adjust it, its important to address an old trick that affects force that is resourceful, but ultimately misguided. M. Lift lever . The stylus tracking force will help the needle consistently trace the impressions amidst temperature and pressure shifts. 2. So really what were talking about here is setting the tracking force on your turntable, not balancing a tonearm. Youre now at zero. The website for vinyl in the digital age. To ensure your tracking force is set correctly, I highly recommend purchasing a tracking force gauge. In a world full of ad pop-ups and endless streaming options, sitting in the warmth and fullness of analog sound can feel refreshingly simple, especially when the tracking force is calibrated perfectly. Thanks Richard. But another less talked about piece is tracking force, the likes of which affect the health of your records, your cartridge, and your overall listening experience. By using a blank record, you can adjust the anti-skate until the stylus sits still in one place, neither biasing to the inside or outside of the record. When reading this manual, please note the following: . The numbers indicate the grams of weight placed on your cartridge, AKA the tracking weight. Once you have balanced the tone arm (following instructions above), rotate the force gauge ring (without adjusting the counterweight itself) until the number 0 lines up with the centerline on the top of the tone arm. The Measure It (and other similar components) come with a calibration weight you can use to test the scale. So, for example, you can adjust the height of the vertical tracking angle (VTA), which is the mechanism that holds the tonearm in to the turntable itself, to properly match a higher record platter. Audio Solutions Question of the Week: How Do I Balance the Tone Arm and Set the Tracking Force for the AT-LP120-USB and AT-LP1240-USB Turntables? Either way, its so specific to the combination of components in your turntable that there is no hard and fast rule for balancing a tonearm. Besides the quality of the components, what youre paying for in a pricier turntable is true separation of sound, since everything from the turntable motor to the tonearm to the plinth is isolated and designed to create as little outside interference as possible in the most newfangled way as possible (record platter thats kept apart from the plinth via magnetic polarity, anyone?). A test record will give you the opportunity to judge anti-skating based on real-world audible results; make fine adjustments for the best performance. All this one needs is a new belt I woudl replace also the rubber roller and clean the entire mechanism with some WD-40 sparingly ( I use Q Tips) I never spray directly into this one. Install the hinges on the dust cover (use a soft surface to avoid scratches) and install the dust cover. This does not increase the price for you. Better still, a test record will help you listen for performance issues and make adjustments based on what sounds best. Most people can maintain a standard tracking force of 2-3 grams with a turntable that is set to a certain level. You need to apply the correct amount of downward pressure so the stylus can accurately track your records. Technics SL-10, SL-7, SL-5, SL-DL1, SL-QL1 etc have limited adjustability between 1.0 and 1.5 grams, which corresponds to the T4P cartridge standard. A vinyl set-up has a few more components than you'll find in, say, a CD-based system. Theres no allowance in modern home []. You can also adjust the azimuth to ensure that the tonearm isnt turned too far to the right or left (an adjustment youll want to make depending on how the cartridge is mounted using a device like the Fosgate Fozgometer ($299)). With the cueing lever in the down position, continue to gently hold the headshell above the rest position. Install the cartridge. This ring rotates independently from the counterweight. By modifying the VTA, we alter where the needle sits within the grooves and by extension, change the sound produced. If using the AT95E cartridge, set the tracking force to 2.0 grams. 1) Stand in front of the turntable, remove the dust cover and focus on the tonearm assembly area. Clear Audio Cartridge Weight Watcher ($250), Shure SFG-2 Stylus Tracking Force Gauge ($39). However, this practice places a lot of stress on the needle and can make the tracking force too heavy and cause stress on both the stylus and the record grooves. For part one in this series, see setting tracking force and anti-skate. Playing your favorite record on a new turntable is one of the best feelings in the world. With a solid aluminum housing and 4-digit LCD backlit display, the Measure It massively simplifies the process of measuring your force and gives you weight down to the fraction of a gram. 4. Once the tone arm is properly balanced, lock it back into the rest. 5Consult a custom installer, or be satisfied with your set up. Most turntable newbies wont want this kind of flexibility, but some audiophiles, like car mod types, like to adjust their equipment to no end. I have a issue with the tonearm as it doesn't have any controls (counterweight, anti-skating, etc) it has a tendency to skip on older records as the tonearm's tracking force is to light.The records don't skip when I balance a coin on the cartridge, as it adds weight. This means that the headshell is neither moving up away from the rest nor moving down towards the rest but rather is hovering freely above the rest position. An often overlooked issue is first leveling the turntable by placing it perfectly horizontal on its stand or rack. For nearly 40 years, SUMIKO has provided the finest array of phono cartridges to discriminating analog enthusiasts around the world. But I trust real performance and sound quality, not dial numbers. You may need to adjust the tracking force to match your record's sensitivity or your cartridge's weight if your record is more sensitive. The power switch is usually located under the turntable, on top of the turntable, or on the motor. If you upgraded to a better cartridge, use the tracking force on the card we included with your cartridge. As mentioned earlier, setting the anti-skate to the same number as your tracking force (in this case 1.8 grams) can get you in the right ballpark. Install the headshell. Sometimes people want a track to be bassier, says Kain, in which case adding a bit more weight on the tracking force will help accentuate the low end. According to Kain, thats usually around two or three grams. Just add speakers to make a complete system. 1: Remove the stylus guard. To play music smoothly, the tip of the stylus needs to follow the impressions that are engraved on the walls of the record groove. Connect the turntable to the phono input on your amplifier, or a phono pre-amp, using the supplied RCA-to-RCA cable. Likewise, if you want more details in the mids and highs, then pulling back on the weight could help. The tone arm may swing freely as it is unbalanced at this point. Most recommended ranges fall in between 1 and 3 grams, but youll want to check to verify precisely what your machine needs. If using the AT95E cartridge, set the tracking force to 2.0 grams. Make sure the phono cartridge has the correct tracking force Check your turntable's speed accuracy Upgrade your cartridge Make sure the cartridge is aligned correctly Buy better sleeves for. Experiment with VTA adjustment to find out what works for you. the turntable spins Thank you for that. . Thanks Mario. The less traction between the record and the stylus, the less bass youre going to get, says Kain. Marc HenshallSeptember 13, 2022New to Vinyl, Vinyl 1019 Comments. A tracking weight that is too heavy will push on the record too much. There will often be a specified tracking force range, with an optimum number somewhere in the middle. Its always best to test your anti-skate performance as it can seriously hinder sound quality and reduce the life of your stylus and records. You can also use a tracking force gauge, which is essentially a scale for your tonearm. How do you set the tracking force? Follow our step-by-step guide, and youll be spinning those lovely records in no time. The Audio Solutions Team demonstrates how to balance the tone arm and set the tracking force for AT-LP120-USB and AT-LP1240-USB Turntables. And here's how you to do that. Matching them in this way ensures that they are as in sync as they ought to be. 1. And make certain your cartridge is properly. If theres a range of 1 gram (from 2-3 for example), youll want to set your counterweight evenly in the middle of the range (2.5 in this case). Place the counterweight on the back of the tonearm (with the numbers facing forward). If the counterweight is on a screw thread, rotate it (which also moves the dial) to the desired tracking weight. Neither of these outcomes is good for the health of your needle or your records. Maybe youve even noticed theres a weight or force setting on your turntable. 5. This will add to the weight and we don't want that! Hi Mark, Kain recommends using an actual test record for better accuracy. Adjusting your tonearm tracking force is one of the most important aspects of setting up your turntable. Next, all you need to do is adjust the dial on the front of the counterweight to the setting recommended by the cartridge manufacturer. Set it incorrectly and you may experience skipping, distorted audio and cause excess wear to your vinyl records. Glad it came across clear. Well done!! Sound Matters is reader supported. Yes, very important setup step. 3. . As for ruining the record, Kain says that extra weight wont do that (unless, of course, the cartridge is hitting the record), nor will it damage the cartridge. With the record on the platter ant the tonearm resting stationary on the record, use a ruler to measure the height of the tonearm above the record at two separate points. But the process outlined below works perfectly well, and saves you from having to buy a gauge. Conversely, if the tonearm has an upward slope, it must be raised at the pivot point. I own a 90's Philips FP260 turntable (With the original moving magnet cartridge). Includes details on how to use the gauge. To adjust the tracking force, rotate the knob on your counterweight until it reaches your cartridge manufacturer's recommended weight. Happy spinning! The Hi Fi News Test Record is the number one choice of turntable reviewers worldwide to assess their overall turntable set up and cartridge tracking. There is no set rule, says Kain. Nice, detailed but easy to follow, step-by-step process laid out in your article. The first and most pressing question at hand is: what exactly is tracking force? Now that were tracking at zero grams, we want to adjust the dial accordingly. This is true, but adjustment of tonearm height has been referred to as VTA adjustment for aeons, and is therefore part of the popular consciousness of turntable owners. While regular mistracking might be easy to spot with your eyeballs or eardrums, its also possible to have less than ideal force without noticing overt signs. Take comfort in knowing that you dont need the eyes of an eagle, or the ear of an orchestra conductor to check if your tracking force is at the right level. Choosing the right piece of furniture to store vinyl records can be a chore. If youve just purchased a turntable, theres a good chance you need to set to adjust the tonearm weight yourself before you can spin those lovely records. Before balancing the tonearm, we need remove any influence from the anti-skating weight. If you neeed to get more out of your stylus, check out our guide to choosing the perfect turntable stylus. First, set your anti-skate setting to "0", then adjust the counterweight (the big cylindrical knob) until the tonearm looks more or less balanced, like a seesaw or scale with either end at the same height. Find out how to fix it. However, if the process of manually measuring your tracking force makes you nervous, or you simply dont trust the counterweight reading on your older turntable, there are other options. A supplied spirit bubble helps with leveling the plinth using the height adjustable feet, which is critical. Next, youll adjust the counterweight (again) so that the tonearm hangs once more like a seesaw, not swinging upwards, but steady in mid-air. You can change the tracking force of the counterweight depending on the force gauge ring you use with it. Tracking force gauges are also ideal if you want super specific settings and more flexibility in adjustment. So there you have it. Setting VTA (vertical tracking angle) is yet another factor that must be considered for turntable performance. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Vinyl records have an unfortunate habit of being varying thickness or even warping. Thats the most straightforward way of doing it, but if there are no numbers on your tonearm dial, there are other ways to adjust the ideal weight. Before you play music or after resetting your tracking force, simply place the digital tracking force gauge on the platter of your turntable and lower the cartridge. If the tonearm has a downward slope, then the tonearm must be lowered at the pivot point. I decided to consult an expert audiophile just to make sure I wasnt missing anything, and once again I was reminded of how basic my Technics 1200 setup is. After you set the tracking force, turn the Anti-Skate dial to match the tracking force of the cartridge. Under the table. If you watch the video embedded in this article, youll see how by assuming an anti-skate setting of 1.8 grams, the tonearm is actually over-compensating for the skating phenomenon. Failing to set this correctly can result in poor sound quality, or worse, damaged records. Whether youre brand new in the phono world, or youre a seasoned sound vet looking to brush up your knowledge, its always smart to go over all the settings on your turntable and know parts of a turntable intimately. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Yes, the anti-skating blank record is the best way to set the anti-skating and not dialing the in-built dial to equal the same weight as the counter-weight. Depending on the type of audio system you obtain, the amount of adjustment and customization available may vary. It's possible to set tracking force without an external gauge and the set-up instructions well explain how to do it. If your turntable is different, check the manual for instructions on adjusting anti-skating. So for this reason, paying attention to tracking force really does matter. If your Planar 3 came with the Elys cartridge, you should set the dial to 1.75. This leveling means your counterweight is at 0. If the tracking weight is light for too long, and you experience this kind of mistracking often, the rate of damage increases. Ive spent years making sure that the weight of my needle and cartridge is just right on my records. Place the turntable sufficiently far from your speaker system so that it will not be affected by sound pressure or vibration. And if you have a slightly warped record, then getting a record weight will help (not heavier tracking force). Therefore, the height of the tonearm should be equal at both measured points. Free shipping on orders $49 or more to the contiguous United States. Balancing a tonearm, a procedure that is often confused with adjusting the tracking force, is a much more custom process, and really only applies to the high-end turntables. It should be interesting. Would love your thoughts, please comment. You need to apply the correct amount of downward pressure so the stylus can accurately track your records. Can You Fix a Warped Record? Some Listeners Think So! However, if we consider that we can modify this angle by raising or lowering the tonearm, we see why VTA adjustment is necessary. Lift the belt and place it over the motor pulley. And heres how you to do that. So, if the tracking force you are using is, say, 3 grams, then you will also want it so that the anti-skating force is set to 3 grams. The excessive drag can also cause damage to the vinyl, particularly when youre using an older stylus. Once the tonearm balances independently and is level, your tonearm now has a tracking force of zero grams. If the tonearm has a downward slope, then the tonearm must be lowered at the pivot point. On most systems, you can set the tracking force to the optimal range based on the cartridge weight. In order to move forward, youll want to check the recommended tracking force for your specific cartridge. It doesnt take a PhD to figure out when a cartridge is too light or too heavy, and in general, once youve set a tonearms tracking force the way you like it, you dont really need to touch it for a year or so. If you have some 180 gram vinyl and some thin vinyl, then try and find a medium thickness record. Learn how to balance the tonearm and set tonearm tracking force in part one of this series, The Ikea Expedit: A Great Option To Store Vinyl Records, Stylus Force Gauge Setting the Tracking Force Right, Parts of a Turntable The Anatomy Of The Music, Turntable Setup Part 1: Tonearm Setup Setting Tracking Force and Anti-Skate. Have you just set up your turntable, only to find that there is an annoying humming noise? The stylus tracking force should be set as directed by rotating the entire counterweight assembly in a circle. A solution to this is to choose a record for the VTA adjustment process that is average for your collection. Humming Guru is coming out with a new device that is an ultrasonic stylus cleaner and a tracking force gauge. As a result, I have what is considered a basic automatic turntable, with everything I need tonearm, platter, plinth, motor built-in and included (the cartridge is extra). 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