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Turntables remain a popular choice among audiophiles and lovers of high-fidelity sound because of their distinctive warmth and audio quality. However, to get the most out of your listening experience, it's crucial to make sure your system is properly set up and tuned. In this article, we'll guide you through the steps of adjusting a complete analogue system, including turntable, arm and cartridge, to get the best possible performance.
Step 1: Levelling the turntable
The first step is to ensure that the turntable is correctly levelled. A level turntable ensures accurate playback and prevents problems such as needle slippage and premature vinyl wear. To level the turntable, follow these steps:
Place the turntable on a solid surface, such as a sturdy piece of furniture, a shelf or a wall-mounted stand.
Check that the turntable is perfectly level, which is crucial to reduce jitter and wobble. It is also critical for optimal performance of the cartridge and arm. You can only adjust the tracking force and anti-skating (lateral force) if the turntable is completely level.
If the turntable has a floating subframe, you must adjust the springs so that the platter is level and the subframe does not touch the base. To check that you have done this correctly, press down on the spindle. The coil should lower while maintaining its levelness. This indicates that the crankset should not wobble. If it does, you will need to adjust it again. This adjustment can be a little tricky, as you will first have to raise the bottom and then place the turntable on two small tables or a shelf, and then adjust the springs from the bottom.
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Step 2: Aligning the cartridge
Proper alignment of the cartridge is crucial to ensure accurate audio playback and avoid unnecessary wear and tear on the vinyl. Follow these steps to align the cartridge:
Use an alignment jig specific to your arm and cartridge type. These jigs are designed to help you align the cartridge accurately.
Place the alignment jig on the turntable and make sure it is centred and level.
Hold the capsule in place and adjust the position until the mounting points of the capsule are correctly aligned with the reference points on the jig.
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Step 3: Adjusting the counterbalance and tracking force
Proper adjustment of the counterweight and tracking force is essential to prevent damage to both the cartridge and the vinyl. Follow these steps to adjust the counterweight and tracking force:
Consult your turntable manual to find the recommended tracking force for your specific cartridge.
Adjust the arm counterweight according to the manufacturer's specifications to achieve the desired tracking force.
Use a tracking force scale to verify the accuracy of the setting and make additional adjustments if necessary.
Step 4: Adjusting the tracking angle
The tracking angle refers to the angle at which the needle contacts the vinyl groove. An incorrect tracking angle can negatively affect the sound quality and cause premature wear of the vinyl. Follow these steps to adjust the tracking angle:
Consult your turntable manual to find the recommended tracking angle for your specific cartridge and arm.
Use a tracking angle adjustment template to check and adjust the angle as needed.
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Step 5: Adjusting the anti-skating
Antiskating is a mechanism designed to counteract the centrifugal force that pushes the needle out of the vinyl groove. Incorrect anti-skating adjustment can result in poor tracking and uneven vinyl wear. Follow these steps to adjust the antiskating:
Consult your turntable manual to find the recommended antiskating setting for your cartridge and arm.
Adjust the antiskating according to the manufacturer's specifications using the corresponding control on the turntable arm.
Finally, depending on the phono preamp you are using, select the type of cartridge you are using (MM or MC) and adjust the load (resistance), capacitance and gain according to the cartridge manufacturer's recommended values. Sometimes a step-up transformer can be used in order to use an MC cartridge with an MM phono preamp. Basically, these transformers step up the signal of the MC cartridge to match the needs of an MM input.
With these steps, you can tune your complete analogue turntable, arm and cartridge system for optimum audio reproduction and prolong the life of your equipment and your vinyl collection. Remember to take the time to make your adjustments carefully and accurately (you'll find all the tools you need to do this in our catalogue), and you'll be ready to enjoy hours of high quality music.
Upgrade your analogue system at Audiohum
If you are interested in upgrading your turntable, cartridge or boom at Audiohum we have a wide selection of high quality brands and products.
MM turntable cartridges catalogue
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