turntables 101

danger boy

Can someone help me understand the main parts of a turntable? Specifically the tone arm components.

a few things I don't understand are.. and this may seem retarded, but i've never owned a turntable that had as many replaceable parts to upgrade on it.

1. stylus

2. head or headshell

3. anti skate

4. why do Grado's cost so much? :eek:

5. cartridge

Sherardp

go for technic 1200s, best turntable out for mixing and scratching. Would love to hear ya once you get good at it. LOL

amulford

You think Grados cost alot, check out some of the carts on AG.

reeltrouble1

You put record on table

You lower arm

You enjoy.

There you go DB all you need to really know!!!!!!!!!!

stylus=the sharp thing at the end of the arm, sort of needle like that actually touches the record it "reads" the record sending signals.

headshell=attaches to the tonearm, plugs in some type of way.

anti-skate= a force opposing the tendancy for the tone arm to skip (skate)across the record.

cost=to play must pay

catridge=attaches to the headshell and holds the stylus, receives signals from the stylus and puts a very small amount of voltage on them which it sends down the line.

that is down and very dirty, tons of stuff on Vinyl Asylum

RT1

shack

Sorry - Duplicate post -

shack

A couple of good reads from some articles I bookmarked. Some more technical than others.

http://www.goodsound.com/howto/2004_02_15.htm

http://www.goodsound.com/howto/2004_05_15.htm

http://www.kabusa.com/setup.htm

http://www.recordtech.com/ttsetup.htm

http://www.audiophilia.com/features/cartridge_setup.htm

danger boy

thanks... i'll get my read on.

hearingimpared

Hey DB. . . I purchased Michael Fremer's 21st Century Vinyl. It tells you everything you want to know about a TT/tonearm/cartridge/stylus. He shows you how to mount three cartridges on three different tonearm/TT setups. I paid $29.95 for it but I've seen it for as low as $19.95. I've watched it twice and even an old analog junkie like me learned some new things. It also has a pdf that goes into great dertails on the subject.

http://www.amazon.com/21st-Century-Vinyl-Practical-Turntable/dp/B000HA4WU2

http://store.acousticsounds.com/browse_detail.cfm?Title_ID=29608

http://www.musicdirect.com/products/detail.asp?sku=VFREMERSETUPDVD

http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:21st%20Century%20Vinyl:%20Michael%20Fremer's%20Practical%20Guide%20to%20Turntable%20Setup:1809741893

http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7272211

http://www.elusivedisc.com/searchprods.asp

http://search.reviews.ebay.com/21st-Century-Vinyl-Michael-Fremers-Practical-Guide-to-Turntable-Setup_UPC_094922597236_W0QQfvcsZ1177QQsoprZ55055029

Al, check em all out, some of them run daily specials. One or two of the above had the DVD for $19.00
Joe

hearingimpared

shack wrote:

A couple of good reads from some articles I bookmarked. Some more technical than others.

http://www.goodsound.com/howto/2004_02_15.htm

http://www.goodsound.com/howto/2004_05_15.htm

http://www.kabusa.com/setup.htm

http://www.recordtech.com/ttsetup.htm

http://www.audiophilia.com/features/cartridge_setup.htm

Thanks for these sites Shack, I thought I had every site that had anything to do with vinyl. LOL

Joe

danger boy

I replaced the needle today on the Pioneer PL-530 turntable..and it sure made a big difference in sound quality. i highly suggest it.. needle ran about $20

hearingimpared

danger boy wrote:

I replaced the needle today on the Pioneer PL-530 turntable..and it sure made a big difference in sound quality. i highly suggest it.. needle ran about $20

Pictures man . . . pictures.

danger boy

hearingimpared wrote:

Pictures man . . . pictures.

Ok. just for you.. don't tell anyone.

Pioneer PL-530

Years built 1977 - 79'
retailed for $250
used now $14
weight 23lbs (ugh)

*you can tell i need a record cleaner.. look at all the dust on that album :eek:

hearingimpared

Very nice DB. What you need now on top of a record cleaning system is a record clamp. I have a couple of different types in my storage bin. When I get settled in my new home (the next few weeks) I'll dig them up and see which is the better fit for your TT. I send you one.

Question is your platter dished (slightly concave)? Solid or rubber mat? Is there a recess for the record label?

Joe

danger boy

Joe,

from what i have explored on the platter.. it's rubber mat. not concave. no recess for the record label.

tanks, Al

danger boy

another slight problem developed after I installed a new needle. The left channel is quite a bit lower in volume then the right channel now. I am stumped as to why that is. With the old needle, the volume on both channels was equal, now they are not.

Any ideas guys?

schwarcw

DB, Check the leads going to the cartridge. Have you aligned the cartridge?

Very nice turntable!

hearingimpared

danger boy wrote:

another slight problem developed after I installed a new needle. The left channel is quite a bit lower in volume then the right channel now. I am stumped as to why that is. With the old needle, the volume on both channels was equal, now they are not.

Any ideas guys?

Al you need to check the azimuth. Tools needed: a mirror and a magnifying glass, as well as the ability to either turn the headshell from side to side or adjust the cartridge in the headshell.

1. place the mirror on the rubber mat.

2. gently place the stylus on the mirror.

3. with the magnifying glass, look at the stylus (head on) and its reflection. It should be exactly (or close as possible) to perpendicular to the mirror. The reflection of the stylus and the stylus itself should be in and exact straight line.

4. if in fact it is not, then loosen the headshell and rotate it until you get that straight line of the stylus & reflection.

See number six here.

Let me know how you make out.

PS: when I get settled, I'll get a record clamp out to you.
Joe

danger boy

hearingimpared wrote:

Al you need to check the azimuth. Tools needed: a mirror and a magnifying glass, as well as the ability to either turn the headshell from side to side or adjust the cartridge in the headshell.

1. place the mirror on the rubber mat.

2. gently place the stylus on the mirror.

3. with the magnifying glass, look at the stylus (head on) and its reflection. It should be exactly (or close as possible) to perpendicular to the mirror. The reflection of the stylus and the stylus itself should be in and exact straight line.

4. if in fact it is not, then loosen the headshell and rotate it until you get that straight line of the stylus & reflection.

See number six here.

Let me know how you make out.

PS: when I get settled, I'll get a record clamp out to you.
Joe

Who knew there was so much involved in setting up a turntable? I had no idea.

Joe and other's thanks for all the great info. I'd never be able to figure this analog stuff out without your help.

It'll be a while before I get the chance to set the turntable up.. have other "issues" going on at the moment.. ie: nasty killer amp problems. I'll get back to the TT set up in time though. it's fun stuff.

hearingimpared

danger boy wrote:

Who knew there was so much involved in setting up a turntable? I had no idea.

Dude the azimuth is just the tip of the iceburg. Why do you think Michael Fremer of Stereophile was able to publish a three hour DVD on turntable setup. I can tell you this though, once you get your TT/tonearm/cartridge setup properly, you will love that silky, smooooooooth, life like, sound coming off an analog source.

There is one thing. . . if you are an obsessive tweaker like me,:eek: you will never be done with the turntable setup. There will always be one more little eeeeek of perfection you can get out of the TT combo.:rolleyes: That part is definetely a curse.:eek:

Joe

danger boy

good turntable info in this thread for all the new Polkies now getting into vinyl like me. Have fun.

George Grand

Now read up on preamps.

Fireman32

Definitly a good read. I'm learing alot.

gear

i bought a turntable but no speaker i thought i could hook it up to me surround sound system but i'm not sure. any one selling some good speaker?
some thing small, but not really big.

Polkitup2

Unless your receiver has a phono input it won't work. You can't hook your turntable directly to a speaker either. You'll need a phono pre-amp that you would connect the turntable to and then connect the phono pre-amp to an input on your receiver.

Hobbyguy

Thanks for the excellent read Joe.
Here is my first TT that I just purchased.

I think it needs alot of adjustments...lots of pops and cracks when I play an album...or maybe just crappy albums (they are very old).

DollarDave

Interesting, what I take away from this excellent, very old, thread is that everyone that posted was very knowledgable, helpful, and STILL HERE posting TODAY.

Rock on.

Gear, stick around, do some research, get your learn on, and enjoy.

Michael_Js

Very cool indeed!

thsmith

George Grand wrote: »

Now read up on preamps.

This is worth reiterating. If your AVR has a phono input, you have to try an external Phone stage. For me it was a huge upgrade and well worth doing.

Oh yea, do not run the Phono stage into your AVR's phono input. I used CD input.