Issues in setting up new turntable

izafar

Hi,

Need help from vinyl heads.

Just got a new Music Hall MMF5 TT and have finished setting it up as per instaructions in the manual. The issue is that when I put the first lp in and lower the Cart, I got the screeching sound. Basically Cart's body seems almost parallel to the needle and both body and needle are touching the record. I have gone throw the instructions again and made sure that I have followed all steps.

I haven't altered the VTA yet, as per manual it is already set at the factory for this Cart (Goldring 1012GX).

Do you think it is an issue with VTA or there is something else I need to look into?

Thanks

billbillw

Edit: I read through your post a little closer and I think I read it wrong the first time. Your cartridge body is touching the record? If so, the tonearm is too low. Are you using an extra mat or something? The top of the cartridge should be parallel with the record and the stylus should be angled down 20-30 degrees leaving 1 or 2 mm between the cartridge and the record.

If you are using the stock mat, then somehow the tonearm height got messed up.

candyliquor35m

This happened to me once and I had forgot to change the tracking force after switching to a different cartridge or should I say recalibrate it completely because 0 is different from one cartridge to the next.

billbillw

I should have also said to double check your tracking force. Balance the arm, set to zero, then add 1-2 grams (whatever the cart says for nominal)

izafar

billbillw wrote:

I should have also said to double check your tracking force. Balance the arm, set to zero, then add 1-2 grams (whatever the cart says for nominal)

I exactly did that and it solved the problem. The cart recommends 1.75 gm of tracking weight but it has to be set after first balancing the arm and zeroing in the scale on counter weight. Looks like I was not properly balancing the arm, after re balancing it worked fine.

Thanks for the feed back guys. This is my first serious table (I know some wouldn't consider it serious). Before this I was using a Technics Belt Drive table with P Mount cartridges, therefore was not accustomed to balancing the tone amrs etc. The only setting on old table was for VTA that I didn't have to tweak much.


The new table sounds good, am spinning Avalon by Roxy music right now.

billbillw

Glad to hear it was a simple setup problem. It takes a few times to really get the hang of setting these things up properly. The first couple I setup were definetly not perfect, trust me. Between cartridge alignment, VTA, antiskate, leveling, and tracking force, its easy to mess up something.
Enjoy the new table!

hearingimpared

Just a little tip; set your VTA (rear of the tonearm) a few degrees lower than stylus. Most record lathes cut with a lower rear. You won't get the exact angle but it will make most of your records sound like they snapped into focus when you lower the back of the tonearm a bit.

izafar

I adjusted the VTA and this helped bringing the bass into more focus. This table is putting a lot more detail as compared to the prev Technics. The good things is the some my good LPs sound much better, but there are others that are becoming unlistenable. Looks like I have to be much careful in buying used Vinyl and need to invest on cleaning and treatment supplies.

izafar

Last Thu I sent a mail to the dealer describing my concerns with stylus being too close to the body, and asking weather this is normal for this Cartridge. Though he didn't reply to mail, but yesterday I received a brand new replacement stylus directly from Music Hall.

I compared the new stylus with old one, and did notice that stylus on old one was bent a little bent towards the body and as a result the stylus tip was very close to the Cart body.

I am happily surprised with good service from Music Hall and the dealer, they didn't even asked any further questions about my issues (remember I was not even sure there is an issue to begin with).

hearingimpared

izafar wrote:

Last Thu I sent a mail to the dealer describing my concerns with stylus being too close to the body, and asking weather this is normal for this Cartridge. Though he didn't reply to mail, but yesterday I received a brand new replacement stylus directly from Music Hall.

I compared the new stylus with old one, and did notice that stylus on old one was bent a little bent towards the body and as a result the stylus tip was very close to the Cart body.

I am happily surprised with good service from Music Hall and the dealer, they didn't even asked any further questions about my issues (remember I was not even sure there is an issue to begin with).

That's great service!!! Now with the new stylus, adjust the VTA on your favorite LP until the music snaps into focus then leave it there and see if it has a positive affect on the rest of your collection. If you set the VTA on a thick LP where the pivot of the tonearm is a few degrees lower than the stylus you have to remember that now on thinner LPs it will appear lower even still to the stylus.

izafar

hearingimpared wrote:

That's great service!!! Now with the new stylus, adjust the VTA on your favorite LP until the music snaps into focus then leave it there and see if it has a positive affect on the rest of your collection. If you set the VTA on a thick LP where the pivot of the tonearm is a few degrees lower than the stylus you have to remember that now on thinner LPs it will appear lower even still to the stylus.

I will work on the VTA on the weekend. I don't think I will be able to adjust it while playing the LP. Last time I did that by lowering the arm on the Lp while it was not playing and lowered it little bit so that it is slightly lower towards the pivot point.

I did some brief listening on the new stylus and found it to sound very different then old one. There was a lot of extra high freq response/sibilance on the old stylus which is now thankfully gone.

hearingimpared

izafar wrote:

I will work on the VTA on the weekend. I don't think I will be able to adjust it while playing the LP. Last time I did that by lowering the arm on the Lp while it was not playing and lowered it little bit so that it is slightly lower towards the pivot point.

I did some brief listening on the new stylus and found it to sound very different then old one. There was a lot of extra high freq response/sibilance on the old stylus which is now thankfully gone.

Cartridges and styli have break in periods just like everything else. . . my Dynavector took almost 30 hours before it started to settle down, as a matter of fact I just last night was able to adjust the tracking force a little lower .2 of a gm.

jm1

Iafar,

Not sure if you read this thread I started, but follow the link and read the AA thread on stylus rake angle. I set my VTF to 0.05g less than the recommended 2g. The stylus rake angle was at approximately the correct angle when observed as suggested. I actually needed to raise the pivot to find the optimum setting. Depending on your SRA, you may need to raise or lower your pivot.

This was a dramatic difference from the previous setup the night before where I had the VTF 0.21g lower and the pivot lowered. This did not produce the correct stylus rake angle and lowering the pivot did not solve the problem.

Good luck with your setup.

hearingimpared

jm1 wrote:

Iafar,

Not sure if you read this thread I started, but follow the link and read the AA thread on stylus rake angle. I set my VTF to 0.05g less than the recommended 2g. The stylus rake angle was at approximately the correct angle when observed as suggested. I actually needed to raise the pivot to find the optimum setting. Depending on your SRA, you may need to raise or lower your pivot.

This was a dramatic difference from the previous setup the night before where I had the VTF 0.21g lower and the pivot lowered. This did not produce the correct stylus rake angle and lowering the pivot did not solve the problem.

Good luck with your setup.

He is correct. It is not an exact science. You definetely need to experiment . . .but I can tell you this, when you get that VTA on for that record it is like a revelation it is so obvious.