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Denon dl 301mk2 and technics 1210 - cantilever question

M

mikeburns

Active Member
Hi everyone just received my brand new denon 301mk2 cartridge and set it up on my 1210 with stock technics headshell. Setup weight (after careful balancing/zeroing) to 1.4 grams as stated by manufacturers settings and all looked great. However...

The bottom of the cartridge seems dangerously close to the record surface (like 1mm or so). Is this normal? Im used to dj cartridges (ortofon djs concorde) and the stylus never bottomed out like that.

At this point the cartridge is not touching the record surface but I would imagine that on a slight warped record that the cartridge body would hit the record and jolt the stylus out of place?

Please let me know if this sounds normal, really dont want to stuff up my brand new cartridge, which incidentally sounds great :D
 
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On the VTA ring what do you have it set at ? Do you know how to set it? In other words do you have the operating instructions with the chart that shows how to set the VTA.
Go over to vinylengine as they have most of the 1200 series Operating instructions. I was looking at the one for the 1210MKII and on page 6 it has the chart.
Good Luck
 
well i figure i know how to set it? put cartridge on, zeroed it accordingly so arm and cartridge were floating in mid air, then wound the weight up to 1.4grams... is that correct?
 
also tone arm is parallel to record surface but looks like bottom of the cartridge is a bit tail heavy (though this just might be the shape of the cartridge)
 
I've had mine on a JVC QL-Y66F and presently on my Scout and it rode/rides very low on both, barely clearing the record surface.
Regards, Sam
 
mikeburns said:
well i figure i know how to set it? put cartridge on, zeroed it accordingly so arm and cartridge were floating in mid air, then wound the weight up to 1.4grams... is that correct?
Click to expand...

ok so I'm going to assume that you don't have the operating instructions.


Measure from the tip of the stylus to the top of the cartridge body. Unless you want to convert it you'll need to measure it in Millimeters. Once you measure it here is where you set the numbers on the VTA ring

if it measures
15mm set it to 0
16mm set it to 1
17 mm set it to 2
18 mm set it to 3
19mm set it to 4
20 mm set it 5
21 mm set it to 6
Now if say it measures 15.5 mm the st it have way between 0 and 1 etc..........

Your not by chance using two mats are you? If so get rid of the thinner mat and just use the Technics one.
 
Basically the front of the cart should be in line with it's reflection in the record about 2-3 cuts in, side-to-side and vertically front-to-back.
 
if I remember correctly (I haven't had a 301mkii for a bit) the cart is 17mm tall so the table's height adjustment should be set to 2mm.

from the picture you uploaded the cart does seem a bit tails down. if you haven't adjusted the height you should.
 
hi guys thanks very much for the feedback so far. I did indeed have the technics rubber mat along with a very thin slip-mat underneath (probably only 2mm thick). I took it off and adjusted the height to 2mm (it was set to around 3mm with the slip-mat included). No change of course to how low it runs to the record, reckon it must just ride really low (which I find a little weird).
Also the cartridge bottom doesn't sit parallel to the record surface, it is still rear low, is this normal (for those that have one)?

Any further thoughts would be greatly appreciated =)
 
How much is difference in stylus height between it being on record or up in the air? It is possible that cartridge suspension is damaged. By he way you need to measure height of cartridges when it is down on record to get proper value for VTA setting.
 
MY 301MKII doesn't look that squished.....the cantilever on mine is much longer. Where did you buy this one?
 
got it from comet supply, fully boxed and unopened - brand new... the height difference between when lifted and when on a record is a fair bit - say around 1 - 2mm - it does depress somewhat but not sure the suspension is damaged, brand new item and didnt remove protective shell until everything was aligned and tightened.

Will add some more photos
 
closeups of cartridge when off record

As above - closeups
 

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Yup, as mentioned earlier the cartridge was balanced properly and then weight added correctly, but thanks anyway balifly =)
 
mikeburns said:
got it from comet supply, fully boxed and unopened - brand new... the height difference between when lifted and when on a record is a fair bit - say around 1 - 2mm - it does depress somewhat but not sure the suspension is damaged, brand new item and didnt remove protective shell until everything was aligned and tightened.

Will add some more photos
Click to expand...

2mm is huge. It shold be less than 1, more like 0.5. I still suspect something wrong with cartridge. Also get scale and check tracking force directly rather than relying on counteweight setting.
 
As far as I can tell it is setup correctly and aligned, the cantilever was actually slightly off centre so I tilted the cartridge very slightly one way and it tracks right in the middle now. Remember I'm just trying to figure out if this cartridge is supposed to sit so low to the record, some have said yes, some have said no and that the cantilever might be wrecked. Not sure what to think to be honest. Being I New Zealand it's a long way and alot of time to return it to comet if it is in fact damaged. Not sure what to do now.
 
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