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My brand new Numark turntable arrived (please help with set-up)

ClayTune

ClayTune

Well-Known Member
Hello guys,

I just recently purchased a Numark TT250 usb and (embarrassingly) I have no idea how far the counter weight is suppose to go on the tone-arm before it "counters" weight. I seriously have zero idea what I am doing and do not wish to mess anything up as a result.

Additionally there is a setting that perplexes me, it is tone arm height adjustment lever which I have never seen before on any other turntable. It basically adjusts the height of the tone arm but I have no idea what height I should adjust it to for proper needle pressure on records.

This is the model here.

http://www.numark.com/product/tt250usb

If you want me to take pictures to assist you in assisting me, please let me know.

Also, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE speak in Noob language that is as simple and straight forward as possible.
 
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And yes guys, it came with a manual but I honest to goodness am having difficulty with the manual, it's not simplistic and the pictures are not the best.

Hence why I am asking here.

Thanks.
 
With your cartridge/headshell attached - screw the large counter weight at the end in all the way towards the cart - cart will rest in cradle (be forced down by the weight) - then begin to turn the counterweight in the other direction until the cart slowly lifts off the cradle. You want to stop immediately when the cart slowly begins to lift - that will be the 0 setting - so carefully rotate the dial on the counterweight to the zero position - at 0 it should float - that will calibrate it. You then rotate the weight with the dial moving to set the tracking force - for example if the tracking force is 1.5grms - turn the weight until the dial says 1.5.

Then try playing some records - watch the stylus as it plays on the record and ensure that the cartridge is not so heavy that it is riding low on the record - it should look graceful. Also - if the stylus is too light - it will tend to skip easily - so you need to re-adjust the weight.
 
With the arm height - you want to make sure that the arm is parallel with the record when playing. If the arm looks jacked up in back - it is likely too high and vice versa. Also look at the cart in reference to the album as it is playing - the cart should be parallel with the record - not jacked up in back or endowed in front.

Hope it makes sense.
 
Any of you guys who are in the united states I can give you a call and maybe you can walk me through it?

If so, IM me your number and a time frame.

Thanks.
 
costerdock said:
With your cartridge/headshell attached - screw the large counter weight at the end in all the way towards the cart - cart will rest in cradle (be forced down by the weight) - then begin to turn the counterweight in the other direction until the cart slowly lifts off the cradle. You want to stop immediately when the cart slowly begins to lift - that will be the 0 setting - so carefully rotate the dial on the counterweight to the zero position - at 0 it should float - that will calibrate it. You then rotate the weight with the dial moving to set the tracking force - for example if the tracking force is 1.5grms - turn the weight until the dial says 1.5.

Then try playing some records - watch the stylus as it plays on the record and ensure that the cartridge is not so heavy that it is riding low on the record - it should look graceful. Also - if the stylus is too light - it will tend to skip easily - so you need to re-adjust the weight.
Click to expand...
So sorry, none of this is simple sounding to me because I am not understanding many many of these references.
 
My first most important question is, when the counter weight is first added onto the tone arm, how do you "get it on there" properly to then be able to utilize the numbers on it?

I do not mean sliding it on, I mean once it is slid on, how do you know it's at the proper position on the end of the tone arm, since there is no specific instruction telling me where to slide it to there.
 
costerdock said:
then begin to turn the counterweight in the other direction until the cart slowly lifts off the cradle.
Click to expand...

Do you mean turn the numbered area? Or push the Counterweight back away from the cartridge?

So sorry I am deeply uneducated in this very simple regard.
 
costerdock said:
With your cartridge/headshell attached - screw the large counter weight at the end in all the way towards the cart - cart will rest in cradle (be forced down by the weight) - then begin to turn the counterweight in the other direction until the cart slowly lifts off the cradle. You want to stop immediately when the cart slowly begins to lift - that will be the 0 setting - so carefully rotate the dial on the counterweight to the zero position - at 0 it should float - that will calibrate it. You then rotate the weight with the dial moving to set the tracking force - for example if the tracking force is 1.5grms - turn the weight until the dial says 1.5.

Then try playing some records - watch the stylus as it plays on the record and ensure that the cartridge is not so heavy that it is riding low on the record - it should look graceful. Also - if the stylus is too light - it will tend to skip easily - so you need to re-adjust the weight.
Click to expand...

So please correct me if I am very wrong here.

First, after sliding the counter weight onto the tone arm, I am to slide it all the way toward where I cannot slide it any longer?

Then, I slide it back till the tone arm begins to 'lift'?

Is this profoundly incorrect? Is it somewhat partially correct?

Forgive my complete lack of knowledge in this most simple of areas.
 
Hey guys, is there somebody I can call up for just 20 minutes?

I am one of those people who has a really difficult time following text instructions. I need to be able to actively ask questions and get responses that way and I am sure it would be resolved in less than 20 minutes.

So sorry. But anybody who has no problem with this please message me ASAP.
 

I believe the tracking force for the GrooveTool cart is 2.5 to 3.5 grams. Set it in the middle (3 grams) and see if that helps. Leave the arm height where it is. It *probably* is okay.
 
Hey guys a big special thank you to Chris for giving me a call and helping me align this thing properly.

I am a fast learner verbally and tactilly. Haha.

Will make video shortly playing a record!
 
I was going to offer a phone consultation too but I'm glad you are getting it sorted. Now just relax a bit! :)
 
I am trying to play a record and all I am getting in the phono stage of the receiver is intermittent sounds. A 'boom' upon needle touch down, another boomy sound upon turning the record player on and off while the receiver is still in phono stage and that is it.

It works fine in Aux with my iphone connected.

Ideas?
 
I just read this from the Numark manual:

RCA Audio Output Cables: Connect these attached cables to the audio inputs of your mixer, stereo system, etc. Their output signal is line-level, so connect it only to line-level inputs, not phono-level.

Please note: You can still copy records to your computer (via the USB port) even if these cables are not connected to a stereo system. You can also listen to your records through your computer as long as you have configured your computer’s sound input and output options correctly. Warning: You may damage your receiver if you plug in line-level output into a phono-level input.

In other words because it has a built-in preamplifier, plug it into an Aux input, Tape or other Line Level. Not Phono.
 
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