• Please note that Audiokarma will be offline briefly for updates early on Monday morning, September 28th.

Picked up a new TT yesterday, what to do before playing a record?

P

plstarn

New Member
Hi there! I finally upgraded my RCA-faulty-output SL-BD20 to a near mint condition SL-5100. It is equipped with a Shure SC35C cartride that need a new stylus (LPGear still have some original). The needle light prism even lights up!

It's my first 1/2 mount TT and I was wondering what should I check before playing a record. I was gonna buy a cartridge allignment tool from TurntableLab and maybe an electronic trackibg force scale. Should I check the lead wires and clean them with Deoxit?

Let me know what you think!
 
Register to hide this ad
Congrats on the new TT. I would just stick a new stylus on there, recalibrate the tonearm, check the leads are snug, then drop the needle and start playing. If it sounds like crap, remove the headshell and Q-tip the connections with some Isopropyl, buy the alignment tool and scale and remount the cart. But really, unless the cart was mounted by someone who didn't know what they were doing (did you get the TT from an individual or a service shop?) it should be fine. A VTF scale is always good to have regardless, as not all tonearm dials are 100% accurate.
 
Jup, give it a listening. Just use a beater record (one that you're not caring for) for the first needle drop. Just in case the needle is bad so you don't mess up good vinyl.

If that sounds ok, off you go!
 
Yeah - Technics doesn't use the Baerwald alignment which most protractors are set up for, so a random protractor purchase will probably leave you with the cartridge as far forward in the headshell as it can get, and cocked inward rather severely. It will work fine, and sound more or less the same as having the cartridge in a more normal position as the Technics alignment jig, or careful measurement, would. Where the distortion is highest will be different - do you want it more in the middle of the record or more in the inner section (which is where it is most likely? Baerwald achieves a lower overall average, Stevenson has lower distortion in the inner section where it is most likely. Neither is right or wrong - it is a matter of taste, and, I suspect, actually more a matter of audio identity - which, I hope, doesn't matter to you.
 
Hoytis said:
Congrats on the new TT. I would just stick a new stylus on there, recalibrate the tonearm, check the leads are snug, then drop the needle and start playing. If it sounds like crap, remove the headshell and Q-tip the connections with some Isopropyl, buy the alignment tool and scale and remount the cart. But really, unless the cart was mounted by someone who didn't know what they were doing (did you get the TT from an individual or a service shop?) it should be fine. A VTF scale is always good to have regardless, as not all tonearm dials are 100% accurate.
Click to expand...

Bought it from an individual that got it from someone in his familly, at 160CA$ I couldn't pass on it. I'll get the stylus and give it a run!
 
Nat said:
Yeah - Technics doesn't use the Baerwald alignment which most protractors are set up for, so a random protractor purchase will probably leave you with the cartridge as far forward in the headshell as it can get, and cocked inward rather severely. It will work fine, and sound more or less the same as having the cartridge in a more normal position as the Technics alignment jig, or careful measurement, would. Where the distortion is highest will be different - do you want it more in the middle of the record or more in the inner section (which is where it is most likely? Baerwald achieves a lower overall average, Stevenson has lower distortion in the inner section where it is most likely. Neither is right or wrong - it is a matter of taste, and, I suspect, actually more a matter of audio identity - which, I hope, doesn't matter to you.
Click to expand...
I’ll take the Technics alignment over the other schemes. Some of my LPs I also have on SACD and/or CD; and, from listening experiments comparing LP to Digital, I cannot discern any distortion produced from use of the Technics scheme. Thus I am now buying Audio-Technica LH11H Headshells which assure cart squareness to headshell from single point rather than slotted screw holes. The headshell itself is then adjusted to get exacting adjustment of stylus to headshell tail distance, as well as azimuth. When this headshell is paired with a cart which has captured nuts a cart can be properly mounted literally in just a few minutes.
 
Last edited:
SterlingOne said:
I’ll take the Technics alignment over the other schemes. Some of my LPs I also have on SACD and/or CD; and, from listening experiments comparing LP to Digital, I cannot discern any distortion produced from use of the Technics scheme. Thus I am now buying Audio-Technica LH11H Headshells which assure cart squareness to headshell from single point rather than slotted screw holes. The headshell itself is then adjusted to get exacting adjustment of stylus to headshell tail distance, as well as azimuth. When this headshell is paired with a cart which has captured nuts a cart can be properly mounted literally in just a few minutes.
Click to expand...

These things are pretty too! The stock headshell is 7.5g and this one is 11g, can I afterwards ajust the counterweight to balance it?!
 
plstarn said:
These things are pretty too! The stock headshell is 7.5g and this one is 11g, can I afterwards ajust the counterweight to balance it?!
Click to expand...
Yes but there is something that you may want to do before buying the AT Headshell: calculate where the resonance peak will be. For my carts it is in the 5.559 to 6.5 arena which experts suggest will color the tone. That has not yet been my experience.
 
SterlingOne said:
Yes but there is something that you may want to do before buying the AT Headshell: calculate where the resonance peak will be. For my carts it is in the 5.559 to 6.5 arena which experts suggest will color the tone. That has not yet been my experience.
Click to expand...
How can it be done?!

Also, the user manual indicates that the stylus pressure range should be around 0-2.5g, while the Shure SC35C range is 4-5g.

Should I find a cart that is in the table VTF recommendations?
 
plstarn said:
How can it be done?!

Also, the user manual indicates that the stylus pressure range should be around 0-2.5g, while the Shure SC35C range is 4-5g.

Should I find a cart that is in the table VTF recommendations?
Click to expand...
How can what be done? If you are talking about setting tracking force to 3 or 4 grams yes the 11 gram headshell is no problem. The only problem with any 15mm tall Shure cart these days is getting the correct VTA on a turntable which has a VTA adjustment scheme synced to carts 17 to 20mm high.
 
Last edited:
Get a Technics overhang tool. Amazon or eBay have them. It fits on the socket end and tells you where the stylus tip should be in relation to the headshell. Quick and easy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom