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SL-5300 Proper Setup (First TT Content)

K

Kontalonis

New Member
Hey folks,

Hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season and looking forward to the new year! So here it goes:

I'm a bit nervous about setting up my Technics SL-5300 for the first time. It is my first turntable and i want to do it RIGHT! The manual is a bit vague so i turn to you guys. I have on the way a factory Technics headshell bundled with a Stanton 500AL (new stylus). I do not have an overhang gauge. Overall, i just need the gist of things in regards to the proper tracking force and the anti-skate (that is what is really boggling me).

On another note i got the SL-5300 and an SL-1700 for 20USD all together! They're all complete and in great condition minus headshells.

Anyway, thanks in advance for all replies!
 
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Set anti-skate to the same value as tracking force.

You may have to Google for the factory recommended tracking force range for that particular stylus/cartridge.

You don't have to have an overhang gauge. You can use an alignment protractor. I'm not sure what is the recommended alignment -- there are basically two major ones, Stevenson and Baerwald that might work... the gurus can chime in on what to use for this table.

Search for "alignment protractor" here on AK or "stylus alignment" and/or "baerwald alignment" for more info.

Basically alignment is setting up the overhang so that the stylus is perfectly parallel to the grooves at two specific points on the record.

Michael
 
Thank you both for the quick replies! Yeah i've read through the manual now and also checked out the protractor techniques. Overall the main thing that is getting me is the anti skate. The tracking force of the cartridge that i'm getting is 2-5 grams. Does this mean i should probably run it at 3 and max the anti-skate out (it only goes up to 3 on this table)?
 
Sounds like you might have a DJ cart with higher TF. You might want to see about getting a hi fi cart that tracks 3g or less. Then set the anti-skate accordingly. Meanwhile... I have no idea what to do with 5g tracking force... I'd max it out. :dunno:
 
Well after some reading it appears that the 500AL is a notorious scratching needle. I've read that it tracks (for scratching) best at 4.5-5 grams. I'm thinking if i just max the anti-skate out and run it at 3 grams it'll be fine for average play. I'm just digging into the whole audiophile realm so i'm sure it will make par in my book. Overall, I really appreciate the help guys and y'all have a wonderful holiday and new year!
 
G'day mate, you might already be aware of this, but you can download good overhang two point protractors from the 'Vinyl Engine' website (please ensure that your printer is 'scaled' correctly), and some useful guidelines on their proper use can be found here: http://www.mds975.co.uk/Content/vinyl07.html Regards, Felix aka catman.
 
The 500AL has been updated as the 500V3. It's still 2-5 grams. The weight set is dependent on tonearm compliance. I'm not sure if the arm is high or low.

Start low and work up. If it sounds good at for example; 2gr stay there. Set the anti skate @2. This example is used thru-out the post.

The Stylus setting on the headshell is 52mm from the collet gasket to the tip of the stylus. Make sure the cartridge is square with the headshell. Other than that it's done.

Make sure the platter is LEVEL in all planes. Once you have done that LEVEL/ZERO the TONEARM so it's parallel to the tonearm. Then set the weight scale to "2". and verify with a separate scale if you have one. then set the anti skate to "2".

If you move it anywhere, even a 1/2" in any direction, start all over again.

Check with Kevin @ KAB and he can tell you which stylus to use for an eliptical. Elipticals will get down deeper in the groove, and will track lighter.

It's actually Simple once you get past all the variations in nomenclature, tonearms, alignments, etc. Basically you have 4 adjustments. LEVEL, BALANCE, WEIGHT, ANTISKATE. As you get up in complexity in tonearms, then you run into Vertical height, and a few other things you need to do to particular arms. But the basic 4 run for all tables. Get those 4 down and you're set for the 5300. It's what I do to my sister's 5300 every 6 months for her and it takes me about 2 minutes.

Larry
 
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