We, here at The Turntable Factory, realize that most turntable owners don't know how to set up and balance a tonearm.
It is CRITICAL that proper tracking force and anti-skate adjustments be done properly in order to get the best sound
and longest life from your vinyl. Here are 2 pictorals on how to do the job, both for "VERNIER" type adjustments and "STATIC"
type adjustments.
The first part of the page is for the "VERNIER" adjustments. If the examples look similar to the adjustments on your
turntable, this is the part of the page you need to follow.
The second part is for the "STATIC" type balance, which most every DJ turntable utilizes. (This is ESPECIALLY
important to DJ's, who scratch and back-cue. A proper cartridge, coupled with proper tonearm settings will ensure
that the tonearm doesn't come jumping out of the groove as you "work" the record).
1) Mount your cartridge with the screws supplied. Make sure it is parallel to the sides of
the headshell. (figure 1) An auxilliary weight may be necessary between the cartridge and headshell. Many new cartridges and new turntables come with these weights. If you
cannot achieve the recommended tracking force, then this weight is what will be needed. (figure1)
2) Install the headshell/cartridge into the front of the tonearm, as shown. (figure 2)
3) With the tonearm locked in place, put both the tracking force and the anti-skate dials on "0" and push the counterweight
onto the rear of the tonearm. Some counterweights will need to be screwed on, rather than
pushed. (figure 3, screwed, figure 6, pushed)
4) Unlock the tonearm from the rest, and move it toward the middle, about one inch from the
edge of the platter. Hold the arm off the surface with your right hand on the fingerlift.
Begin turning the counterweight one way or the other, until the arm seems to just "float". The arm,
at "0" balance, when properly floating, will not face up nor down.. it will stay parallel with the
platter. It may take a few tries to get this correct. Tighten any set screws (figures 3 and 6 again)
and lock the tonearm back on it's rest
5)Turn the vernier wheel adjuster (figure 4 and 6 ) to the desired force. Most new cartridges come
with recommended tracking force advice. If not, as a general rule, most hifi cartridges track
between 1 and 3 grams.
6) Set the anti-skate dial to coincide with the tracking force... in other words, if the tracking
force is 2 grams, set the anti-skate dial to "2". (figure 5)
Mount your cartridge with the screws supplied. Make sure it is parallel to the sides of
the headshell
An auxilliary weight may be necessary between the cartridge and headshell, mostly in
a DJ application. Many new cartridges and new turntables come with these weights. If you
cannot achieve the recommended tracking force, then this weight is what will be needed.
Install the headshell/cartridge into the front of the tonearm, as shown. Turning the locking
collar will hold the shell in place.
With the tonearm locked in place, put the anti-skate dial on "0" and push the counterweight
onto the rear of the tonearm. Make sure that the numbers face to the front of the
turntable. Turn the weight until you feel it "click" into place.
Unlock the tonearm from the rest, and move it toward the middle, about one inch from the
edge of the platter. Hold the arm off the surface with your right hand on the fingerlift.
Begin turning the counterweight one way or the other, until the arm seems to just "float".
As seen in the picture, the arm, when properly floating, will not face up nor down.. it will
stay parallel with the platter. It may take a few tries to get this correct. Lock the tonearm
back on it's rest
Holding the rear, silver, section of the counterweight with one hand, use your other hand to
turn JUST the number ring. It doesn't matter which direction you turn it, but you will want
"0" to face up when you are done.
Using just one hand, turn the entire counterweight (the silver part) COUNTERCLOCKWISE
until the recommended tracking force is achieved. New cartridges will tell what the ideal
number is. As a rule of thumb, however, most "hifi" cartridges track between 1 and 2 grams,
while most DJ cartridges track between 3 and 5 grams.
Set the anti-skate dial to coincide with the tracking force... in other words, if the tracking
force is 2 grams, set the anti-skate dial to "2". The exception is for DJ's who scratch and
back-cue. Your anti-skate must be left on "0"