TURNTABLE WERKS! Some important tips for keeping your turntable up to speed-VINYL PROTECTION!

TURNTABLE WERKS!

ADVICE-TIPS-SAFE SHORT-CUTS(FEEL FREE TO E-MAIL US YOUR TIPS-JUST PUT "WERKS TIPS" IN SUBJECT AREA)

IS YOUR TURNTABLE TONEARM BALANCED PROPERLY?

If your turntable has a tonearm which has a counterweight at the rear..the pressure that is exerted from the tonearm onto your vinyl may be excessive or exceed the recommended tracking designed for the cartridge you are using. This excessive pressure can ruin or damage your stylus (needle) and your records. Those without counterweights and many with the straight tonearm design may have had this pressure pre-set at the factory.

ADJUSTING HORIZONTAL ZERO (0) BALANCE AND STYLUS PRESSURE:

Without touching the stylus tip remove the stylus protector(if you have one

Release the arm clamp and lift the Tone Arm off the Arm Rest
Clockwise advancement of the Counterweight will cause the cartridge side of the Tone Arm to be lowered. Turning the Counterweight Counter Clockwise will cause the cartridge side of the Tone Arm to be raised. Turn the Counterweight clockwise or counter clockwise as needed until the ToneArm is balanced horizontally. You can easily tell this by watching for the point where the Tone Arm "floats" freely (level) not too high or to low.
Return the Tone Arm to the Arm Rest and lock it in place
With the Tone Arm locked on the Arm Rest, hold the Counterweight steady with one hand while rotating the stylus pressure ring (with the calibrated numbers) until the numeral "0" on the ring aligns with the center line on the Tone Arm rear shaft. The HORIZONTAL ZERO BALANCE..should be completed.
Refloat the Tone Arm to ensure Horizontal Zero Balance. If Zero balance has not been maintained, repeat the above counterweight steps.
After adjusting the Horizontal Zero (0) Balance, turn the balanced counterweight(from the rear) until the cartridge manufacturer's recommended stylus pressure appears on the Stylus Pressure Ring, where it meets the center line of the Tone Arm rear shaft.
Average Recommended tracking is about 1.5 grams, however you should check your cartridge specifications to be more precise.
If this process seems difficult we do carry the Shure Tracking Force Gauge which is simple to use. Measures tracking from 0.5 to 3grams- Our Price $21.95
ANTI-SKATE ADJUSTMENT SHOULD BE EQUAL TO STYLUS PRESSURE VALUE.
CHECK YOUR BALANCE OFTEN

KEEP YOUR STYLUS CLEAN!

A DIRTY STYLUS TIP CAN RUIN VINYL AND REPRODUCE DISTORTED SOUND. A STYLUS PICKS UP A TIGHTLY BOUND COATING OF VINYL ADDITIVES AND OTHER DEBRIS DURING NORMAL PLAY. THIS DEBRIS THEN BECOMES AN ABRASIVE INSTRUMENT OF RECORD DESTRUCTION RATHER THAN A QUALITY TRACKING SYSTEM. A CONTAMINATED STYLUS CAN ACTUALLY REDUCE THE LIFE OF YOUR RECORDS AND STYLUS BU TWO-THIRDS, AND SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES THE SOUND QUALITY DURING PLAYBACK.
THERE ARE SEVERAL HIGH QUALITY STYLUS CLEANING SOLUTIONS AND BRUSHES ON THE MARKET..SOME MAJOR PLAYERS ARE: LAST, STANTON, & DISCWASHER. LAST ACTUALLY HAS A STYLUS TREATMENT WHICH IS GAURANTEED TO EXTEND STYLUS LIFE UP TO 10 TIMES! OUR STYLUS CLEANERS & BRUSHES ARE LOCATED AT OUR "ACCESSORIES" PAGE..BUT UNTIL YOU GET YOUR PROFESSIONAL "STUFF" HERE IS HOW TO CLEAN YOUR STYLUS NOW:

USE A SOFT BRUSH OR Q-TIP WITH ALCOHOL OR AN ALCOHOL DISTILLED WATER SOLUTION (ISOPROPYL 70%). GENTLY BRUSH "ONLY" FROM BACK TO FRONT WITH VERY LITTLE PRESSURE. YOU DO NOT WANT TO DAMAGE THE TIP. ALSO, BE SURE YOUR SYSTEM IS TURNED OFF. YOU SHOULD DO THIS BETWEEN PLAYS OR SESSIONS.

HOW LONG WILL A STYLUS LAST?

WITH PROPER TRACKING AND DEPENDING ON THE CONDITION OF THE VINYL SURFACE- ASSUMING VG++ AND UP- A DIAMOND STYLUS WILL LAST 400-600 HOURS OF PLAY. A SAPPHIRE STYLUS WILL LAST ABOUT 80 HOURS OF PLAY

HOW LONG WILL A CARTRIDGE LAST?

THIS IS A GOOD QUESTION. I DON'T REALLY HAVE AN ANSWER..I DO KNOW THEY WERE DESIGNED TO LAST A VERY LONG TIME..THUS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE REPLACEMENT STYLUS. I'M SURE HUMIDITY AND ALL OF THOSE FACTORS ACCOUNT FOR LOST OF BRILLIANCE. THERE ARE PROBABLY TWO MAJOR REASONS FOR CARTRIDGE REPLACEMENT. THEY ARE:

THE NEED AND DESIRE TO UPGRADE FROM CARTRIDGE IN CURRENT USE: BETTER SPECIFICATIONS-BETTER STYLUS TIP, ETC

THE INABILITY TO FIND A SUITABLE REPLACEMENT STYLUS FOR CARTRIDGE IN CURRENT USE

THE MANUFACTURE OF THE REPLACEMENT STYLUS FOR MANY CARTRIDGE MODELS- EXCEPT THE MAJORS- HAS COME TO A SCREECHING HALT COMPARED TO THE ACTIVITY OF THE 50's-60's-70's. MANY HAVE BEEN DISCONTINUED AND WILL NO LONGER BE PRODUCED OR MANY TIMES THE REPLACEMENT COST EXCEED THE ORIGINAL COST OF THE CARTRIDGE..MANY JUST DECIDE TO GET A NEW CARTRIDGE IN PLACE OF A REPLACEMENT. WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF GOOD QUALITY REPLACEMENTS STILL AVAILABLE..HOWEVER IF WE DON'T HAVE A REPLACEMENT AND YOU CONTINUE TO HAVE TROUBLE LOCATING A REPLACEMENT, WE RECOMMEND GETTING A NEW CARTRIDGE.

TURNTABLE PLACEMENT

PLACE TURNTABLE ON A FLAT, VIBRATION FREE SURFACE. USE THE TURNTABLE FEET TO HORIZONTALLY STABILIZE THE UNIT.

USE A LEVEL TO ENSURE TURNTABLE IS LEVEL (THIS IS IMPORTANT)

TRY TO PLACE THE TURNTABLE AS FAR AWAY FROM THE SPEAKERS AS POSSIBLE.

KEEP THE TURNTABLE AWAY FROM DIRECT EXPOSURE TO THE SUN, HEAT, MOISTURE OR DIRT

KEEP YOUR TURNTABLE WELL VENTILATED

LP TO CDR (ADVISE FROM THE U.K)

Click on line above for this useful information regarding transferring lp's to CD-ROM

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Reader Tips: Turntable Feedback

Floor: If you can walk across the floor and hear your footsteps (or if record skips-Possible solutions: place turntable on concrete slab, consider bracing floor in basement or crawl spaces, or mount turntable on wall shelf.

Feedback (vibration or hum)-Possible solutions: make sure turntable is grounded; place turntable on sturdy surface; place on concrete block; place carpet, rubber mat, or acoustic damping sheets (can be purchased at partsexpress.com #268-015, under turntable.

MORE TURNTABLE WERKS TO COME!

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