Are you tired of your turntable skipping or producing distorted sound?
One of the most overlooked factors that can affect the quality of your vinyl playback is having a level turntable. It may seem like a minor detail, but ensuring that your turntable is properly leveled can make a significant difference in the sound quality and longevity of your records.
In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps to level your turntable and provide tips on how to calibrate the tonearm, adjust the anti-skating, and correct the pitch.
So, let’s get started!
How To Level A Turntable
The first step in leveling your turntable is to get it at the right height. Using a level, check the positioning of the turntable on the axis of the width and depth. If it’s not level, adjust the height of the legs of the furniture or add wood slats under it until the turntable is at level. On some models, it is possible to adjust the feet in order to get the device at level.
Once your turntable is level, you’ll need to calibrate the tonearm. This is important to ensure that the stylus applies the ideal tracking force on the record. To do this, you’ll need to displace a counterweight behind the pivot, according to the specifications by the manufacturer of the phono cartridge – the component that holds the stylus.
To adjust the tonearm, unlock and remove it from the armrest. Move the counterweight so that the arm gets horizontally balanced. Align the graduated dial near the counterweight at “zero” position, without touching the counterweight. Position and lock the tonearm on the armrest. Move the graduated dial and counterweight to the mark specified by the phono cartridge manufacturer.
Next, you’ll need to adjust the anti-skating. This involves adjusting a graduated dial that moves a spring, a magnet or a fixed counterweight or by moving a counterweight suspended by a nylon thread on a lever arm with graduated notches. The adjustment value of anti-skating, in grams, is usually similar to that used to adjust the tonearm.
Finally, if your turntable has a direct-drive mechanism, you can correct playback speed or “pitch”. By using a stroboscope calibrated at 60 hertz and a disc specially made for this purpose, move the pitch control back or forth until the bars drawn on the disc are aligned under the light of the stroboscope.
Why Leveling Your Turntable Is Important
Leveling your turntable is an essential part of any turntable setup. It ensures that the stylus applies the ideal tracking force on the record, preventing common issues such as skipping, stylus tracking issues, and distortion. If your turntable is not level, the stylus will exert extra force in the downhill direction due to gravity, potentially affecting the rotation speed. Playing vinyl on a turntable that’s not level can also cause the stylus to contact the grooves at an incorrect angle, which will wear your records unevenly and eventually cause distortion in the signal.
Moreover, imbalance turntables cause a lot of costly damage to antique or rare vinyl records. A turntable that’s not level can cause undue stresses on the platter bearing, arm mechanics, and possibly even the cartridge. In addition, if a person or even a pet walks by and the turntable is not stable, it could jump and cause damage.
Therefore, leveling your turntable is an essential maintenance practice for both turntables and record players. It ensures that your records will play well and last longer. With a good foundation and a level platform, you can optimize your system and enjoy high-quality sound from your vinyl collection. It only takes a few short minutes to level your turntable, but it can make a significant difference in sound quality. So, don’t make the same mistake as others did; level your damn turntable!
Tools You’ll Need To Level Your Turntable
To level your turntable, you’ll need a few tools. Firstly, you’ll need a small bullseye-style level or a level app on your smartphone to check if the turntable is level. A torpedo level is recommended for accurate measurements. You can also use a record weight with a built-in spirit level to easily adjust the turntable to get it perfectly level.
If your turntable has adjustable feet, you may need to loosen and screw them back in place until they are balanced. In cases where the turntable is still unbalanced, you can easily adjust each of the four pegs till they align with themselves. If your turntable doesn’t have adjustable feet, you can use coins or even a pad of post-it notes to get it right.
To calibrate the tonearm, you’ll need to displace a counterweight behind the pivot according to the specifications by the manufacturer of the phono cartridge. You may also need to adjust the anti-skating using a graduated dial that moves a spring, magnet, or fixed counterweight, or by moving a counterweight suspended by a nylon thread on a lever arm with graduated notches.
If your turntable has a direct-drive mechanism, you can correct playback speed or “pitch” by using a stroboscope calibrated at 60 hertz and a disc specially made for this purpose. Move the pitch control back or forth until the bars drawn on the disc are aligned under the light of the stroboscope.
How To Check If Your Turntable Is Level
Checking if your turntable is level is an essential step in ensuring optimal sound quality and preventing unnecessary wear and tear on your records and stylus. To check if your turntable is level, you will need a bubble level indicator and a flat surface or platform.
First, place the flat surface or platform on a sturdy table or stand. Then, place the turntable on top of the flat surface. Next, place the bubble level indicator on top of the turntable platter, first in a front/back direction, then with the level oriented side-to-side. Make adjustments to the height of the legs of the furniture or add wood slats under it until the bubble is centered in both directions.
It’s important to note that some turntable models have feet that can be adjusted to get them level. If this is the case for your turntable, adjust the feet until the bubble is centered in both directions.
Double-checking your turntable’s level is especially important if you’re experiencing sibilance or other sound quality issues. Even if your system sounds great, it’s always a good idea to double-check your system is level to prevent any unnecessary wear and tear on your records and stylus.
Steps To Level Your Turntable
To ensure a smooth and precise operation of your turntable and preserve your records, it’s essential to level your turntable. Here are the steps to follow:
1. Get the record player levelled: Using a level, check the positioning of the turntable on the axis of the width and depth. If it’s not level, adjust the height of the legs of the furniture or add wood slats under it until the turntable is at level. On some models, it is possible to adjust the feet in order to get the device at level.
2. Calibrate the tonearm: It’s important to have the tonearm calibrated before first use, after moving the device or after replacing the cartridge, even if it’s the same model. To do this, displace a counterweight behind the pivot according to the specifications by the manufacturer of the phono cartridge – the component that holds the stylus.
3. Adjust anti-skating: Skating is a form of drifting that occurs during use of a record player. Adjusting anti-skating involves adjusting a graduated dial that moves a spring, a magnet or a fixed counterweight or by moving a counterweight suspended by a nylon thread on a lever arm with graduated notches.
4. Correct pitch: On some record players equipped with a direct-drive mechanism, it’s possible to correct playback speed or “pitch”. By using a stroboscope calibrated at 60 hertz and a disc specially made for this purpose, move the pitch control back or forth until the bars drawn on the disc are aligned under the light of the stroboscope.
By following these steps, you can ensure that your turntable is level and working optimally.
Calibrating The Tonearm
Calibrating the tonearm is a crucial step in leveling a turntable. It ensures that the stylus applies the ideal tracking force on the record, which is essential for accurate and high-quality sound reproduction.
To calibrate the tonearm, you’ll need to start by placing the counterweight on the end of the tonearm wand. Ensure that the anti-skating weight is removed at this point. Then, move the tonearm off its rest and adjust the counterweight so that the tonearm balances horizontally. Once it’s balanced, turn the counterweight scale to indicate zero.
The next step is to turn the counterweight (and the scale) to the correct tracking force. The tracking force depends on the cartridge in use, which can usually be found in your cartridge’s specifications. Typically, it’ll be between 1 and 2 grams. Make sure to adjust the anti-skating weight to correspond with the tracking force.
It’s important to note that some record players may have a graduated dial for positioning the counterweight, while others may require a mechanical or electronic balance to calibrate the tonearm. Nonetheless, calibrating the tonearm is a straightforward process that can significantly improve sound quality without breaking the bank.
Adjusting Anti-Skating
Adjusting anti-skating is an important step in leveling your turntable. This feature counteracts the tendency of the tonearm to move inward towards the center of the record, which can cause distortion and uneven wear on the stylus and record. To set the anti-skate on a turntable that features a user-adjustable control, begin by adjusting it to the same value as the vertical tracking force (VTF) used. This will get you in the ballpark, but it’s important to listen carefully to the last few minutes of a record to determine if more or less anti-skate is needed.
Listen for distortion, particularly sibilance, and determine if it appears to be louder on one channel, left or right. Adjust the anti-skate value until the distortion is minimized. It’s also important to listen carefully at two or three different points across the record. If there are any differences in tone, dynamics, or soundstage at these points, some tweaking of the anti-skate adjustment may be needed.
It’s worth noting that not all tonearms provide for an anti-skating adjustment. In some cases, anti-skating is not required on a 12″ tonearm, but on a 9″ arm, some anti-skating force is usually needed. It’s also important to use tools that attempt to measure anti-skating force while the stylus is sitting on the LP groove while the record is spinning. This will provide accurate results and ensure that the level of distortion between the right and channel is balanced.
In summary, adjusting anti-skating is a crucial step in leveling your turntable and ensuring optimal sound quality. By following these steps and using accurate tools, you can achieve balanced channel balance, minimize distortion and stylus and record wear.
