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groove displacements of the order of a few millionths. (That’s like splitting a hair into one thousand pieces.) Every bit of
motion or vibration allowed at this level can be heard enormously amplified through your speakers. For this reason it is
good to set up the turntable and arm correctly so that the audio cartridge can do it's job properly. For instance a turntable
out of level can produce side forces on the pickup cartridge tip that will wear it more on one side than the other as well
as have a slightly degrading effect on the wear of your records.
Levelness
When a turntable goes out of level, the platter bearing performance and the arm’s dynamics, specifically anti-skate, are
negatively affected. So be sure your turntable platter and tonearm mounting board are level - use a spirit level. If the
platter is out of level, first adjust the surface that the deck stands on. The suspension (in the case of a suspended sub-
chassis design) may also need levelling if it has subsided over time.
Hi-Fi cartridges alignment
Alignment for hi-fi cartridges needs to be optimised in three different planes. However, it cannot be perfect in all three
planes, so it must be optimised for an overall best balance or compromise. The final authority should always be your ears
and preferably over an extended period of listening time. Bear in mind that each record is cut slightly differently. Here
again, optimise for an overall balance of good sound over a wide range of records. The three alignment planes are as
follows. (Please note that it is the stylus, not the cartridge that is being aligned.)
Lateral tracking angle
Viewed from above, the hi-fi cartridges arcing movement across the record must maintain the stylus in the same relation
to the groove as that of the cutting stylus’s straight-line tracking; this is Lateral Tracking Angle, or Tangency. Apart from
linear tracking arms this is always a matter of the best compromise.
Azimuth
Viewed from head on, the stylus must be perpendicular in the groove so as not to favour one groove wall, and therefore
one channel, over the other wall/channel; this is Azimuth.
Vertical tracking angle (VTA)
Viewed from the side, the stylus must sit correctly in the groove, at the same angle as the original cutter; this is Vertical
Tracking/Stylus Rake Angle. VTA, however, varies from record to record. Therefore, this alignment must be set by ear,
even more than is the case with the other adjustments).
Hi-Fi cartridge aligning tools
Tools required are an alignment gauge, a tracking force gauge, a FLAT record, a screwdriver or Allen keys of the right
size (usually 2mm), a good light may also be helpful. Small needle-nose pliers and a magnifying glass all help. It also helps
to have the hi-fi news test record. Treat the arm with care as some parts are fragile. To this end ensure that tightening of
any bolts is carried out gently and without causing undue strain.
Check hi-fi cartridge clip connections and mounting
Tonearm wiring uses a standard color code for left channel (L) and right channel (R) and polarity. Coding is as follows:
White = L Hot, Blue = L Ground, Red = R Hot, and Green = R Ground. If the cartridge pins aren't color-coded the
same way, they will have letter identifications next to them. Make sure that the arm’s wires, wire clips, and solder joints
are in very good condition. At minimum, clean the contact between cartridge pins and wire clips by removing and
replacing each clip. Holding the clips with needle-nose pliers can make this easier, but be careful that you don’t strain the
wires where they join the clip. Check the clips for a proper fit on the cartridge pins, and adjust them if necessary.
"Proper" means snug but not tight. To check clip size, hold the cartridge tail-up close to the head wires, grasp a clip
firmly right behind its tubular part with the tweezers, line it up with the cartridge pin, and press. If it does not slide on
with moderate force, the clip needs opening-up. If it slides on easily but flops around when attached, it needs tightening.
Sizing is the operation most likely to detach a clip. The trick is to avoid bending the wire at its attachment point or
putting too much tension on it. To avoid either, always hold the clip with its wire slightly slack-looped behind it while
adjusting. For opening a clip, hold it firmly with the tweezers or needle-noses, right behind its tubular section, and press
the tip of the jeweler's screwdriver into the open end of its longitudinal slot until you see this widen very slightly. (Here's
where you'll probably need the headband magnifier or reading glasses.) You're dealing with thousandths of an inch here,
so a barely visible spreading may be all that's needed. Try it for fit, and repeat until it does. For tightening a clip, press a
toothpick inside it as far as it will go, then use the needle-nose pliers to gently squeeze together the sides of the clip near
its free end, while watching the slot for any change. (Attempting to squeeze a clip without the toothpick inside it will
flatten its sides.) Try it for size, and resqueeze if necessary until the fit is correct. When it is, close up the middle section of
the tube to match the end
Cartridge mounting screws (usually 2.5mm allen bolts) should be tight. Steel allen bolts are the best for mounting hi-fi
cartridges - aluminum or brass are OK but difficult to tighten up hard (as they should be).
Setting up hi-fi cartridges
