How to set up a turntable

Turntable system: Pro-Ject Debut Pro
(Image credit: Future)

Record players are arguably the most temperamental of hi-fi components. Even the best are easily upset by inconsiderate positioning, poor adjustment or inadequate support.

Get everything right, though, and they can shine in a way that will make you wonder why we ever bothered with digital.

Most budget turntables come pre-assembled. Entry-level options such as the solid Sony PS-LX310BT require little more than plugging into the wall socket and pairing to your Bluetooth headphones. Even if there's a little more to be done than that (and no Bluetooth onboard) affordable decks almost always come with the arm and cartridge attached and adjusted. So you should be good to go in just a few minutes.

As you move up in price – say £500 and above – it becomes more common that a certain amount of assembly is involved. You can get the supplying dealer to do this, but if you fancy doing the set-up yourself, it isn’t too difficult.

For those keen to have a go, a decent tool kit is a must. The bare minimum is a good set of small Allen keys, a set of precision screwdrivers, a pair of long-nose pliers, and an accurate spirit level. With these, you can set up most decks, including fitting and adjusting the tonearm and cartridge.

We've used a timeless turntable example for the how-to video below, the Rega RP3/Elys2 – a long-running deck that has been the recipient of multiple What Hi-Fi? Awards, with its latest iteration Planar 3/Elys 2 still one of our favourite decks around.

Video guide to setting up a turntable

Support

Clearaudio Concept Active

(Image credit: Clearaudio)

The first thing to get right is not the turntable, but the support it sits on. This has to be absolutely level – any deviation will affect how well your record player works. The support should also be rigid and well controlled in terms of internal resonances.

Some decks respond well when placed on heavy supports, other prefers lighter alternatives. Much of this depends on the structural behaviour of the deck itself and can only be decided by experimenting.

The issue of levelling doesn’t stop there. If your record player has adjustable feet, make sure it sits flat and, if it has suspension, ensure the platter is level too.

It all sounds obvious, but making sure everything sits level is vital – you’ll never be able to optimise the performance of your deck if this aspect isn’t right, no matter how well the rest of the adjustments are done.

Tonearm

Turntable: Vertere DG-1 S/Magneto

(Image credit: Vertere)

Most turntables come pre-fitted with a tonearm. If you want to change that, or have bought a more esoteric deck that comes without an arm, you’ll need an appropriate armboard.

Turntable manufacturers should be able to supply a range of armboard options, which should suit just about any tonearm out there. In the worst case, it isn’t too difficult to machine one to fit.

There are a number of adjustments on the tonearm. Its height has to be set so the arm is parallel to the record’s surface when the cartridge sits in the groove.

It’s possible to fine-tune performance by altering this so the arm bearing is a little higher or lower. This alters the angle at which the stylus tip meets the groove – but we’d start with it level.

Cartridge and tracking weight

Audio Technica AT-LPW50BTRW tonearm, counterweight and tracking weight

(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

Then there’s the tracking weight, which is adjusted by moving a counterweight at the rear of the tonearm. The down-force should be set according to the cartridge manufacturer’s recommendation, to start with at least.

If the tracking weight is set too high, the sound becomes dull and ponderous. Too low, and the presentation turns thin and the cartridge won’t track the groove properly.

The last adjustment on the tonearm is that of bias. Bias is a sideways force on the cartridge to balance out the inward pull of the record groove. The bias is usually set to the same amount as the tracking weight.

As with the tracking weight, don’t be afraid of playing around with the bias setting – small changes can make a notable difference.

Most cartridges are mounted on the arm with a couple of bolts. That’s easy enough to do, if a touch fiddly. It’s trickier to align it accurately so that the stylus tip sits perfectly in line in the record groove.

Even small errors in alignment increase distortion massively, so take the time to get this right: most deck manufacturers include a suitable gauge.

Many turntables these days also have the cartridge fitted into a removable headshell, making it easier to swap cartridges out if you're updating.

It’s worth ensuring the tonearm lead isn’t stressed, and is positioned away from anything that runs on mains voltage. This will prevent excessive hum.

Get all this right and you’ll have a deck working at its best. And once the hard work is done, don't forget to enjoy it... 

MORE: 

Read all our cartridge reviews

See our pick of the best record players: best turntables for every budget

Add to your vinyl collection with our 12 of the best vinyl test records

Ketan Bharadia
Technical Editor

Ketan Bharadia is the Technical Editor of What Hi-Fi? He's been been reviewing hi-fi, TV and home cinema equipment for over two decades, and over that time has covered thousands of products. Ketan works across the What Hi-Fi? brand including the website and magazine. His background is based in electronic and mechanical engineering.