[Austin08]

Hello all,

I just venture into vinyl world. Last couple month, I bough a used Clearaudio Concept with mc cart. Everything was working out fine and love the sound that I got. Unfortunately, the tonearm felt off on me during listening section. Scare the sh$$$t out of me. I found out that the locking screw was came loose and the whole tonearm assembly dropped all the way down. Now I do not know if my cart is still ok. But I am stuck as do not know how to set the height of the tonearm to the right height. Any though? Should I bring the table to my local audio shop or something that I could

[galyons]

Check to make sure that the stylus and cantilever are OK. That means make sure that the stylus is still there and the cantilever not bent or tweaked.  Put a non valuable record on the platter.  Set the arm parallel to the record, measured or by sight.  That will get you very close to ideal.  You want the stylus center line, mount to tip, to be right at 90-92 degrees to the plane of the record.  Most cartridges will be very close with the arm parallel to the record.  Tighten all set screws firmly.

Cheers,
Geary

[Austin08]

Geary,

I check the stylus and cantilever seem ok. The Allen wrench tool that came with the TT is not fit  the socket screw. I have to find one and play with it. Thanks

[jea48]

 Do as galyons suggested in his response that will get you pretty close. You then can fine tune the VTA by,

Quote from Link below.
GENERAL RULES AND EFFECTS:
VTA:

■Raise the VTA (raise the rear of the arm) and the highs will usually get better.  Too much and you will lose the bass.
■Lower the VTA and the bass will get stronger.  Too much and you will lose the highs.

http://walkeraudio.com/lloyd-walker-on-fine-tuning-your-turntable/

[Austin08]

Jea48,

I have to find a right allen wrench first. I will try as you guy suggested. Thanks

[orthobiz]

Also, some gear "mixes and matches" so that an SAE allen wrench fits one thing and a Metric fits another.
Also, I have a fancy set of dual style allen wrenches where one end has a bit of a sawed-off universal style fitting so that you can approach a screw from an angle. Occasionally only the traditional "straight cut" end fits in well enough to tighten a screw. I think this is especially true of the really little sizes.

Paul

[Austin08]

Thanks Paul.

[Austin08]

Would it make my job easier if I buy a digital stylus force gage like this one?
stylusforcegauge

[NIGHTFALL1970]

I bought two digital gauges and hated them.  You never get the same reading twice in a row.  Buy a good manual one from Sure or something similar.

http://www.turntableneedles.com/Shure-Stylus-Force-Gauge_p_1838.html

[Austin08]

Nightfall1970,

Thanks, I will check it out. By the way, I have the stylus force gauge that come with the table. How do I use it.

I bought two digital gauges and hated them.  You never get the same reading twice in a row.  Buy a good manual one from Sure or something similar.

[orthobiz]

Put a record on the table so the tonearm force is measured close to actual conditions of tonearm height.
Turn off any anti skate.
Put the force gauge in line with the record groove, i.e. tangent to the circle of the record or parallel to the stylus.
Put the needle onto the middle of the line corresponding to your desired force.
Adjust the counterweight until the gauge does a balancing act on the two little nubbins on its underside.

Paul

[Austin08]

Finally, I

got it right. The turntable is up and running, now. Thank you all for your help.

[tomytoons]

Oh get rid of that Clearaudio Stylus force gauge. Worst I have ever seen and used.
Get a Shure or or like one I use from Bren the Center Clamp/weight guy on E Bay.
To check for level of the arm place the stylus on a record (carefully) and  use a lined index card and look at the head shell or if you prefer the tonearm tube (since, it is straight) and check to the lines, adjust up or down. Very easy.

[Ericus Rex]

To check for level of the arm place the stylus on a record (carefully) and  use a lined index card and look at the head shell or if you prefer the tonearm tube (since, it is straight) and check to the lines, adjust up or down. Very easy.

Very clever!  Thanks for that tip.