[mbleming]

Hi,

I've been a lurker for a long time and on the many recommendations found here I just purchased a KAB Technics 1210m5g TT to replace the Music Hall MMF5 that I've been so unimpressed with for the last 5 or so years. I paired the TT with the bargain AT440MLa cart heartily recommended by a few posters here on Audiocircle. After only 2 nights I can safely say the Technics is much better to my ears than the MMF5 I had previously. There's one area of the set up I'm not sure I have right and I'm wondering if someone could shed some light on it for me. In the spec sheet for the AT440MLa the cart height is listed as 28mm. The Technics manual contains a section on Tone Arm Height with a table of values for Cartridge Height that ranges from 17mm to 23mm. The AT440MLa is listed at 28mm and this isn't even on the chart! Is this correct number? The TT came with the Height Control position set to 1 which corresponds to 18mm cart height. Is this the correct setting?
Also, the AT manual recommends a tracking force of 1.4 so I've set it up for this with an anti skate of the same, about 1.4. Does this match what other users are running? Just want to make sure I'm getting the best results I can. Thanks for any help you can provide!!
Michael

[Wayner]

I have measured the height with a height gauge and found it inaccurate. I think this part has not changed since the birth of this turntable, but they have changed things like mat thickness and other changes. In any event, your arm needs to be parallel to the record surface when playing a record. You can do that by eye, or use a feeler gauge. You have to do this with a record on the mat, so you may want to find an old used record. Also the stylus is in grave danger when it's sitting on the record and your fiddeling about.

Hell, I've got the same cart in my Sl-1200 mkII. It's height dial is on 2 and I used a feeler gauge on it. I track my cart at 1.5 grams, and the anti-skating is set at about 2.5. I use a blank disc to set my anti-skating. Others may disagree on this practice, but I'm happy with the results.

Hope this helps.

Wayner

[lcrim]

As long as you have the overhang set properly and the tracking force is close to the manufacturers recs, and the VTA wheel is set to the arm about parallel to the record, you should be good to go.   The VTA in my experience really affects surface noise.  I mess witjh it a lot to reduce surface  noise.  Parallel to me, is a starting point. 

One of the things that immediately struck me about the Technics is that it actually designed in ways to do the setup adjustments.  Before that I was always struck by how difficult it was on other tonearms to make the most basic adjustments.

[mbleming]

Thanks for the replies and useful info guys, I truly appreciate it!

[Airborn]

Hey Michael, I have the exact same set up as you.  With the standard rubber mat, I have the Arm height control dial set to 1 with my AT 440 MLa cart.  I have read numerous posts suggesting 0 as the correct setting with this cart, but I find 1 works better and is closer to parallel.  0 just seems a little "tail down" to me.  As for the tracking force, I have that set at 1.5 with the 440MLa and sometimes even a little more.  The big difference from the settings you discribe is anti-skate, which I have set at 2.5.  I set these value using the Cardas set up record and my ears.  If you don't have a set up record, I highly recommend something like HI-Fi News or Cardas to help dial in the correct settings.  Btw, did you get any of the KAB mods?  If you didn't get the tonearm damping tray, I highly recommend that as well.  Enjoy drinking the KAB Technics koolaid!

[mbleming]

Airborn,

Thanks for the set up tips, I need all the advice I can get. I didn't get any of the KAB mods yet, but I think I'll go for the fluid damper at some point. That being said, I'm really enjoying the stock 1210 as it is and will be interested to check out some of the mods. Do you guys use a record clamp with the Technics? I bought the rubber one from KAB but at some point I'd like to get a more substantial threaded one like the Music Hall had.

[Airborn]

Michael,
The KAB tonearm damping fluid tray is upgrade number one!  I also have the cheap KAB rubber grip record clamp.  It holds down my few warped LPs pretty well.  I thought about getting a more substantial weighted or threaded clamp, but I decided it wasn't worth it to me.  I would rather spend my finite funds on upgrading my phono stage or cartridge, but ymmv. 
Steve