[putz]

Just picked up a VPI HW19 JR turntable. Believe it has a MK 4 platter, Audioquest tonearm and Grado Reference Sonata high output MC cartridge. Paid well under $1K for everything. Replacing a Pro-Ject Debut 3 which was basically plug and play. Table is sitting on a Target Wall Mount with a piece of 3/4" MDF under the table as the stand was a little too small to fit the table. Table is level.

I currently have no test equipment, VPI online manual is not much help and I'd like to set up the table as best as possible without going too crazy.

One issue I have is allen screw that controls tonearm height came loose so I need to reset the proper height of the arm.

I manually set the tonearm weight/anti-skate to 1.5 grams but would like to check it with a gauge. Is the Shure gauge reliable enough? Would have to buy one.

I know there are a bunch of other settings that I should be doing. Which ones are the most important, what affordable tools do I need and what are the best ways for a novice to do them?

Pic is attached that seller took before arm got screwd up. More pics in my gallery.

[Ericus Rex]

The Shure gauge is reliable enough but you can get a very good digital for very little money.  Wayner had a link in a past AC thread in the Vinyl Circle.  Do a search and I'm sure you'll find it.  The arm's "proper height" is in the ears of the beholder.  The standard starting point is armtube parallel with the platter.  You should move this slightly up and down until you find a height that sounds best to you.  Another vinyl circle thread suggests setting the rear of the arm approx 4-6mm up from parallel.  You could also start here if you wish.  Hopefully others more familiar with that arm can chime in.

[BaMorin]

Just picked up a VPI HW19 JR turntable. Believe it has a MK 4 platter, Audioquest tonearm and Grado Reference Sonata high output MC cartridge. Paid well under $1K for everything. Replacing a Pro-Ject Debut 3 which was basically plug and play. Table is sitting on a Target Wall Mount with a piece of 3/4" MDF under the table as the stand was a little too small to fit the table. Table is level.

I currently have no test equipment, VPI online manual is not much help and I'd like to set up the table as best as possible without going too crazy.

One issue I have is allen screw that controls tonearm height came loose so I need to reset the proper height of the arm.

I manually set the tonearm weight/anti-skate to 1.5 grams but would like to check it with a gauge. Is the Shure gauge reliable enough? Would have to buy one.

I know there are a bunch of other settings that I should be doing. Which ones are the most important, what affordable tools do I need and what are the best ways for a novice to do them?

Pic is attached that seller took before arm got screwd up. More pics in my gallery.

The Grado cart will want to run 90 deg. to the album. Some prefer a "slight" forward rake, (tail up) or a slight rear rake (tail down).........that is system dependant. The Grado will also track better in that Jelco arm at above 1.5gr.  I would start with 1.65gr......very little, if any antiskate.  One last thing........Grado hasn't made a MC cart since the 60's.......it is a MI cart. It just kinda acts like a MC cart due to low inductance.  One other thing, the cart is set up wrong in the arm as well. the front edge of the headshell area is the "effective length"  The stylus tip should sit directly below that front edge when in playing position. yours is well ahead of that. I'm guessing the inner null point would be somewhere in the album label as it sits now.

[bacobits1]

I would say that set up properly should sound pretty nice! Setup of using Wayner's Protractor you should get there.
Later I would look at one of the Denon cartridges and a Jasmine Phono for more than reasonable money.
Congrats and enjoy!

D

[DaveyW]

Some good advice here.
I'd give that Grado a bit of a chance though - IMHO the Reference Sonata is a very nice cart.
Great package at a superb price 

[Wayner]

If the tonearm is mounted at the suggested 211mm from spindle to pivot distance, then the arm will only be able to get to a Baerwald (or Lofgren A) curve, using an 18.128mm overhang. The null points would be at 65.998 (66) and 120.891. If you feel bold and want to file some more of the slot out (towards the front) you could achieve a Lofgren B curve (but I wouldn't F up the arm). I have mine in the Baerwald alignment and it sounds fine. Others here like the Baerwald over the Lofgren B curve, but each has it's own slight advantages over the other. The most important thing is to get that nasty old offset angle correct and the traditional null point alignment technique gets you there.

Nice table, I have the Hw-19jr. and it is a very nice machine, better if I had your upgraded platter.

Wayner 

[putz]

Wayner,

Is there a recommended tool available for measuring the spindle to Pivot distance? Please explain how I achieve a Baerwald curve in layman's terms. Does doing that correct the offset angle? What the heck are null points and how do I measure for them.

Do you listen with dust cover up or down? I'm going with up for now. Just listened to After the Goldrush and Arcade Fire--The Suburbs and it blows away the Pro-Ject.

I appreciate all the great advice just please put things in a terminology that a novice (me) can understand.

Table like mine except for the Platter going for $600 on ebay right now http://cgi.ebay.com/VPI-HW-19-Jr-Turntable-W-AudioQuest-Tonearm-Grado-Cart-/200584795182?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2eb3c9142e

If the tonearm is mounted at the suggested 211mm from spindle to pivot distance, then the arm will only be able to get to a Baerwald (or Lofgren A) curve, using an 18.128mm overhang. The null points would be at 65.998 (66) and 120.891. If you feel bold and want to file some more of the slot out (towards the front) you could achieve a Lofgren B curve (but I wouldn't F up the arm). I have mine in the Baerwald alignment and it sounds fine. Others here like the Baerwald over the Lofgren B curve, but each has it's own slight advantages over the other. The most important thing is to get that nasty old offset angle correct and the traditional null point alignment technique gets you there.

Nice table, I have the Hw-19jr. and it is a very nice machine, better if I had your upgraded platter.

Wayner 

[SteveRB]

just looking at your photos:

i would remove the dust cover and hinges from the plinth completely. You can lift it right off the turntable when in use and just set it on the frame when you're not home.

I have really enjoyed my HW-19 over the past year. I would find it very hard to justify a more expensive turntable.

[SET Man]

Hey!

   Congratulation on your new TT.

   Actually from subject headline I was expecting to see a cheap old beat up plastic TT from the '80s

Take care,
Buddy

[Letitroll98]

Yeah I was expecting a joke too, wonderful table you got there, I have one as well with Mark III platter.  You got a great deal with the cartridge included, congrats.  The only rub is the stylus is not user replaceable so you have to send it in for a trade-in if/when it's worn out. 

Here's the link to the same digital tracking force scale they sell for $100 for $13.84.  You do have to access your own weights for calibration, most people just use a nickel (Google it, you'll see why).
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/digital-precision-scale-with-leather-case-5g-max-0-01g-resolution-16269

Here's Conrad Hoffman's wonder site that has a arc protractor generator.  You can get a $100 arc protractor for the cost of printer ink and a sheet of photo paper.  (Read the instructions, you have to set your printer to NOT scale to paper size)  You have to learn something about effective arm length, null points, and alignment types (Lofgren, Baerwald) to use the generator, but you should learn all of that anyway if you're setting up your own table.  The generator is the third link down.
http://www.conradhoffman.com/chsw.htm

That should get you pointed in the right direction.
 

[BaMorin]

If the tonearm is mounted at the suggested 211mm from spindle to pivot distance, then the arm will only be able to get to a Baerwald (or Lofgren A) curve, using an 18.128mm overhang. The null points would be at 65.998 (66) and 120.891. If you feel bold and want to file some more of the slot out (towards the front) you could achieve a Lofgren B curve (but I wouldn't F up the arm). I have mine in the Baerwald alignment and it sounds fine. Others here like the Baerwald over the Lofgren B curve, but each has it's own slight advantages over the other. The most important thing is to get that nasty old offset angle correct and the traditional null point alignment technique gets you there.

Nice table, I have the Hw-19jr. and it is a very nice machine, better if I had your upgraded platter.

Wayner 

Just a quick note Wayne....the Jelco 250ST sets up at 210mm, and for baerwald nulls it has an overhang of 18mm for a total of 228mm. It is just a smidgen different than a Linn.  Setting up the stylus at the front edge will drop the rock right on baerwald nulls.

[bastlnut]

hallo all,

there is a way to cheat with the alignment.
you can twist the cartridge in the headshell to compensate for lack of distance from the pivot to tip....eff. length.
Grado cartridges has a short distance from diamond tip to mounting screws, so it will probably allow Loefgren alignment on the Jelco tonearm.
i prefer the Loefgren points when at all possible, but i do fine tune alignment by ear.

regards,
bas

[Wayner]

My information manual says 211. I also have a drawing that says 210. My HW-19jr has it drilled at 211. So I guess there is a problem. Just like the Rega arm, specs call for 222 and many are mounted at 223. Therefore, you'll have to measure the distance. Should do that anyway just to confirm the distance. If yours is at 210mm (pivot to spindle distance) then the overhang is 18.207 with null points at 65.998 and 120.891 (for the same Baerwald alignment). The null points are where the stylus is perfect alignment with groove geometry and the points are measured from the turntable spindle's center point.

Wayner

[TheChairGuy]

A warm welcome to bastlnut...a veteran turntablist if there ever was one 

John

[Mitsuman]

A warm welcome to bastlnut...a veteran turntablist if there ever was one 

John

A warm welcome X2 

[bastlnut]

thanks guys!

bas

[DaveyW]

A warm welcome X2 

X3 

Hi Bas - Welcome here - looking forward to your onward contributions.
Cheers
Dave

[BaMorin]

My information manual says 211. I also have a drawing that says 210. My HW-19jr has it drilled at 211. So I guess there is a problem. Just like the Rega arm, specs call for 222 and many are mounted at 223. Therefore, you'll have to measure the distance. Should do that anyway just to confirm the distance. If yours is at 210mm (pivot to spindle distance) then the overhang is 18.207 with null points at 65.998 and 120.891 (for the same Baerwald alignment). The null points are where the stylus is perfect alignment with groove geometry and the points are measured from the turntable spindle's center point.

Wayner

I'm sure it will mount at 211 just fine.  The template I have in front of me shows 210mm, 18mm overhang,
23*45' offset.  It always droped right on the two points on my DBsystems protractor. My linn arms set at 211, and with the rock below the front center hole 229mm always hits the two points on that protractor as well.  Two easy arms to set up quick. Again looking at how the cart is set up in the photos, I'm not sure where the inner null is going to be.........but it does look like it might be off into the runout grooves.
It looks to be even further than Stevenson.........That of course is a guess on my part.

[BaMorin]

hallo all,

there is a way to cheat with the alignment.
you can twist the cartridge in the headshell to compensate for lack of distance from the pivot to tip....eff. length.
Grado cartridges has a short distance from diamond tip to mounting screws, so it will probably allow Loefgren alignment on the Jelco tonearm.
i prefer the Loefgren points when at all possible, but i do fine tune alignment by ear.

regards,
bas

Hallo as well.........welcome aboard.

[orthobiz]

I've heard dustcover down or off. I have the hinges off my HW19 and remove the cover to play records. I don't really hear a big difference even with it up but I guess it's bad for micro phonics or something.

Paul