Setting up your tonearm / cartridge correctly is vital to good playback quality and groove handling. All turntables have different tonearms in one way or another, however, the basic steps for setting up and balancing a tonearm always remains the same. The steps below describe setting up your cartridge and tonearm for optimum playback quality. After you have completed setting up the cartridge and tonearm you will need to tweak the set up for your particular application (mixing, scratching, playback only) by using the included setup tips.

The first step in setting up your needle and tonearm properly is the correct installation of your cartridge on to your headshell. Each cartridge in the 500, 680, and 890 series must be mounted to a headshell via the included mounting brackets and screws. For your convenience, these products can be purchased already mounted and pre-adjusted from your local Stanton dealer. Some cartridges come with included headshell weight. It is suggested not to use the headshell weight unless the needle does not hold correctly after normal setup and tweaking. The Master series of products (Trackmaster, Groovemaster, and Discmaster) are designed with their own mounting system that eliminates the need for a separate headshell and is all internally wired.

HEADSHELL INSTALLATION - After mounting the cartridge onto the headshell you must mount the headshell into the tonearm. Holding the tone arm tube in one hand, insert the cartridge-headshell assembly into the tube lock (shown as "A" in figure 2) with the other hand. Turn the lock ring clockwise (when viewed from the rear) until the headshell is locked tightly into the tonearm. Remove the needle protector from the cartridge and place the needle on a record. View the needle from the front and insure that the needle is perpendicular to the record surface. If some adjustment is needed, simply loosen the lock ring and rotate the headshell assembly until the needle is perpendicular to the record surface. Then re-tighten the lock ring. See fig. 2

TONEARM BALANCING - The third adjustment is for stylus pressure (also known as tracking force). Start with the needle mounted in the tonearm and a record placed on slipmat (make sure the anti-skate dial is set to "0"). Remove the needle protector. While the needle protector is removed and during tonearm balancing be sure to not let the needle drop onto the record. With the tonearm free, adjust the counterweight by rotating the rear section (section of counterweight with rubber grip, shown as "B" in figure 3) until the tonearm lies parallel to the record surface. Try to balance the tonearm as horizontal as possible. Once the tonearm is balanced correctly set the stylus pressure indicator ring (front section of counter weight with markings, shown as "C" in figure 3) to "0" by rotating the ring while holding the rear section (section with rubber grip) in place. Next, rotate the rear section of the counterweight until the desired stylus pressure reading on the marking ring is matched with the line on the top of the tonearm (shown as "D" in figure 3).

If you are using the turntable / cartridge for playback purposes you will need to set anti-skating. Anti-skating helps keep the needle centered in groove during standard playback. However anti-skate will actually cause the needle to skip if used while scratching or back cueing. To set anti-skating for playback simply turn the anti-skate dial (shown as "E" in figure 4) to the same number setting as the stylus pressure reading (ex: 1 gram of stylus pressure = 1 gram anti-skate). If you are using a straight-arm turntable or scratching leave the anti-skating to "0".

The Final adjustment in your tonearm system is the tonearm height adjustment. This adjustment will set the tonearm pivot point and needle relation with the vinyl record. For most playback and scratching applications the tonearm and needle should remain parallel to the record. Unlock the tonearm lock (shown as "F" in figure 5) located on the base of the tonearm. Rotate the height adjustment ring (shown as "G" in figure 5) to read the correct height for your installed cartridge (refer to setting provided by manufacture). Be sure to relock the tonearm lock switch on the base of the tonearm when completed.

Setup Tips for Scratching and Mixing:

Make sure the turntable is placed on a solid base or stand to prevent side-to-side movement during scratching. A solid surface will absorb heavy vibrations and help eliminate feedback (which results as rumble through the mixer).

Always check to make sure that your turntable is level (horizontal). A turntable that is not level is likely to skip and cause playback issues. Most turntables can be leveled by adjusting the four feet independently on the bottom of the turntable (rotate feet until turntable lies horizontally).

Set the anti-skate control to “0” when scratching, anti-skate helps keep the needle centered in the groove during forward playback. As the needle pushes up against the groove of the record, anti-skate pushes the styli back into the center of the groove. However, while back spinning or scratching, this force will cause the needle to jump out of groove and skip. For this reason you should always leave anti-skate on "0" while scratching.

Break in ("breaking in" a cartridge means loosening / exercising the suspension) your cartridge suspension by placing the needle on a locked groove (a groove which never ends found on most scratch/battle records) and playing the record on 33 RPM for 15-minute intervals. Simply leaving the needle in groove overnight or for extended amounts of time may also break in the suspension.

If your needle shows excess “wobble” or moves back and forth too much during scratching, your stylus suspension has too much weight on it. If you have a headshell mountable cartridge, check to make sure you do not have a headshell weight installed on your cartridge. If you have an integrated cartridge body, try removing some weight from the back of the tonearm.

Some scratch DJs will angle their cartridges 23 degrees on the headshell. Note: Angle outward on S-shaped tonearms (this will emulate the angle of a straight tone-arm and help the needle hold the groove better). Angle inward on straight tonearms this will emulate the placement of an S-arm for fidelity (sound quality).

Despite popular belief, it is NOT recommended to reverse the weight of the tonearm. When this is done it defeats the purpose of a proper setup (notice the numbers on the correct side of the tonearm weight). By overweighing the cartridge you actually damage both the styli (needle) and the record. Only reverse the weight on the tonearm if you cannot get the needle to hold the groove otherwise.

Do not use records with worn, oversized or off-center holes. This will allow side-to-side movement, which will result in skipping. The problem can be corrected by placing a small piece of tape over the hole on one side. Cut a small “X” in the center of the hole area and fold the flaps down into the hole to tighten the fit. Badly worn vinyl may require a second layer of tape.

Keep your needles and vinyl clean with the Stanton VC-1 vinyl cleaner.

All About Needle and Record Care:

Every DJ has experienced clicks and pops while spinning, but very few actually know the source of these annoyances. Clicks and pops are often associated with a record getting old and worn. However, the majority of clicks and pops are actually caused by not properly cleaning the vinyl not the age of the record. Pops and clicks are caused from dust, dirt and debris that are attracted to the record surface. Static charge is the main factor in attracting dust to the grooves of the record. As the stylus travels through the grooves heat is generated due to surface friction. This heat temporarily liquefies the vinyl (this is why vinyl "wears out", or looses fidelity) and implants the dust into the groove wall. As the vinyl cools, the dust is permanently implanted into the groove. The next time the stylus passes over this piece of dust / debris, the needle will pick it up as part of the groove and the resulting output sound will be a click or a pop. However, there are other factors that will degrade playback of your grooves, such as fog inside a club, cigarette smoke, as well as the inevitable spilled drink.

The Stanton VC-1 vinyl cleaning kit is designed to combat these problems that plague the performing DJ. The cleaning fluid is specially formulated to reduce the static build up on your vinyl. It also gets down into the grooves and lifts the dirt and debris so that the unique unidirectional velvet cleaning pad can lift and sweep them away. This fluid is strong enough to clean away even that sticky drink, but safe enough to protect your vinyl and leave no film or other contaminants behind. The Stanton VC-1 vinyl

The stylus is first point of contact between your cartridge and the record. And for this reason it is just as important to keep the stylus as clean as your records. When your sound becomes muddy and muffled and the brightness of the high end is gone, it is time to clean your needle. The photo below on the right shows an example of dirt and debris build up on your needle. If left on the needle, that build up will shorten the life of your needle and lead to record wear.

The Stanton SC 4 stylus cleaner kit contains a specially formulated fluid to safely dissolve the caked-on contamination around the needle. Then the unique controlled penetration bristles of the brush will sweep and remove the debris that remains on the stylus with out damaging the needle.

The smallest part of your sound system is also the most critical. When your needle is dirty your sound is dirty, and you are adding extra wear to your records. When the dirt builds up enough to give distorted sound while you are performing. You might be out of a gig. The photos below show the difference between clean and dirty needles. Keep your needles clean.

Your records live in a very rough environment, constant use, constant exposure to cigarette smoke and fog contamination, dirt scratches, sun-light, airport security, and about every other conceivable force on the planet. All these factors combined result in poor sound, clicks, pops, static and cue burn. The photo to the right shows the results of mistreatment on a record groove (no its not a dandruff commercial).

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