How To Set Up A Audio Technica Turntable

How to set upwardly a tape player

Dust off your quondam vinyl and get that turntable spinning

(Paradigm: © Shutterstock.com / acidmit)

Setting upwardly a new turntable is an enormously fun projection to get stuck into. And, information technology's actually not as catchy every bit you may take thought, whether yous've just bought ane of the best record players available today (and all the mod trappings they come up with), or you want to revamp an older model that needs a lilliputian TLC.

Many mod turntables come with all fashion of nifty features, including Bluetooth connectivity for pairing with wireless headphones and speakers, and even USB outputs for ripping your vinyl to your computer.

Bated from these extra mod cons, all turntables characteristic intricate, moving parts – and that can exist a little daunting. That's why we've put together this like shooting fish in a barrel guide on the best manner to set up a turntable.

It's worth noting that many cheaper mod turntables come pre-assembled, so yous should be ready to play your music directly out of the box; even so, the further upwards the price band yous go, the more likely information technology is that y'all'll accept to set up your new turntable yourself.

For the purposes of this guide, we've assumed that you need to assemble your new record actor from scratch – and don't worry, it's not as fiddly as it looks.

an annotated image of the Audio-Technica LP60XBT record player — The Audio-Technica LP60XBT (Image credit: TechRadar)

Parts of the turntable

What else exercise I need?

Aside from your new turntable, there are some other bits of kit you lot might want to invest in.

Starting time off, yous'll want to check out the best stereo speakers; after all, a turntable is only equally skillful as your speakers you claw it upward to.

If you opt for a fancy wireless turntable, you might desire to invest in a Bluetooth speaker, connect it to your existing smart speaker, or purchase a pair of fantastic wireless headphones.

If your record player of choice doesn't have a congenital-in amplifier, yous'll need to purchase one – check out our amplifier reviews for more than information.

Whether you lot need to assemble your turntable or not, it's a good idea to become familiar with the unlike parts of the record role player.

Plinth

The plinth or 'support' is the base of the turntable. As well every bit providing a base for everything to sit on, the plinth is designed to dampen or absorb vibrations that negatively bear upon the sound quality of the turntable.

It'south important that the plinth is sat on a completely level surface, equally you lot'll need to balance your tonearm when information technology comes to setting up the turntable and a sloped surface tin can throw information technology off kilter. Some turntables come with adjustable feet for this reason.

Platter

The platter is the circular part of the turntable that spins and where you put your tape. Most platters come with a mat fabricated of condom or felt to reduce vibration and protect your precious vinyl.

Belt drive

The ii well-nigh commonly used types of turntables are belt driven turntables, and direct drive turntables. The latter are usually used past DJs who demand to be able to 'scratch' and play their records backwards, while belt-driven turntables are unremarkably used for home listening.

Tonearm

The tonearm is the part of the turntable that guides the stylus (besides known as the needle) through the grooves on the vinyl. It needs to exist carefully counterbalanced to ensure the stylus sits correctly in the groove without veering towards either side.

Cartridge

The cartridge attaches to the end of the tonearm and contains the stylus, which sits in the microgrooves of the record. Every bit the platter spins the record, vibrations travel through the stylus and into the cartridge, where coils in a magnetic field convert the kinetic energy from these vibrations into an electric signal.

The stylus is ordinarily made from a tiny piece of diamond attached to a flexible metal strip, although materials similar ruby, sapphire, boron, and even cotton fibre can exist used besides.

Pre-amplifier

The pre-amplifier (also known as the phonostage) amplifies the electrical signals from the cartridge, boosting the signal so that you hear music when it finally reaches the speakers. Many consumer record players come with an amplifier built in, merely high-spec, audiophile turntables ordinarily require an external pre-amplifier to be connected via RCA cables.

An Audio-Technica cartridge up close — An Sound-Technica cartridge upward close. (Epitome credit: TechRadar)

Setting upwards your record player

Firstly, yous'll demand to connect the unlike parts of your turntable setup together. If you are using an external pre-amplifier, you'll need to plug it into the turntable's output port using an RCA cable.

If the preamp comes congenital into the turntable, you'll exist able to plug your speakers into the back directly. Check out our roundup of the all-time stereo speakers if you demand some inspiration.

a closeup of the belt on a record player — It's important that the belt isn't twisted. (Image credit: TechRadar)

Attaching the chugalug

If you have a belt-driven turntable, you'll need to attach the belt to the platter and the motor pulley – this is what makes the platter (and therefore your records) spin. Lift upward the dust cover, have off the protective mat, and remove the platter; turn it upside downwards and sideslip the belt effectually its underside.

Then identify the platter back onto the spindle (the bit that sticks through the pigsty in your vinyl), and pull the belt through the square opening in the platter.

You'll need to hook the chugalug around the motor pulley – most belts will come with a small piece of ribbon attached to help you pull information technology through the hole and attach it securely.

It's important that the belt has no twists in it then information technology the platter spins smoothly. Put the mat dorsum on the platter.

a closeup of an audio technica cartridge — The tonearm should exist parallel to the record. (Image credit: TechRadar)

How to balance the tonearm

Now it'south time to residuum the tonearm. First unplug the record role player so that it doesn't start spinning unexpectedly.

Next, set the anti-skate control (a modest numbered wheel next to the tonearm) to 'zippo' and gently lift the tonearm from its rest, taking intendance not to drop it, which could cause impairment to the stylus.

The tonearm's pinnacle needs to exist set in such a fashion that it's parallel to the surface of your vinyl when the stylus sits in the groove. You can do this by moving the counterweight at the bottom of the tonearm backwards and forwards until the tonearm sits level without your support.

Setting the tracking weight

This ways your tracking weight (the amount of downwards-force the stylus places on the microgrooves in the record) is now at 0g.

One time you've washed this, you can suit the tracking weight to the cartridge manufacturer's recommendation.

Also high, and the stylus will spring out of the grooves and damage your records, while too low a tracking weight will deaden the sound and lead to baloney. It's worth taking your time with this step and using the manufacturer'southward recommended tracking weight to avert causing damage to your precious vinyl.

Now that your tracking weight is effectively at 0g, you can change the tracking weight gauge to 'null' to reflect this. The tracking weight judge is another numbered dial that forms part of the counterweight itself.

Now you tin can set the tracking weight to whatsoever the manufacturer recommends past moving the entire counterweight upward and downwardly the tonearm.

One time you're happy, place the tonearm dorsum on its rest and set the anti-skate control punch to the same number yous've simply set up the tracking weight to.

Balancing the tonearm is the most hard part of the process to get right, so if yous're unsure, nosotros recommend watching the video beneath from Vinyl Idiot box (opens in new tab):

You spin me right round

Now you're prepare to start playing your records! Simply switch the turntable back on, place your record onto the platter and select the right speed setting – there should be a button on the plinth that allows you to do this.

If y'all're playing a 12-inch yous should select 33 RPM (revolutions per minute). For seven-inch vinyl, select 45 RPM.

Press play and enhance the tonearm's cueing lever – the tonearm should now lift up. Marshal the tonearm with your record and lower the cueing lever until the tonearm gently drops and the stylus settles into the microgrooves of your vinyl.

There you have it – if you've followed all the steps correctly, you'll be able to sit back and enjoy the warm analogue sound of your music on vinyl.

Still looking for the perfect record player? Read our circular up of the best turntables

Olivia is TechRadar's Senior Editor - Home Entertainment, roofing everything from headphones to TVs. Based in TechRadar'due south London offices, she'southward a popular music graduate who worked in the music industry before finding her calling in journalism. She's previously been interviewed on BBC Radio 5 Alive on the subject of multi-room sound, chaired console discussions on diversity in music festival lineups, and her bylines include T3, Stereoboard, What to Lookout man, Meridian X Reviews, Creative Bloq, and Croco Mag. In her spare time Olivia likes gardening, painting, and hanging with her cat Ethel and golden retriever Dora.