How To Adjust The Tonearm Height On A Turntable

More: LongPlayVinyl.com
How to balance a tonearm, set stylus tracking pressure and adjust the anti-skating on your turntable: • How to Balance a Tonea...
Adjusting the tonearm height on your turntable is important. This adjustment is often overlooked as we tend to think the the height is pre-set at the factory.
However, a different mat, cart or even stylus will probably require a slight tone arm height adjustment.
In this video we're going to the set the proper height on a Technics SL1200 MK5 turntable. Many turntables will have a very similar adjustment technique.
You can also adjust the tonearm lift if you need to but this is very rarely needed.
If your tonearm height adjustment ring is not turning, make sure you unlocked the ring lock. If this still doesn't help, there is a chance that dirt accumulated in your tonearm mechanism over the year and this is preventing the ring from turning. You'll need to remove the tonearm assembly and clean/lubricate the mechanism.

[@VernonDrawz]

I was trying to figure out how to adjust the tone arm riser, thanks for confirming it was that one screw! I didn’t want to adjust that screw without knowing first because I thought maybe it was for something else. Thanks again!

[@footeemeng]

Hi Sasha, did the tone arm balance, anti skating and vertical height adjustment on my MK1200mk2 based on your video....Wow what a big difference! Now I can heard more details from my Shure M75ED! And also thanks to your clear explaination!

[@RedHeadGuitar]

Good tutorial, thank you! My turntable (Dual DT400USB, which is basically identical to an Audio Technica LP3 and surely made in the same factory) doesn't have a tonearm height adjustment. I know I know it's super cheap but I'm listening to punk music most of the time anyways. The tonearm is a bit high so I use a stack of paper cut to the exact size between the platter and the rubber mat. Does the trick too!

[@DoktorKoch]

Very good simple explanation with no fancy stupid music and graphics...thank you for your help! :-)

[@amritabhaktas]

In the Technics 1200 mk2 & mk5 manuals they give you a table showing how high the tonearm should be, based on the height of the cartridge you're using

[@sim_ta]

Thank you for this excellent tutorial video!

[@licatacarusodj]

Excellent ! Thanks a lot for your help! Very well explained.

[@innerstice]

Really informative video, thank you

[@georgeanastasopoulos5865]

I like this demonstration on adjusting tonearm height. I supposing an Azimuth gauge block is even more accurate.

[@gobaroan]

Excellent

[@woodybear8298]

Great tutorial.

[@marshallborder9089]

Only place I could find the info I needed , phono was in a bad spot and it got drop about a foot off the floor - out of adjustment now and I think what you have videoed will help me fix it . It's a Technics Sl-D30 and have had it since new - thanks

[@justonetime112]

Great job 👍

[@TemujinScott80]

This was great!!!!!!!

[@DasJibbala]

I spent most of my day looking for a good tutorial on this subject and yours was definitely the most helpful! Thanks!

[@LongPlayVinyl]

Glad you found it useful!

[@leekumiega6576]

See the reply i just left above. This guy is wrong.

[@georgeanastasopoulos5865]

Okay! Thank you very much, Sasha! I'd give you another thumbs up. I have taken a look, and listen to this KZbin hi fi turntable again; and have found a couple of important things about height of tonearm. More important to me now is the raising of the tonearm lifter! I have bought a used, modified Rega Planar 3 Turntable without tonearm, and drive belt. I've done plenty of work, in installed a new silicone drive belt. and I was fortunate to find, and buy a Linn Basik Plus Tonearm. However, the tonearm lifter cannot lift that curved platform high enough! Maybe I've got to buy a smaller Allen hex wrench, but it's most likely the lifter that can be adjusted by a very small dial in front of the tonearm (not referring to the ant-skate dial that was already correctly set, by the way). Anyhow, thanks again.

[@fastrick]

Thank you very much !! A1

[@cardenassolisrodrigo2601]

That's a very nice vinyl of the Eye In the Sky album, from The Alan Parsons Project.

[@davidturner3329]

Never knew about such a thing.

[@Zickcermacity]

Hello Sasha! Thanks for this resource on how to get the best sound and longevity out of records! I own a Gemini XL 1800Q II that I bought used at a second hand thrift. For what I paid it is in terrific condition and I was able to make all the adjustments you demonstrated in this video. My concern is, and this is across several needle & cart combos I'm tried with it(currently running the Concord 'goose neck' cart it came with plus a recent Ortofon OM10 stylus), is that any record, speed or size, I play on it, is mildly top-shy. Bass and mids are lush, smooth and even, it's just the aforementioned lack of treble that has me concerned. I can still hear clicks, pops, and surface hiss fine on records that have seen more use/abuse than others, it's just in the music itself the top seems lacking, compared to treble response on CDs of the same albums. Any ideas as to the cause? Happy New Year by the way if you're already celebrating!

[@HomicidalToast1]

Love your videos thanks for the help. I have a concern though that I would like some insight on. I just replaced the stock mat on my TT and it is thinner than the stock. The stock is about 2x thicker. Now the tonearm is not perfectly parallel, it slants forward towards the record slightly. Is this going to have any major effects? I haven't had much time to test audio but so far it sounds right. What should I do, if anything? I cannot adjust the height any lower with the adjustment displayed in this video.

[@edstoy-o-rama4004]

I hav a technics sl-b500 the weight doesn't hav the numbers. How to I balance this one. Thx

[@dewit7]

Tnx but... what can be done when the tonearm lift is not demping and drops the needle too fast on the record. where do I (re)fill the lift with demping fluid (silicone oil/grease)? on a Technics turntable like this please? .

[@JamesHayesFL]

I have an AT-LP120XUSB. I am running an Otofon M2 black. I see the same style ring as you describe and the turntable looks exactly like the one you were showing except my ring. Looks like it’s fixed in place. Yet, I looked on the Internet for my model and it showed it being adjustable. What gives? Am I missing something, you did a great video! Thank you

[@LogiForce86]

Ehm, shouldn't the stylus' tip be at a 90 degree angle to the record instead of the tone arm being level? 🤔 The stylus will bend a little depending on weight/tracking force adjustments, so that will also affect the angle at which the tip sits on the record.

[@J_Braz_]

If the needle isn't making good contact with the record can it affect volume or cause skipping? Also if the needle is pressing to hard will that make the record sounds louder at the cost of record longevity?

[@1imanni1]

Do you know how to adjust the height on the tone arm lifter on an Akai AP-307?

[@TheStonedstone]

I have no control ring for arm height adjustment in my Technics SL- 1500. How can I adjust tonearm height?

[@andrewperry9663]

I have just bought a Lenco turntable and the weight arm is suggested at 3.5. I can't get it to stay at this weight as it keeps coming of and then I need to rebalance it back to 0. I decided to set the arm at 1g and singles played but albums wouldn't. I then moved the weight slightly 2 times till the album would play without jumping. Is this ok as some state it's to light even though my records are playing and they sound fantastic.

[@bethansilley3777]

hi mate my tone arm height adjust is stuck and is 1mm off will this cause damage ? i know i need to take it apart and fix but will this cause any problems as it is now? cheers!

[@alfredcardu5696]

1200 mk2. My base lock knob snapped off but I can still use it. Metal must have gotten brittle . The unit is in perfect condition otherwise. I purchased a new lock knob. Is it difficult to replace?

[@jaydunstan1618]

Hello, great video! I have a Technics 1210 and am using an Ortofon DJ MKII, I have a problem, can you help? It would seem seem that the Ortofon cartridge is leaning to the left - but there is no way to adjust - these is no headshell. I am concerned about the imbalance of the azimuth, can you help please?

[@maranezzi21]

Looks like you have bad tonearm... can be adjusted but is not for beginners, and also its not like new tonearm. Sell this tt and buy another with good tonearm

[@pn8024]

Do all turntables have that adjustment? I feel like mine doesn't. It's a Kenwood KD-44R. I want to get a cork slip mat, but I'm unsure what thickness I should get.

[@TheBudgie29]

If the Tonearm Is Fixed, then It Is already set to the 15% angle towards the Stylus. Touching this will Mess with Your sound, Big Time. Don't Do It. Good Luck.

[@houstonc9997]

After you adjust the tone arm height, wouldn't you have to readjust the tracking force or tone arm balance? Thanks.

[@TheBudgie29]

Any adjustment done on the tonearm, has to be followed up by re-adjusting the Tracking Force. Remember the Tracking Force You need Is "Example", If Your Cartridge Is 2 grams then You set to 1.70 Grams. and the Anti-Skate to the same value. But still adjust this till You hit Perfect Separation of both Channels. If You can Change the Angle of the Tonearm, set this to 15% drop towards the Stylus, and NOT Parallel as described here Good Luck.

[@MrMewsique]

My tone arm lift doesn't stay in the up the position. It fails to lock

[@gyruss2000]

Thank you for your videos. I have another issue. After following your video to balance my Ortofon Concorde cartridge and stylus, I noticed when I lifted and moved my tonearm side to side, the tonearm height lock is touching the tonearm tracking balance weight. I then found this video to adjust tonearm height. It turned out that my tonearm height was a bit too high by 2mm, causing arm to slope down. Problem is, I cannot lower the tonearm height any further (already at lowest point on dial). How to fix this please?

[@gimble447]

Easiest way though not mainstream and as long as you’re using a conventional headshell and cartridge and not a Concorde etc is to use small metal washers on your cartridge bolts to space the cartridge down 2 mm from the headshell, then your arm would be level. But just one thing, google the cartridge you have as some ( not all) have a suggested height adjustment ( some cartridges can actually perform better not on a level plane and if yours is one they will have a recommended height, if it doesn’t then it means that perfectly level is best for it. Hope that helps although it’s a few months later lol

[@mikekole]

I bought a used Technics SL-1200mk2, need to make an adjustment, and find that I cannot rotate the ring in either direction. It's in the 'unlock' position, but stuck in place. Anyone have a suggestion?

[@TheBudgie29]

You have to Strip the player, and Re-Grease the Screw Thread on the Adjuster. This Is a Common fault, as You should Wind this up and down every few Mouths. else It just dries out. Plenty of Vids on how to do this. Good Luck.

[@yurylochmelis9818]

Hi! Nice video but I have no such adjusting mechanism in my JVC L-F66. So how can I change the arm height on my turnetable? Thanks

[@TheBudgie29]

Then Your tonearm Is set correctly at the factory. It should Not sit Parallel, but lift up from the back. to 15% and giving the Correct 92% rake for the Stylus. Moving this will ruin Your records.

[@jogmas12]

@@TheBudgie29 tonearm VTA should be set by ear not by being parallel to the record. VTA immensely effects the over all sound quality.

[@leekumiega6576]

Wat is up with so many people saying the arm should be parallel unless the manufacturer of your equipment says otherwise the arm should go downhill toward the record at 15 Degrees which should theoretically put the stylus at 92 Degrees .While this is less important with an elliptical stylus it is extremely important with more expensive stylus types like the Shibata and various line contact stylus, Check out Analog Magick turntable and cartridge setup tutorial number 4 .

[@fitchikalina7507]

If you place a mirror on the record under the arm, you can more accurately set the tonearm level.

[@mathijsdijkgraaf8081]

Hi there, I hope anyone can help me with this. I just got a Technics SLD-303 turntable. I played a couple of records on it. A few of these records are slightly warped. These records play great though. The Technics SLD-303 has an automatic arm return. When the stylus reaches the end it returns to the basic position again. However, when the arm returns on the warped record it hits the record. This of course is not good for the stylus and the record. I have already looked through the manual. I could not find anything there. Changing the tracking force does't matter either. Can somebody please help me with this??? Thanks

[@maranezzi21]

That is why it is so important to take care of your records so that it dont get warped. And thats why it is so important not to buy used records in this condition. What can you do about it? Maybe you could rise that holder of the tonearm that he is talking in the end of this video. This way it should get passed the warps. But on the other hand it will drop the tonearm/needle from higher point...

[@DenisJust]

Dude, you set the height not for it to look horizontal, but to set a certain angle of the stylus. It does not matter if arm is horizontal or not. You should look with magnifying glass at tip of stylus and make sure the angle is what you want. Then you listen. It influences tonal balance. If arm is too high, you may lose lows. So you lower the arm until it sounds good to your ear. Cheers!

[@leekumiega6576]

You are so right and that angle is 92 degrees usually attained with the tone arm at 15 degrees then you finetune adjust just like you said.

[@williescott7913]

I have a ion turn table and there r no adjustments at the back of the tone arm

[@LongPlayVinyl]

These adjustments are not available on all turntables. Most low-end players won't allow you to adjust anything.

[@amancalledchristian]

super useful video, but casey skate is a masterpiece..

[@CeeStyleDj]

Why would this be off on a New turntable?? Using what it comes with.

[@LongPlayVinyl]

It's like buying a new guitar: all the parts are there but they aren't tuned properly.

[@enedenedubedene4811]

In der Hoffnung, dass die Abtastnadel hinterher genau 90° zur Plattenoberfläche steht.😏😏😏😏😏 Viele Grüße aus Germany

[@puciohenzap891]

Protip - my SL1200's arm height adjustment was completely stuck, after heating it up a lot with a hair dryer it finally let go.

[@TheIronpusher]

If this angle was so critical and important wouldn't we have to adjust it with each record since not all records are pressed the same or of the same thickness. Wouldn't we need more precise measurements than used for baking a brownie, eyeballing to check if it's leveled. I'm a complete noob to this world and nothing against you, I just don't get it. Other videos are using tools and software and all these things to figure out this angle that in theory changes depending on what record is on the table. Very conflicting information online on how precise this needs to be.

[@anthonynewcome128]

total bollocks if yours is fixed, and not adjustable

[@TheBudgie29]

A lot of Fixed Tonearms are usually set In the Factory, to the Designated Angle of 15 Degrees. Giving the Stylus the right Rake at 92%. So No!, Your Tonearm should Not be perfectly Horizontal.

[@MrStarbor]

confusing ... messing up narration pal

[@pandorablake654]

Thanks, really nice and easy to follow.