How to adjust tonearm set up and improve performance.

VTA, tracking force and side bias should be fine tuned by ear to significantly improve your sound quality. We reveal what to listen for, and take you well beyond the limitations of cartridge set up tools.
Origin Live aims to enrich your musical enjoyment by offering the highest grade products to a standard that outperforms both your expectations and our rivals. Many of our customers become great advocates of our brand, leaving highly enthusiastic feedback.
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[@bobsabin]

These descriptions are very helpful indeed. It’s one thing to understand the geometry, quite another to begin to understand the effect on sound and how misalignment manifests in audible issues. Thanks for this!

[@cementheed]

Thanks for the video, very helpful for getting the last little bits correct. I don't own all the expensive voltage metres and calibration equipment, so I have to do the final tweaks all by ear. This helped.

[@jazzkatt7083]

This is my favorite video for setting up my tonearms. I'm definitely getting an Origin Live table/arm combo. Loved the demos I've heard. 🥰

[@OriginLiveInfo]

Thanks jazz! Get in touch when you're ready!

[@oracleaudio]

Old news ... yes ! This video however explains very efficiently the extremely minute and delicate interactions of micro vibrations and micro calibrations and their impact on sound quality. They are the key to a truly great sounding record player system ! Great video !!

[@angusdigriso1346]

Very helpful even if anxiety provoking for us obsessional types who now have new things to worry about!

[@HardyBunster]

Very useful stuff. I have discovered this over the years to do it by ear. Don’t knock the bloke because he is enjoying his art. Nothing wrong with getting the best performance from what you have paid good money for. 🙂

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[@jayceonbishop3861]

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[@imrandarren8691]

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[@el34glo59]

Yep. I tune everything by ear. Always have. My ears are very sensitive to any changes though. VTA for rake, VTF within reason, anti skate, etc. I always set it all settings by ear. Setting things up corectly is the difference between an average sounding cart and TT or an amazing one. Regardless of price. All I need is my JVC QL-A75 and my empire 600 LAC. Sounds like a million bucks.

[@jerryjerry3904]

I've just run across this 8 year old video, but azimuth was mentioned, I believe, just once, with no discussion of setting it or of somehow being assured that the tonearm manufacturer has settled on a fixed adjustment that cannot be altered "by accident." It may be helpful to discuss it in a newer video (but then, you may have already done this.) Thanks for the info you provided.

[@wesheadley7]

Extremely useful video. Even if you know this stuff, it always helps me to listen to a true expert discuss the essentials of getting the physics/settings of a tonearm optimized. I own the Origin Live Silver Arm and second only to my cartridge, this beautifully designed and built tonearm gave me an obvious MAJOR improvement to my system. It is mounted to a SOTA Star Sapphire table on a SOTA composite arm-board. It blew away the previous arm in every way imaginable musically speaking. Everything got better, a LOT better. The Origin arm replaced one that cost 3x what I paid for the Origin Live Silver BTW.

[@OriginLiveInfo]

Thanks for saying so Wes, the Silver was and always will be a giant-killer!

[@rahuulramachandrran4082]

Thanks for some great tips. This is extremely useful

[@vinylcity1599]

That's exactly what I love about analogue, it has its own sound "personality"! Call it distortion, noise or whatever that gives it such "life" and dimensionality ! It's very pleasing! No two copies of an LP sound the same, even if it's the same pressing! That's something special to me!

[@jm_1214]

It's lack of noise. All digital audio has measurable high frequency noise riding on top of the signal. It's pretty simple. Music itself is analog not digital

[@theurbanghost]

Thank you, I learned a lot from this

[@kathys9999]

Very helpful, thank you!

[@Hifi-intouchCoUk]

Very informative, thank you.

[@truthbetoldni]

Setting up an old Rega 2 with Audio audio technica cartridge. I use a Linn LP12 with Itok arm. with an Ortofon MC Rohmann. I set the Linn up using a Hi Fi Choice, free LP for fine tuning the cartridge. Seemed to work well. But I will be trying out the ear test tomorrow lol.

[@DrGIzmoBRad]

Thank you for explaining the interactions between Tracking Force, Vertical Tracking Angle, and weighted stylus complience with regard to distortion, spectral slope (dark to bright), and solidity of image. Your analogy of side bias (anti-skating) adjustments to focusing an optical lens makes clear the expectation of stage image snapping into place once properly set. Your suggestions of ÷/- 0.1 grams and +/- 1mm adjustment increments for Stylus Force an VTA are duly noted.

[@jogmas12]

I just finished setting the rake VTA angle on the tonearm and the difference is so impressive.

[@erichnk]

This is an excellent video. Very useful and instructive.

[@ShuffleSk8Ter]

really like the last part my tonarm i build is gone off these exact premises

[@hbaboris]

Very nice video...thank you...in my opinion, the most important set up is to garantee that the turntable is 100% on level..then you go to others.

[@Majnun74]

This helps very much.

[@angusvanhalen2886]

This is a wonderful video

[@VAMIRACING]

very useful i must say.....allow me a little tip based on your adjustment at 10:50.....a coaster under your table will give a MASSIVE improvement to your overall settings

[@johnsweda2999]

I was wondering this! is a bit out of the box, but instead of having your platter level if it is very minutely sloped towards the arm side inline from the motor pivot point ideally aligned along stylist would achieve the same effect with skating plus cause less tension on the main bearing because of belt tension

[@moogfooger]

When you say the word "solidity" during the "what to listen for" section, a loud background noise starts at the 8:10 minute mark. Is this the kind of thing you wanted us to listen for? Thanks, a terrific video. Cheers

[@joemartin6439]

I have a Thorens TD-160 whose 1972 motor just stopped dead , now desired to buy the Aroria table Ana silver tonarm best regards ,Johnnie

[@silverado884]

I have a Rega P324 turntable that I have owned for 6 years. I had read about the negative effect the spring has on the sound. It has something to do with it causing resonance in the arm while playing a record. I have been using a Mitchell technoweight for quite a while to adjust vtf with the vtf dial on the arm turned all the way up which is supposed to disable the spring. A few days ago I decided to go ahead and remove the spring altogether. I don't plan to sell the arm and it is out of warranty anyway. After doing so I checked vtf with my digital gauge. Before removing the spring tracking force was at 1.5 grams. After removing the spring it was 1.55 so even with the dial all the way up the spring was still having an effect. Sound is the most important factor, so here is my conclusion. After playing several records I have found that the sound is cleaner overall. It is like something is gone that shouldn't have been there to begin with. The best thing about this tweak is that it costs nothing. You just remove the two allen screws and the nut in the center. Then you take a pair of needle nose pliers and pull the spring out and break it off at the rivet point. Remember to secure the arm first at the armrest.

[@OriginLiveInfo]

Great I hope you readjusted the balance by ear.

[@johnsweda2999]

silverado884 you might have found if you just put some lithium white grease around the spring it might have the same effect

[@fertusherring3476]

This is great, but please , in the future, do more closeups on the turntable to show specific adjustment parameters, so that people can learn more. Dealers don't show people everything about setup.

[@robshaw845]

Thanks

[@benmiller388]

wow Thank you..

[@JohnSmith-of4vh]

Some manufacturers no longer sell arms on their own as they wish to sell them with their own turntables. You do not play in this ball park & what I also like is that your headshells on your tonearms are compatible with most cartridge 'shapes' & not just the ones you sell under your name! I think I have read that your arms are compatible with the classic SME cut out on decks & a video showing how to fit for example an Illustrious to such a cut out would be interesting. Also many decks feature a plinth so are your arms compatible with right angle SME type leads? Regards, John.

[@jcbrooklyn4800]

the one on the turntable!

[@stephenlegg262]

I have had my rb300 arm upgraded with the stub and wiring and it certainly improves the sound.

[@OriginLiveInfo]

So pleased to hear this.

[@mikejohnson7696]

Origin Live : the speakers hung from a string... are able to swing & vibrate, thus muddying up the sound.

[@Projacked1]

Anyone hating on this video, has accepted that quality isn't that important.

[@joemartin6439]

Hello George, sure like to get your poly Gem Dandy table ASAP, I have a brand new 9” Jelco St 550 Mk 2 with the Jelco Ease VTA on the fly. Also I have the best Jelco tone arm cables. Best Regards Johnnie

[@rickmilam413]

Nicely done. Most of these are either overly simplistic or completely obsessive...Like spending large amounts of money and time to get SRA to 92 degrees when it's actually a moving target from record to record. My only disagreement would be slight; I suggest that SRA, VTA and VTF all impact your subjective impressions and although all three are not technically interrelated (SRA and VTF are) they all subjectively affect the sound in overlapping ways. Thanks for the presentation.

[@rickseneris]

I always check my tracking force without a record and mat on the platter to compensate for the gauge sensing plate thickness. With a turntable like that you would want the utmost accuracy, don't you?

[@gypsism]

If there is a difference...

[@christopherward5065]

I do the same, if the force gauge platform is higher than the thickness of the mat and a record, the actual tracking force will be higher in use than the measured value. I aim for the midpoint of the range of tracking force settings recommended for my cartridge, with the cartridge body parallel to the record on the mat. Then I change the VTA by lifting the rear of the arm and locking it and listening. Ideally on headphones. If the sound improves, I.e. better instrument separation, soundstage width, frequency response and treble resolution. I can continue lifting and locking the arm incrementally until I find the most coherent sound. If the sound gets worse on the way up, I would lower the back of the arm, lock and listen incrementally until the sound is ideal. Sometimes the slight change in overhang can be adjusted by setting up the arc protractor and moving the cartridge forwards in the headshell. The older RB250 and RB300 arms have a threaded pillar and the Michell VTA adjuster and speed nut make VTA really simple.

[@jerryandlisa27]

Your a genius 👏

[@tonyjedioftheforest1364]

I shall be getting the Origin Live stub upgrade for my Moth badged RB250 on my Systemdek IIX 900 but I am unsure if the arm cable just plugs into the bottom of my arm to be able to remove it so as to be able to send off for the arm wire upgrade. I don’t want to try to unplug it in case it is soldered on. Is there any way to check? The arm was already fitted to the deck when you bought it.

[@erbalumkan369]

What is that low noise distortion in the audio?

[@zogzog1063]

For Side Bias find a mono record with a soloist singing. The sound should appear to come from a middle point between the speakers. That reminds me; some discussion of azimuth would be helpful. It has to be considered even for arms that appear to have no ability to adjust this. Again, a Central Image would be the 'by ear' way to get this.

[@sandratarnowsky3583]

Speaker plug in

[@jcbrooklyn4800]

hi. how long your tonearm? looks great

[@OriginLiveInfo]

Thanks. That is one of our 12" arms we also produce 9" versions.

[@kevinbeckenham3872]

Thank you for lovely tutorial. You can also use drug medical scales for measuring stylus pressure; they are a lot more cheaper & accurate to 1/1000 of a gram.

[@TheBudgie29]

Start at 6:49 and then You are there.

[@RUfromthe40s]

i use the system that is sold with a new arm but the final test i made it myself by hearing two or three types of records having to sound good from begining to the end of the record ,some turntables are not perfect in tunning the weight and anti-skating(basic ones)sometimes there´s a diference in a few milimeters from the weight and the anti-skating setting an some complain that their records should be sold with less music time in one side ,that shows that not all have perfect measures. sorry if my english is confusing i´m portuguese and a hi-fi enthusiast, never refer my self as an audiophile only because means rich kid with money, and even here on youtube some guys talk like they know it all but only the basic and don´t even know how a turntable should sound this spending 100.000€ on a system with only a turntable a cd player and a computer for spotify or tidal who have aceptable sound not comparable with records sound in reality

[@sinngsg9]

Interesting I see a full day of playing with my SME V tomorrow

[@nickwilliams1065]

Is that a trumpet I hear being blown?

[@Flatheadmedia1]

Azimuth is another important adjustment.

[@OriginLiveInfo]

Well, hopefully not. Our Azimuth is set at factory and if it's not aligned then our customers should get in contact for a possible replacement. If your cartridge stylus azimuth is not correct, you should likewise send the cartridge back to the manufacturer for replacement.

[@1ken.cheniergmail]

Thank you for sharing this info but I found that you moved the tone arm many times but you did not actually show us what you are talking about !! I am new to this and without actually seeing what you are talking about I would still need to rely on the dealer for setup ...

[@johnsweda2999]

I'm interested in buying the silver I want to know what sort of bearings is used and do you use any dampening in the bearing assembly, what is the ball bearing used is it still? and would you recommend a better material like ceramic or Sapphire bullbearings. I want to make some modifications for it it has to be 9 inches, like the tonearm you've got there I can't afford it can I buy the headshell on its own? I thought about making one out of ebony ebony powder reinforced with Kevlar but that's a bit of a hassle. what is the best glue you use to fasten the headshell to the straw, are the connecting wires to the headshell silver plaited or gold I want silver. On both ends and the litz wire not solid silver but silver cladded wire is this possible. Or for the same price as the original or close to it. I don't mind buying it disassembled. Curious about your bearing oil what's it made from what is its SAE value and what avative if any thanks. What is your feeling on the Rake angle at 88 degrees people bang on about 92 I believe this is wrong! for one it adds more jitter to the cartridge 88° is a better angle what's your feeling on this. And this myth of having the arm level not the case it's better to have it tilting backwards 1 or 2 degrees a little bit you can allow the weight to be closer to the body of the tonearm. I was thinking before about the stub to use ebony or perspex what is your stub made from on the silver arm. And Is it mechanically damped as well ideally I'll be running a soundsmith cartridge. I want to know what the flutter couldn't find it on the website of your motor with servo controlled power unit is thanks

[@OriginLiveInfo]

John Sweda, please get in touch via email. In the Onyx, Silver and Zephyr we use bearings which are highly researched and purpose made to our specifications. These bearings are fantastic, and more than fit for purpose for their pricepoint. But beyond the £1000 pricepoint we are not using gimballed bearings, and have no desire to, as it provides the same design issue. companies like Rega will carry on using gimbal bearings in a tonearm up to £3000 leaving the same issues in the arm which are inherent in a gimballed bearing design. We choose instead to use Dual Pivot, which is essentially 2 unipivot spikes in order to reduce vibration, reflections and make arms that are worth the money and beyond.

[@terryhanson1954]

should tracking force be made with the record off of the platter, since the tracking force meter is a couple of mm's above where the stylus should be sitting.

[@OriginLiveInfo]

I personally do this with the platter and the mat off that way there should only be an mm in it and the tracking force should be relatively accurate.

[@astra004]

Should the tracking force not be measured without the record on the platter?

[@OriginLiveInfo]

Without. Ideally you want the same vertical alignment as if it were on a medium thickness record.

[@danielgeiger7739]

Sound examples of those tonal differences would have been helpful. I have a VPI super prime scout with VTA on the fly with a SoundSmith Cartridge MIMC* and I hear absolutely noting when putting the VTA 1 cm above, or 1 cm below horizontal.Tried with headphones to take the room out, still nothing. I may simply not know what to listen for, so I need sound examples, maybe supported with oscilloscope outputs.

[@OriginLiveInfo]

Daniel, without going in to the *everyones ears are different* bit. Are you listening at a high enough volume? We've written a bit about this here: www.originlive.com/why-volume-matters/

[@budsmoker4201120]

You didn't hear much because it mostly BS. IMO if it really mattered you would hear. People got to sell crap to make a living.

[@Dave30867]

Origin Live needs to update whats new in 2018

[@glennewdick]

why basics turntable set up has not changed in 40years unless you have a specific arm type that's totally different i.e. linear tracking arms, air bearing arms for example but they are usually very expensive and will-can be set up by a professional. So no this is fine and very useful for someone that know how to adjust their specific arm regardless of it being many years old now.

[@jedi-mic]

I want to know what the angle is to draw for 10.5 inch arm what would be the overhang I would need? I couldn't draw the arc I need the overhang first, was a website that had spreadsheets with length of arms and its overhang but I can't remember it can't find it now you know it? if you can tell me overhang then I can draw the arc but not sure which Null points to use for that length of arm? got any suggestions! I don't know why this information is so hard to find or you have to be registered somewhere I'm not gonna do. Cheers look forward to hearing from you or anybody who knows that the answer!

[@OriginLiveInfo]

Hiya, I think this is the page you were looking for : www.originlive.com/shop/tonearms-specifications-all-arms We don't actually make a 10.5" arm, though our standard arm is 9.5" is this what you are referring to?

[@thetruth2929]

You mentioned adjusting so the bass and treble goes up and down...how would this be important when your amp can adjust all this?

[@swwiss]

not all amps like my mono blocks have no Tone adjustment, the tone adjustments on some hi end pre amps are dumbed as its one more thing the sound has to pass through.

[@OriginLiveInfo]

Good question. Its about Aligning the magnetic fields of the magnet and coil. When this is correct the improvement is more than just the tonal balance but the tonal balance is a good indicator of field alignment. Also amp balance generally add components to the audio path changing the phase of the signal.

[@mikejohnson7696]

TheTruth : good amps have no tone controls. Those circuits deteriorate the sound. When I bought my Musical Paradise...I thought I'd miss the controls. I NEVER do. The music is amazing.

[@mikejohnson7696]

TheTruth , good amps have no tone controls as those circuits deteriorate the sound. Bought a Musical Paradise mini amp, thought I'd miss the tone controls...NEVER DO. The music is that awesome. & here he's teaching how to set up a cartridge by ear, when the bass & treble are in balance, it's a sign you're close to the right vertical level.

[@marktrevett881]

'schoolboy error' putting the stylus force gauge directly onto the RECORD?

[@granthardy2813]

Mark Trevett Well modified counter balance encounter thoroughly spiffing in every respect.

[@OriginLiveInfo]

Yes it is better not to put the gauge on the record theoretically but in practice it makes only a miniscule difference to the tracking force measurement - if the arm is level in the first place

[@ritagreen9145]

how do you adjust the tone arm to make it return after the last song has played on a album?

[@4Kandlez]

Elastic band.

[@stevealvarez2826]

Please make sure there's no low level hum in the background next time.

[@maynardewm]

What about Azimuth?

[@OriginLiveInfo]

Azimuth is set at factory on Origin Live arms, and we don't advise folks to try and change it. although there is information on how to do so in the instructions. azimuth on cartridges should also be set at factory. If your cartridge stylus has an incorrect azimuth angle, it is a fault and should be returned for replacement.

[@harrymacintyre]

With the price of some of these upgrades I'd be looking a pair of new ears! ..esoteric words with a good old dollop of snake oil. How deep is your pockets, cause somebody is going to empty them... I remember an old yard brush and being told...I need to change the shaft and the head...new brush!

[@HermieDaddy]

Your sound has a low freq rumble.

[@garth56]

They make SME look silly :-) Really they do.. I'm not saying Origin Live have the best arm because they don't we'll leave that to SAT or Pink Triangle or someone else but their arm is up there along with Kuzma

[@ReferenceFidelityComponents]

Nothing wrong with SME arms. I own both and SME and a new OL Silver. There's not a lot in it but the best set up to my ears remains the SME309. You can achieve all the important adjustments without any of the drawbacks of other arms with adjustment due to the design and manufacturing quality. The OL silver isn't much behind the 309 which is a real testament to OL design and build.

[@ddanny3108]

Verbose

[@johnnytoobad7785]

Noisy fans..wobbly table..and a turntable that never turns...whats not to like ? I'll just follow the directions that came with my ancient SME 3009.

[@01ummi]

I too have had the SME arm for a number of years, to discover that, for example, the bias setting in the description is often heavier than you need. You also have to do a little research here.

[@absoluttaudiofilt3229]

First half of the video was useful to anyone who wants to take it a step further, but the last half...Sorry to say that Origin Live Encounter is the worst arm I have ever owned. The noises that the arm generated was highly audible. Maybe I was unlucky, but makes me a bit suspicious about OL real insight into tonearm physics and their "upgrades".

[@mrcasey69]

Video starts at 7:00

[@brianh6736]

Waffle listen to the music not the equipment

[@hennievangalen3789]

This tutorial is way off and needs many adjustments. Sounds like beeing stuck in 1977, Better listen to Sinclair, Wallytractor.

[@haihuachen2627]

Boring English class.