How to set up a Technics SL-1200

How do you attach the cartridge? How do you actually balance your tonearm? What is anti-skate even for? Jon Hildenstein of NYC turntable workshop DJ Fix talks us through the basics.
More info: thevinylfactory.com/films/how...

[@williamtaylor5193]

HEADS UP!! I recently purchased a SL1210GR and it is a great table, but I had fits setting up the tone arm (tracking force, anti-skate, etc.) ALL of my problems were due to the auxiliary weight at the end of the tone arm, which had to be REMOVED! The Technics manual did a poor job of emphasizing the importance of this. If you are having issues with tracking force, and an anti-skate that is miles off of the recommended setting, this is the likely culprit.

[@moodmusik]

Super helpful, and better than having to read the manual =)!

[@AlistairErskine]

Thankyou Jon, this was really well explained and easy to follow.

[@KiwiPokerPlayer]

I liked the M5G so much I bought two of them...

[@gregraye3798]

Great video! Thank you.

[@ThatVinylChannel]

One thing I noticed about the anti-skate. If not set right, a lot of times when you place the stylus on the lead in, it can skate down to the first or second groove very easily. By setting the anti-skate properly, you can avoid this issue most instances.

[@mjh7879]

Thank you for this. I have a Technics turntable that was passed down to me from my father but was never shown how to set any of this up.

[@Th3Mixa]

SAMEEE but idk am i supposed to connect it to speakers or to an amp or what

[@dustinkirk4515]

@@Th3Mixa to something that has a Pre-Amplifier

[@phrayzar]

All stylus have a set gram weight requirement for optimum performance. Read the info that comes with your stylus model. It can vary a lot. The Shure SC35C for instance requires a big 5g. Also, when you set your arm up, allow for the type of needle, conical v elliptical etc. If you stick to the model requirements, it will help greatly.

[@djc3949]

Hey nice video, got a big problem with my 1200's , one of my Tone arms feel heavier than the other, I have the same needles and cartridges, but 1 feels heavier. Any idea ? Thanks

[@johnwalker9599]

Hi looking for some help with a tone arm lever issue please (Tech 1210mk2). The lever no longer raises or lowers the tone arm bar. Will adding silcone help solve this issue? Thanks Johnny

[@Numocron]

Wow interesting.🤔

[@bethansilley3777]

@thevinylfactory 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!

[@aalsousa]

Question: I have a Rega Planar 1. According to the manual, the counterweight should be all the way to the front for best Stylus weight/performance. I reccently purchased a 3mm (1/8inch) cork slipmat which is thicker than the slipmat that came with the table, puting the records in a higher position. The records sound good but I am worry if too much pressure being applied on them since they are now in a taller position. Should I adjust the counterweight or doesnt make a difference? (The counterweight is the only thing adjustable on that table)

[@DJFixNYC]

Might be best to dial in the counterweight according to the specs for your stylus. The taller mat will change the angle your stylus is hitting the record, but you should not need to change the weight, as the cartridge weight remains the same regardless of the height of your mat.

[@roberte.andrews4621]

Normally, the tone arm pressure is the same as the anti-skating force. On my Technics SL-1401 with Ortofon cartridge, tone arm weight is specified to 1.8 grams, so the anti-skating force dial must be set at 1.8 grams, too. Stylus pressure is not a set-by-ear operation. It is specified by the manufacturer of the cartridge. If it isn't correct, bad things will happen to sound quality and record or cartridge life. This is true of anti-skating, too. It is not an option, just because you don't understand the principle of it. I've had 80 years of experience with phonograph use. I'm not making this up.

[@andrewmishalove5106]

hi thanks for sharing. great video helping with overall setup. i am still a bit murky with where to put anti-skating dial. looks like you left it at zero. assuming everything else is according to your guidance, should I still leave this at zero?

[@roberte.andrews4621]

No.

[@SocialGore]

My tonearm assembly base moves a tiny bit if I push it, while the height adjustment lock is off. Is that normal?

[@tesla1961]

yes.

[@Prasen1729]

My Technics SL 1200 MK2 when I adjust the weight, it doesn't move up or down, any issue ? like the head of the arm is always above the rear. It doesn't balance. Thanks

[@mblp]

Ortofon Concordes are not going anywhere. They just released a new line

[@mrhobs]

I think my azimuth is off, but I don’t think it’s easily adjustable on my Technics SL-235... but maybe the whole tone arm can be twisted? The cartridge cannot be tilted on the “roll axis,” as far as I know. Hmm

[@fabers92]

Never understood the height adjustment to 'parallel'- by definition with stylus in groove the tone arm won't be horizontal, surely?

[@tonycolbourne7694]

Once the arm is perfectly level the stylus will sit perfectly upright. Unlevel arm will cause stylus to sit forwards or backwards and become a plough. Upright stylus travels groove and balances the sound picked up from groove. You can hear it. Also, antiskate needs to be set up so that the stylus exits onto the record exit grooves very slowly. Setting antiskate on a blank record without grooves ignores the force of the groove on the stylus so wont be accurate. Slow exit is the way. You can then tweak the antiskate a fraction for different vinyl. Finally, Technics manual provides a table for tone arm adjuster. For eg, nagaoka mp 110 is 18 mm so the arm adjustment should be set at 3. Once you know that info about your cartridge height set the adjuster and then level the VTA using the screw on the tonearm. Clockwise turn reduces height between stylus and record, anti clockwise increases height. Tweak till perfectly level at both ends of tone arm.

[@Hardbody94]

my 1210 mk2 tone arm's height doesn't really go too high

[@danunger7243]

This video actually skips the most difficult part of installing a new cartridge: properly aligning the cartridge. Most head shells, including the one in the video, allow the cartridge to be moved back and forth quite a bit and even allow a little side to side play. Without addressing this primary aspect of cartridge installation, you'll end up with awful results. The first thing you do is properly mount the cartridge in the head shell and align it. THEN you can move on to balancing the tonearm and everything else this video talks about - all of which is really super simple compared to the crucial, missing step of alignment.

[@timallnutt5011]

I concur, what is the overhang of an M44? he overlooked this. No mention of azimuth adjustment either.

[@Dolan1492]

Yeah, the video is about setting up a 1200 tho. Not "setting up a cartridge."

[@Lasse3]

Most people who believe they are aligning their carts, are simply using an 'universal protractor' with two null points. This is grossly incorrect, the null points will always be specific to a set of parameters, eg your pivot to spindle distance, effective tonearm lenght' and overhang. You need a protractor specifically calculated from your individual turntables parameters. Even if you align your cart to a random protractors two null points, you will produce a completely random arc with obscure tracking angle error.

[@MrAlmat-mh9di]

Hello. How many grams should I put on the Technics EPC-U35 cartridge?

[@Thevoiceofreason84]

3.5

[@tylon2999]

If you use a dj cartridge you can leave the anti-skating at zero otherwise you follow the recommendation of the cartridge manufacture. Also I assume everyone knows you can only back cue and scratch on a dj cartridge.

[@basehead617]

i generally have to max tracking force all the way to make it so scratching doesn’t make it jump off

[@mblp]

bh617 what cartridge are you using? Should not be a problem, if properly set up. I use a Shure M44G at 1.5g, and that stylus is like glued to the record.

[@basehead617]

Ortofon Concorde / Night Club

[@mblp]

@@basehead617 Your weight should be at maximum 3 grams, but I would not recommend the club for scratching. The stylus is elliptic and will wear out your records fast. Take a look at Mojaxx`s video on the new Ortofon line. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ooKkqqunlNSfetU I'm a Shure guy myself, but unfortunately they have been discontinued.

[@wreignone]

Its funny how people say modern day turntable. As if a modern day tur table is some how going to ever be built as good. Dreaming. Technics1200s are the next bitcoin with goods. Think of them like rolex with watches. No plastic crap. Really well build tanks! They literally comewith a free lifetime warranty. Cos u know if u take care of them, theyll take care of you forever.

[@5andme851]

I just bought an old 1200 and have very little sound

[@larslengberg]

Connected to a phono pre-amplifier with RIAA equalisation?

[@arisg9857]

Hi, very interesting video, but I wanted to ask you if the Technics sl-1200MK3 turntable has already built in preamp, as I tried to connect the behringer pp400 to my Sony receiver (into cd input) but hasn't improved the sound at all! Thank you!

[@zukispur5493]

As a work horse the AUDIO TECHNICA AT LP 1240 batters the tec 12s. Don't believe me? Try a pair then. For home use the Garrard 401 (SME arm) does it for me.

[@electroscope943]

At 5' you say to put on a flat surface, but man, this must be the first step, before everything else! No demonstration of the anti skating!

[@166megaherzen]

Naaaah, not 2-3g "in general" - tracking force depends on the specific cartridge/needle used

[@Dolan1492]

yes. He says that, but slightly differently. 2:53

[@Economist96]

Needle? Like a nail? Try STYLUS.

[@blowgoats666]

Useless.

[@urwholefamilydied]

I wouldn't dismiss the anti-skate as an after-though that doesn't really matter. The way a lot of guys adjust it is with a record that is blank on one side (or if you have a glass platter that should work... make sure it's clean). When set at "zero" you really do see the are move in towards the spindle very quickly. What you want to do is set it so when you drop the arm it stays perfectly in place. I would be bothered knowing every record I play, the inside of the groove is getting more wear and tear (and possibly louder) than the outside groove. Even if it's minimal. [Side note: why the arm goes IN towards the spindle is weird to me, you would think it would fling the arm out, like kids on that playground disc thing that you can spin faster and faster and everyone gets thrown off. Weird]