How to properly set up a turntable

Just set the HTA. Of concern is that I had to put the arm all the way down. Eyeball, it looks very close to parallel but if I could put it dow more I would. But the piano is now exactly in the center and the speakers completely disappeared. And this is a very old recording but it is much more enjoyable! Before this, I would want to take this recording off. Now I love it. Hey, thanks you guys!
I hope I didn’t damage the cartridge by the bad HTA? Also thinking more highly of the Curl phono board.

mglik

Will check YouTube, but I am going to first try to set the HTA. Think that is getting the arm (Ortophon 309) parallel.

Changing the height of the pickup arm adjusts VTA, not HTA.

HTA = horizontal tracking angle!  I've been in this hobby a long time but don't remember seeing this before.  Is it the same thing as azimuth?

mglik, a tip for setting your tonearm parallel to the LP surface.  That is assuming your arm has a cylindrical arm tube and not tapered.  If you are careful, lower the stylus onto a stationary LP about midway across the record.  Then with a 3x5 card with printed lines, place that behind the arm, as close to vertical as possible.  Lean down at eye level and you should see how close to parallel the top of the arm tube is to the next highest line on the card.  Remove the card and raise the arm, then adjust height as necessary.  Repeat visual check.  Just be very careful when placing the card behind the arm not to bump the arm, you could damage the cantilever or at the very least scratch the record (to be sure, use one you don't care about).