Turntable set up- How easy is it

My advice is to have a competent professional perform the initial setup. Learn how to do it. Future adjustments can then be done by you. It is critical that your TT is set up properly so that you can enjoy the full benefits of vinyl.

If you don't have steady nerves, patience, a good idea of what you are doing and some small needle nose pliers, things can go really bad.

I tried to swap a cartridge (I did many times before) and broke a pin off a lead. These wires are SO SMALL that it is next to impossible for the novice to repair. I could not find ANYONE, including THE MANUFACTURER (!) to fix it (putz).

I ended up trading the whole thing for a new 'table.

Depends on the turntable you are purchasing.

If you are buying a dj oriented turntable, it has a universal headshell, so installing a cartridge should not be a big deal. The adjustments are also pretty straightforward.

Any of the entry level audiophile tables from Pro-ject or Rega or Music Hall usually come with an installed cartridge and are factory adjusted.

It is when you start cartridge swapping or dealing with more intricate arms and cartridges, that having the dealer do the adjustment is worth it.

Rich

I own a VPI Classic (first generation plinth) 2.7 (hot-rodded). First couple of times, a little scary. Now I can set it up in my sleep.

That said, if you read through some of the vinyl threads, we have some OCD members who, IMO, are a bit over the top with set-up LP-neurosis. I just get it as close as I can and I'm off to the races.

It really depends on the table. I've done it myself and I think it came out OK, but I would always prefer to have a real artist do it - if you can find one. Not every dealer can necessarily do it better than you can. Therein lies the problem.