How to properly set up a turntable

mglik

... have a SmartTractor and know there are YouTubes but feel ignorant and insecure. What do I need to do. When all properly set up will I notice a change?

It’s impossible to say if you’ll notice a change with a more precise cartridge alignment because there’s no way to know whether your cartridge is setup satisfactorily now, or not. The SmartTractor is a good tool, and YouTube videos can be very helpful. As others here will probably tell you, it’s worth the time to learn how to do this yourself. It isn’t rocket science; it does require proper tools, skills (mostly dexterity) and patience.

The only difficulty with the SmartTracker (I own one) is the requirement to find the precise location of the bearing; on some arms it is not that easy to do.  After you do that, and after locking the platter so it doesn't move (painter's tape or a wedge between the platter and plinth), the one point alignment makes it easy to do correctly.  It is expensive, but it works well if you need a universal tool. 

If you only need a tool that works for your particular table and tonearm, a Mint alignment tool really works well too, and is MUCH cheaper.

How to properly set up a turntable is on the one hand open-ended to infinity and is never done. Or on the other hand you align the cartridge, set the tracking force, and done. Congratulations, you are done! 

How much more you do depends on how much you enjoy and get out of it. Also has a lot to do with your arm and phono stage. The three things that will make the most difference are loading, VTF, and VTA.

Tracking force you already set. But this is the one thing its always easy to adjust on all arms so if you want to experiment and see what you can hear this is the place to start. Staying within the recommended range try going a little higher or lower. See if you hear a difference and if you do, which you like better. Whichever one you like better is the one to use. 

Loading is another story. Cartridge loading makes the biggest easiest to hear difference. But depending on your phono stage can be as easy as flipping a switch or as hard as going inside to change resistors. So do VTA first.

Vertical Tracking Angle, also sometimes called SRA Stylus Rake Angle, is involves raising or lowering the tone arm at the base. Some arms its super easy, others next to impossible. If your arm has VTA on the fly you will be able to tweak VTA to perfection. Otherwise if the arm/cartridge is parallel to the record in the groove you are done. 

The main thing to get from all this is you are done when you are happy. And any time you are not happy come back and work on these some more. As good as it is now its amazing how usually things can be made even better just by making a microscopically fine adjustment or two. Almost always these can be done as well or better by ear than anything else. 

The most noticeable differences for me came from calibrating the left- and right-channel phase using software. Previously muddy stereo records immediately became a lot clearer.

millercarbon

... The three things that will make the most difference are loading, VTF, and VTA ...

That’s debatable. Horizontal tracking angle is very critical, and requires a more precise setting than VTF.

Vertical Tracking Angle, also sometimes called SRA Stylus Rake Angle ...

No, VTA and SRA are related, but are two very different things and represent two different angles. VTA today is typically around 20 degrees; SRA about 92 degrees. Both are adjusted by changing the height of the pickup arm - so when you change one, you’re changing the other.