New to Turntables

Ok, so it all arrived and I set it up....for the most part.  I followed the instructions but the balancing of the tone arm was utter fail.

According to the instructions, you screw on the weight, set the anti-skate to 0. adjust the weight until the tone arm balances. Then set the inner weight scale to the downforce weight required for your cartridge and set the anti-skate to the same.  I did this three times with the exact same results.

The tone arm was too light and the anti-skate would cause the tone arm to swing quickly off the record.

Eventually, I gave up and just set the weights and anti-skate based on what the tone arm was doing.  If it is too light, it will skip or loop on any slight imperfection.  I increased the weight and lowered the anti-skate until play-through was consistent.

There is a good chance I am increasing the wear on the needle and the record itself.

The sound quality was better than I expected. I can see why people are going back to vinyl.  It has a depth that isn't easy to achieve in the digital world, even at high bit rates and resolutions.

There were some issues of harshness in the mid-high frequencies, like electric guitar riffs, or mid-range male vocals. I have chalked it down to break-in as it got better after about 2 hours of playing.

This should help you on how to set up your turntable!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM-aIDwfrhc

@yogiboy

Thanks.  I had actually watched this video. Even he eventually states that the weight recommendations are usually off and he used a digital scale....which...I just ordered. :)  So, it is to be hoped that I will resolve this part of the issue.  I also got an album weight in case there is some warping of these old albums.

@guakus, I have a Denon DP-300f turntable with built-in preamp. I read on several sites that this preamp is more for convenience than performance, so I would think the phono section on your Yamaha would give better sound.

The cables on my turntable are built in, so don’t allow using other cables.  Also, the cables are just RCA-type.  The manual states that the ground is built into the RCA cables, so there is no ground cable to connect.  My house was built without grounded outlets, so it really wouldn’t matter if I had a separate ground (not ideal, I know).

My turntable came with a Denon cartridge — everyone says this cartridge is not that good.  I bought an Ortofon 2M red and it is clearly superior to the Denon cartridge.  Someone on this site suggested I check out Grado cartridges and I did — bought one for about what the 2M red costs and I like it too.  

Enjoy your new TT!

@bob540   

Thanks!  The DP-450 requires separate RCA and ground connection. I am using some old Audioquest Ruby X3s and I am using a single run of Audioquest Type-4 cable, with a crimped on spade as my ground cable. I also got the Ortofon 2M Red.

At present, both the cartridge and the phono stage have to break in.  The only issue is, I am unable to clean the old records to any point where the crackle and pop are gone.  On some albums, it's so bad that you can't really experience the music.

I am wondering if my mismanagement of the tonearm balancing might be adding to the issue.  I ordered a tonearm downforce scale which should arrive today.  So I will correct that issue.  Although I wonder what it will affect.