A turntable is a mechanical source, so setup matters. The cartridge has to track a groove only fractions of a millimetre wide while being isolated from vibration in the room.
1. Put the turntable on a stable, level surface
Start with a rigid piece of furniture that does not wobble when you walk past it. Use a small spirit level across the platter and adjust the turntable feet if the model allows it.
2. Fit the platter and belt
For a belt-drive model, fit the platter and route the belt as instructed. Direct-drive decks do not use an external drive belt. Our turntable range includes both approaches.
3. Balance the tonearm
With the stylus guard fitted, set anti-skate to zero and adjust the counterweight until the tonearm floats level. Then set the tracking-force scale to zero without moving the counterweight itself.
4. Set tracking force
Rotate the counterweight to the force recommended by the cartridge manufacturer. Typical moving-magnet cartridges often track somewhere around 1.5–2.5 g, but use the actual specification for your cartridge.
5. Set anti-skate
Anti-skate counters the inward force on the tonearm as a record plays. A sensible starting point is the same numerical value as the tracking force, unless the turntable manufacturer specifies a different method.
6. Check cartridge alignment
If the cartridge was not factory aligned—or if you replace it—use a suitable alignment protractor. Correct alignment reduces tracing distortion, especially towards the inner grooves of a record.
7. Connect the phono stage
A turntable cartridge produces a much lower signal than a normal line-level source. Connect it to a dedicated phono input or an external phono stage. Do not plug a conventional cartridge directly into a standard AUX input unless the turntable has a built-in phono preamplifier.
8. Keep the stylus clean
Dust on the stylus can increase distortion and accelerate wear. Use an appropriate stylus brush, moving from back to front, and keep records reasonably clean before playback.
Once those basics are correct, a turntable such as the T2 should need only occasional checks rather than constant adjustment.