Newbie With Pl-516 Pioneer Looking For Setup Advice

[claudy]

Just got into vintage stuff and have vintage Silver Pioneer amp, cass and tuner. I just received my Pioneer PL-516 turntable today. Realized, I have no idea to set up. Been reading for 3 hours with a lot of language that is not making complete sense. Would really like a video on how to set up a vintage turntable. The manual make it sound easy, but I read that there are a lot of cricial settings. I find videos for modern systems, but I really need to know how to properly set up a more vintage one. Any links would be appreciated.

[Alec124c41]

How many critical settings?
1 - Cartridge alignment, or overhang: the simplest is to have the stylus extend 15 mm past the center of the spindle. Do that, and refine that later with an alignment protractor (link at top).
2 - tracking force: adjust by turning the counterweight at rear of arm so that the arm balances, with the stylus just higher than the surface of the record. Without moving the counterweight, turn the dial on the front of it to 0 at the top. Now turn the entire counterweight so the dial reads the tracking force the cartridge needs, often 1.5 gm.
3 - Set the antiskate to match. This is less critical.

4 - Put a record on, clean it, and play it.

Cheers,
Alec

[LAB3]

I have the PL-518X used a digital caliper to set stylus tip at 49MM to washer(over hang I guess) ADC XLM II Improved
cartridge tracking is about 1.2 grams and same on anti skate. How can I tell if I have the cart is centered in the head shell? Is the stylus lined up correctly in the grooves on the LP??? This was my Pop's old TT and I have not touched it for 20 years
I have forgotten how to do all this. Re-learning at 61 ....sigh.

Thanks
Louis

[bonadurers]

F.Y.I. 49mm = 1.929"

Good luck and enjoy your new turntable.

Best regards,

Jeff

[rock_dude86]

Just tried this advice and my turntable is sounding sweet!! Haven't set it up since I got it out my Dad's loft I don't think - was sure it wasn't quite right but now it's great! Thanks for the simple and easy to follow advice for us novice's!!

[kelvinMunson]

I have the PL-518X used a digital caliper to set stylus tip at 49MM to washer(over hang I guess) ADC XLM II Improved
cartridge tracking is about 1.2 grams and same on anti skate. How can I tell if I have the cart is centered in the head shell? Is the stylus lined up correctly in the grooves on the LP??? This was my Pop's old TT and I have not touched it for 20 years
I have forgotten how to do all this. Re-learning at 61 ....sigh.

Thanks
Louis

You can check that it is aligned correctly using a cartridge alignment protractor,click on Tools at the top of this page.

http://www.vinylengine.com/cartridge-al ... tors.shtml

[LAB3]

Thanks I am tyring my luck with the Stevenson as I was told it matched up to my PL-518X with the "S" shaped tone arm. You sure have to be gentle with the head shell screws. Just when I had it Really close on both "Nul" points whenI would snug the screws the cart would move... grrr. Try again later need to step away from it today before I hit it with a hammer... j/k