Quick answer
Setting up a turntable takes about half an hour. Put it on a solid, level surface, fit the platter and belt, balance the tonearm, set the tracking force and anti skate, then connect it to your amplifier through a phono input or a phono pre amplifier. Add the ground wire to stop hum, and you are ready to play.
Prefer to watch? Our video walks through it: Watch the turntable setup video on YouTube.
What you will need
Your turntable and cartridge
An amplifier or powered speakers
A phono stage, either built into the turntable, built into the amplifier, or a separate phono pre amplifier
An RCA cable (often supplied)
A small level, or a levelling app on a phone
A stylus force gauge or a small digital scale, if your turntable does not have a calibrated dial
Why a phono stage matters
The signal from a turntable is very small and is shaped in a special way when the record is cut. A phono stage boosts it and corrects it. Without one, the sound will be quiet and thin. Check whether your turntable or amplifier already has one built in. If neither does, you need a separate phono pre amplifier. Hegel and Fosi Audio both offer phono pre amplifiers, including the Fosi Audio BOX X5.
Step by step
1. Choose the spot. Use a solid, level shelf or table. Avoid placing the turntable on the same surface as large speakers, because vibration can feed back into the stylus and cause a rumble or boom.
2. Unpack carefully. Remove all transit protection, including any screws, clamps or the stylus guard. Keep the packaging for later.
3. Fit the platter and belt. On belt driven turntables, place the platter on its spindle and loop the belt around the motor pulley as shown in the manual. Direct drive models skip the belt.
4. Level the turntable. Use the adjustable feet until the plinth is level in both directions. A turntable that is not level can cause the arm to drift or the stylus to track unevenly.
5. Balance the tonearm. With the tracking force set to zero, adjust the counterweight until the arm floats level on its own. Then turn the tracking force dial to zero without moving the counterweight.
6. Set the tracking force. Turn the counterweight, or the dial on the weight, to the force your cartridge manufacturer recommends. It is usually printed in the manual and expressed in grams. Check it with a gauge if you have one.
7. Set anti skate. Anti skate stops the arm being pulled toward the centre of the record. A good starting point is to set it to match the tracking force, then adjust by ear.
8. Connect the cables. Plug the RCA cable into the phono stage, then run it to an amplifier input. If your amplifier has a dedicated phono input, use that, and make sure the amplifier's phono stage matches your cartridge type. If you are using a separate phono pre amplifier, connect it to a normal line input on the amplifier.
9. Connect the ground wire. The thin separate wire from the turntable goes to the ground terminal on the phono stage or amplifier. It is the most common fix for a humming sound.
10. Check the speed and play. Select 33 or 45 rpm, lower the stylus gently and listen. If the first thing you hear is quiet crackle and then music, you are set.
Common first problems
Problem | Likely cause | What to try |
Humming or buzzing | Missing or loose ground wire | Connect the ground wire firmly |
No sound | Wrong input, or phono stage missing | Check the input and the phono connection |
Very quiet, thin sound | Plugged into a normal input without a phono stage | Add or switch on a phono stage |
Skipping | Tracking force or level is wrong | Re level the turntable and recheck force |
Rumble or boom | Vibration from speakers or shelf | Move the turntable or use a more solid surface |
Music sounds too slow or fast | Wrong speed or loose belt | Check speed setting and belt position |
Looking after your records and stylus
Keep records clean and in sleeves. Brush off dust before playing, and lower the stylus gently. Replace the stylus when it is worn, because a worn stylus can damage records.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a separate phono pre amplifier? Only if neither your turntable nor your amplifier has a phono stage built in.
What tracking force should I use? Use the range recommended for your cartridge. It is printed in the manual.
Why does my turntable hum? Most often, a missing or loose ground wire. Other causes include a nearby power cable or a faulty connection.
Can I connect a turntable to powered speakers? Yes, if the turntable has a built in phono stage or you add a separate one, and the speakers have a suitable input.
How often should I replace the stylus? It depends on the stylus type and how often you play records. Check the manufacturer's guidance.
Need help choosing a phono stage?
Talk to the PRO FX team and we will match a phono pre amplifier to your turntable, amplifier and budget.