VTF on Pro-Ject Decks

Setting up a Pro-Ject turntable is relatively straighforward and the instructions reasonably clear and obvious, except for in one area.  That is setting the downforce on the cartridge, also known as Vertical Tracking Force or VTF. 

Its actually quite straightforward, its just that the instructions aren't very clear.  Because its an area where people sometime have problems, we've put together our own set of instructions to replace the ones that come with the turntables.  These instructions need to be caried out with the small string and weight anti skate weight off:

1. Make sure the stylus guard is on if you have detachable one like on an Ortofon OM or down if its built in like on an Ortofon 510 (You'll do this again with it off if yours is detachable, but first a practice run with it on)
2. With the arm in its cradle, lower the lifting arm
3. Hold the arm at the headshell and and lift it out of the cradle.
4. Take the counterweight (Barrel shaped item with a hole in it, and a dial with numbers on the front, about the size of a stack of 2 pence pieces) and screw it onto the end stub, dial to the front - twisting the weight one way or the other will adjust its postion back or forward on the end stub.
5. Adjust its position on the end stub until the arm floats freely in the air. Think of it as a see saw, you are trying to get it to the point where both ends balance.  The position will be just back a bit from the point where the arm ceases to be tail heavy and becomes nose heavy.
6. Once you have it floating the arm is effectively set to a down force of zero. Now you need to calibrate the dial on the front of the counterweight. You will notice that the dial rotates separately from the weight itself. Gently hold the weight so that it doesn't move back or forth on the end stub and rotate the dial only so that it reads zero along the top of the arm.
7. Okay now the arm is balanced at zero and the counterweight reads zero. All that needs to be done is to dial in the correct down force. Twist the whole weight (don't touch the dial - it'll move with the weight), so that it moves forward on the end stub, until the dial reads the correct recommmended weight for the cartridge (if you are unsure what it is, just get in touch).  The dial is in microNewtons (mN), and recommended weight are usually in grams, however on this planet 1g =10mN so its pretty easy ie. 17.5mN = 1.75g, which is the recommended VTF for an Ortofon OM5e as found on the Pro-Ject Debut. 
8. That's it. Its now set to 1.75g (17.5mN)
9. Do it again with the stylus guard off, being extra careful not to damage the stylus.

We hope this helps, but if you need some more help, please call or email us