The Technics 1200 is a direct-drive turntable introduced in 1972. It quickly became a hugely popular record player among club and radio disc jockeys for its reputation as a reliable, high-fidelity audio component. Tracking accuracy is a hallmark of the Technics 1200, but the tonearm must be properly balanced to maximize the turntable's accuracy and to reduce wear on vinyl records. Too much weight and the tonearm will bear down on your vinyl; too little, and the tonearm will dance around on your records, causing scratches. Follow these strategies to balance the tonearm.
Cartridge and Stylus Adjustments on Tonearm
Balancing the Technics 1200 tonearm is a factor of cartridge weight. The cartridge is mounted on the front of the tonearm and holds the stylus (record needle) that tracks LPs. Cartridges come in different weights and with different performance characteristics, so it is worth checking the instruction manual that came with your cartridge or looking it up online to find out how many grams it weighs.
Cartridge-alignment tools to help you calibrate the stylus for optimal tracking are available at high-end electronics retailers and through online dealers. Align the cartridge so that the stylus is a precisely perpendicular as possible to the record surface, then proceed to Section 2.
Direct Drive and the Tonearm
The Technics 1200 uses a direct-drive operation, in which the motor is connected directly to the platter spindle. This dramatically improves the tracking quality in records while reducing wow and flutter--fluctuations in the rotation of the platter that negatively impact sound quality. Moving the tonearm into position over a record starts the direct-drive motor automatically unless you change the speed setting.
To balance the tonearm, you'll need to disengage the direct drive. There is a toggle switch on the 1200 for setting the platter speed to play 33 1/3 RPM records or 45s with a middle setting to disengage the direct-drive motor. Set the toggle switch to the middle position so the platter will not rotate while you are adjusting the tonearm.
Adjusting the Tonearm Weight Knob
Move the tonearm over the platter as though you are going to play a record, but hold the tonearm with your fingers using the handle over the cartridge. If you look to the back of the tonearm, you'll see a round knob with gradation markings and numbers around the circumference. This is the gram-weight adjustment knob. Behind it is a counterweight knob. Adjust the counterweight knob by turning clockwise until the tonearm is parallel to the surface of the turntable platter and floats above it when your release your hand.
Next, dial in the weight of your cartridge in grams on the weight-adjustment knob, then check to make sure the tonearm is still parallel to the platter. This weight, in grams, is the amount of force your stylus will exert on your records. To finish the job, adjust the anti-skate knob next to the tonearm on the top surface of the record player. Set the anti-skate to the same number as the gram weight to prevent the tonearm from sliding across the record surface during playback. However, if you use the turntable for a lot of "scratching" and "back-cue" of records, set the anit-skate to zero.
Tags: Technics 1200, 1200 tonearm, balance tonearm, counterweight knob, direct-drive motor, record player, record surface