some comments on Debut II set-up

[admin_exported]

Hi all -

This post is probably going to be of most interest to owners of the Pro-ject Debut II TT, but I'd like those with experience and knowledge of TTs to comment wherever they can. I've owned mine for a few years now and have enjoyed it a lot. They are sold as ready to play straight out of the box. Which is a bonus.

I have an old hi-fi test record released by the BBC and it has a pretty interesting feature - a smooth centre band track positioned halfway through one side of the LP. The idea is that you place the TT's needle down in the centre of the blank band - from this it is possible to tell if the stylus is tracking well. For instance, the arm will swing one way or the other if the arm is not weighted properly. Pulling towards the outside of the blank track means you will be hearing more of the left hand groove, and pull to the centre more of the right.

It's a quick and easy way to suss out if the TT is set-up well. It doesn't tell you everything, of course - but it's a cool first check.

Now, and as you may know, the Debut has a small swinging counterweight at the rear of the arm. It's a small piece of metal dangling from a short length of fishing line, basically.

When I first tested my Debut, and after leveling plinth with a spirit level, the arm didn't stay in the middle of the test LP's blank band but moved towards the centre. I was a bit miffed because the instructions said it was ready to go when it clearly wasn't. Aside from the effect this tracking tendency will have on the left / right balance of sound, there's the added worry of uneven wear on albums - i.e. the right side of the groove wearing more quickly than the left. So - it was an issue I wanted to address.

It occurred to me that I could add a little more weight to the existing metal with some Blue Tac - which I promptly did. Perhaps about a gram. Sure enough the stylus then sat very happily in the centre groove. Success.

I do periodically check the tracking of the Debut though, and last week I got the BBC LP out and placed the needle in the centre of the blank band. The arm began to swing into the centre of the record. Hmmm. Time for an adjustment. I halved the lump of Blu Tac on the counterweight - which slowed the swing of the arm to the centre but didn't halt it. So I talk the whole piece off. Success - the needle sat on the blank band and didn't move.

This raises lots of questions. Nothing else had changed - the position of the TT was the same. Nor had it had that much use between checks - perhaps about 20 hours. The time frame was between 6 and 12 months. I don't really know what to make of it. I'm not stressed by it in any way - but am certainly a little curious.

 

[gregory]

General rule is to set bias the same as the tracking weight but that flies out the window when the likes of Rega who's bias is a little strong, i don't use any on my P2, there is also some manufacturer's who do away with bias altogether cant remember who they are but an high end maker. There is also temperatures to take into consideration a few degrees either way can make a subtle difference so a test track that seems perfect one day can be out a few days later. I generally check by ear and if it sounds right to me then it is. I play records for six month's then check everything is ok then settle down to enjoy my music for another six month's. Happy listening all.

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah - maybe it was a temperature thing. Seems like a pretty dramatic difference mind you.

On another point, I'm not sure how to change the bias. Or should I say, it seems the only thing I can change is the tracking weight.

 

[Tear Drop]

gregory:there is also some manufacturer's who do away with bias altogether cant remember who they are but an high end maker

VPI if I'm not mistaken

 

[gregory]

To change the bias simply hook the wire onto the next notch, so starting from the back would be zero one notch up 1gm and so on up to 3 gms i believe on project TT's.

 

[Anonymous]

Right - thanks Gregory. So how do you alter the tracking weight? Am I right in thinking that, strictly speaking, it can;t be done with the Debut II? Not unless it's done in a DIY way, such as I did with blu-tac?

 

[gregory]

To set tracking weight turn the counter weight at the back of the arm until it's floating about 1mm with a record on the platter, this will stop any damage to the stylus if it were to catch on the felt mat. When you have dialed that in set the numbered dial to zero then increase the weight to the desired tracking weight of the cartridge, i.e 1.75 gms. 2gms would be good, to little weight can cause mistracking which is worse than to much weight then set the bias to the same amount. The bias can be set by ear so if there is to much on the left channel increase the bias, if to much on the right decrease until you get both channels as equal as possible.

 

[The_Lhc]

gregory:To set tracking weight turn the counter weight at the back of the arm until it's floating about 1mm with a record on the platter, this will stop any damage to the stylus if it were to catch on the felt mat. When you have dialed that in set the numbered dial to zero then increase the weight to the desired tracking weight of the cartridge, i.e 1.75 gms. 2gms would be good, to little weight can cause mistracking which is worse than to much weight then set the bias to the same amount. The bias can be set by ear so if there is to much on the left channel increase the bias, if to much on the right decrease until you get both channels as equal as possible.

The Debut II has a fixed counter weight and there is no numbered dial to turn...

 

[gregory]

Did not know that, seems a shame as your limited to the factory fitted cartridge i suppose.