Pioneer PL-555Z Turntable tonearm adjustment?

[caphair]

I had to replace a faulty wire preventing the right channel from working and the tone arm had to be removed.

I have limited knowledge with record players but am vaguely aware of tone arm balancing. I'm not sure if this screw is responsible for that so I counted the turns upon removal for reassembly but want to make sure I didn't mess anything up.
I couldn't find anything about this particular model in terms of tone arm balancing.


Anyone have an idea on this? It's a static balanced tone arm from what I could find online about this model.

[budm]

Re: Pioneer PL-555Z Turntable tonearm adjustment?

That is not it, that the tone arm gimbal/bearing assembly, do not touch that.
Need to see the pictures of the whole tone arm assembly.
Download user manual for it.

[caphair]

Re: Pioneer PL-555Z Turntable tonearm adjustment?

So those screws wouldn't mess anything up if removed? I had them out so I could slightly tip the tone arm to access a screw under the cartridge area

[budm]

Re: Pioneer PL-555Z Turntable tonearm adjustment?

If is set too tight then the onearm Vertical movement will not easily move.
The tracking force and the Anti-skate are factory set, it looks to be around 1.25 gm.

[caphair]

Re: Pioneer PL-555Z Turntable tonearm adjustment?

So the tracking force and anti-skate can't be adjusted?

Currently that onearm vertical movement screw is set one full turn loose from fully tight. Think that's good?

[rhomanski]

Re: Pioneer PL-555Z Turntable tonearm adjustment?

The way I've done it is to turn until I first start feeling a little more resistance then back it off a quarter turn. Then I check for extensive play in the bearing. If the arm doesn't twist in any direction it should be good. Now if it has a knife edge bearing that won't work.

It looks like a non adjustable table, even comes with a p4 cartridge. From a complete set, mid to late 1980's I guess. Uses 12 volts, um AC maybe? Does it use a wal-wart or plug into the amp?

[caphair]

Re: Pioneer PL-555Z Turntable tonearm adjustment?

The way I've done it is to turn until I first start feeling a little more resistance then back it off a quarter turn. Then I check for extensive play in the bearing. If the arm doesn't twist in any direction it should be good. Now if it has a knife edge bearing that won't work.

It looks like a non adjustable table, even comes with a p4 cartridge. From a complete set, mid to late 1980's I guess. Uses 12 volts, um AC maybe? Does it use a wal-wart or plug into the amp?

So the way I have it now the arm can twist left to right. I just tightened a little more till I felt resistance and backed off half a quarter turn and doesn't move anymore. If I go quarter turn from when I feel resistance it twists ever so slightly.


Friend gave it to me without its original receiver. I made a power supply for it with a stand alone preamp and use a Bluetooth transmitter. It was made for my gf who wanted a record player but loves her Bluetooth speaker lol

[rhomanski]

Re: Pioneer PL-555Z Turntable tonearm adjustment?

Wow, that's cool. If you ever want to upgrade I'll help the best I can. I'm into vintage, (read 1970's) gear. That was the pinnacle for vinyl to me.

[budm]

Re: Pioneer PL-555Z Turntable tonearm adjustment?

Very cool indeed. I would not worry about the tracking force or the anti-skate since you did not change the cartridge to some other kind with different weight.
I am a collector of stereo form 70's. Looking back now I wish I did not give away the TEAC (3) and Pioneer (2) reel to reel tape decks and all the 10" reel and the hubs, the spare belts, pinch roller and the replacement heads.

[caphair]

Re: Pioneer PL-555Z Turntable tonearm adjustment?

Thanks guys. It's interesting listening to vinyl. Definitely sounds different to me and the whole act of loading a vinyl to play feels more rewarding than simply pressing play for digital stuff.

I'm not sure if transmitting via Bluetooth makes it lose some sound quality but it's nothing I personally notice.

So the tone arm vertical play adjustment I made is ok?