Arm does not track properly but skips across records

sounds like missing weight or needs adjustment

Once adjusted to the correct weight for the type of cartridge then the arm should only jump on a bad record. If it keeps on jumping then either there is something wrong with the platter, being warped or a bad matt. Or there is something in the mechanism that is causing the jumps. Either of these two causes is possible if it does it in the same position on two different records.

The link for this model's manual is a dead-end at the Panasonic website. I lodged an email complaint.

If the tonearms balance and anti-skate are set properly it should track correctly.

When you lower the tonearm does it actuallu drop onto the platter or does it seem to hover? Look at the stylus to make sure a dustball hasn't clogged the tip.

Check the needle, if its not that then you can check the tracking, the relationship between downward weight on the needle and lateral movement across the record. you will need the manual for the instructions
It can be tricky so if you are not sure then consult a good hifi shop or tech.

Hope this helps
Thanks for using FixYa

Hi, most likely a worn stylus or the tracking weight is set too lightly. Adjust the balance weight at the back end of tonearm forward slightly. If no weight adjustment available put a very small coin on the end of tonearm above the stylus. [email protected]

If your needle skips across the record, then there is only 1 thing wrong with it... it's broken, and needs to be replaced.

If after you've replaced the stylus, and problem persists, then you have something a little more serious... Tonearm damage. More than likely not, but just in case replace the stylus does not help.

Good luck!


- OPTiC
Master Tech
Digital Analog Therapy
Technics Repair : Technics Turntable Parts

Since there are no tonearm adjustments the only solution in the manual that comes close is to make sure the turntable is level. The other possibility is the no-brainer of checking the stylus cover is NOT rotated down, preventing the stylus from contacting the record.

A quick and dirty test of tonearm balance being too light would be to unplug the power and manually move the tonearm over the platter. Gently lower it to see if it floats in the air or lightly but firmly contacts the platter. That won't tell you if it is tracking properly but it might indicate or eliminate tracking force as the culprit.

Please describe the exact model number and what it's doing wrong (skipping, I suspect). The tonearm setup is critical for proper tracking. Do it again with extreme care if mistracking is your problem.

I found one model online and a review with some sample of music. Quite interesting...

http://www.everythingusb.com/ion_ttusb10_usb_turntable_13231.html

The author complained about some things that clearly mark him as a stranger to finer turntables. Complaining about having to assemble and position the 'rubber band', aka the drivebelt, and the tonearm counterweight shows that he underestimates the precision required to for a mechanism to properly track the microscopic undulations of the groove without skipping into the air or gouging it to death.

Some basics when recording from a turntable...
1) Place the turntable as far from speakers as possible on a solid surface that you will not touch during the recording
2) Keep the volume low enough that airborne sounds don't cause mistracking of the stylus *
3) Avoid anything that will cause vibration or movement of the turntable.
* If you have a subwoofer, turn it off.

Some advice after reading the articel: don't try to save recording time by playing the discs at 45rpm. The best tracking of the disc and recording of the minute details in the grooves will be at the nativespeed of the recording. Digital manipulation later only gloms up the accuracy you probably want.

In general, the fewer the conversions steps in the analog domain, the better; and the fewer the bit rate conversions in the digital domain, the better.

The tonearm lift is no longer level as it should be and the arm is sliding along it under gravity as the arm lowers to the record. Has it received a knock?

Have a close look to see whether it has been tilted slightly. That would be enough to give the problem.

A new stylus should not change the tone arm balance setting if it is the correct stylus.

Does your arm have a sliding balance weight at the rear of the arm? If so you can slide this slightly towards the cartridge to regain the correct playing weight.

I would suggest you get a repair shop to do this for you, or you could finish up damaging your records.