# Getting Technics. What to know? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [February 20, 2015, 3:06pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/getting-technics-what-to-know/70283 "2015-02-20T15:06:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![system](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/system/32/11_2.png) [@system](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 3:06pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/getting-technics-what-to-know/70283/1 "2015-02-20T15:06:11Z")
**Getting Technics. What to know?** Finally trading my CDJ 850s for a pair of Technics MK5s tomorrow. The tt’s are in excellent condition (or so the seller says) and have just been serviced. I’ve never messed with vinyl before. Honestly, I don’t know how the hell to set up/use a turntable. What are some key bits of information I should know? ---
**Author:** ![Deejaesnafu](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/deejaesnafu/32/12358_2.png) [@Deejaesnafu](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/Deejaesnafu)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 3:18pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/getting-technics-what-to-know/70283/2 "2015-02-20T15:18:08Z")
make sure you set up your needles correctly for starters or youll ruin vinyls. other than that…have fun! ---
**Author:** ![Kwal](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/kwal/32/14606_2.png) [@Kwal](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/Kwal)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 3:31pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/getting-technics-what-to-know/70283/3 "2015-02-20T15:31:49Z")
> [@Deejaesnafu](#): > > make sure you set up your needles correctly for starters or youll ruin vinyls. other than that…have fun! Lol there we go scare him right off the bat 👍 ---
**Author:** ![system](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/system/32/11_2.png) [@system](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 3:37pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/getting-technics-what-to-know/70283/4 "2015-02-20T15:37:47Z")
> [@Kwal](#): > > Lol there we go scare him right off the bat 👍 Lol my girl bought me a ton of vinyl for my bday and said, “don’t mess those up, ok?” I’m like, “what do you mean?!” I’ll be careful. ---
**Author:** ![SirReal](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/sirreal/32/15235_2.png) [@SirReal](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/SirReal)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 4:55pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/getting-technics-what-to-know/70283/5 "2015-02-20T16:55:50Z")
Somebody on this forum pointed me to this guy years ago. He’s got some great vids on maintaining your turntables. [![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/uploads/techtools/original/3X/6/7/67450f234b4a6ce3601feb5bc124faec4abf4d2e.jpeg "adjusting the weight on a turntables tone-arm") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynIDWgo2lpo) ---
**Author:** ![system](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/system/32/11_2.png) [@system](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 6:02pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/getting-technics-what-to-know/70283/6 "2015-02-20T18:02:57Z")
> [@SirReal](#): > > Somebody on this forum pointed me to this guy years ago. He’s got some great vids on maintaining your turntables. Great stuff. Thanks man. ---
**Author:** ![SirReal](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/sirreal/32/15235_2.png) [@SirReal](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/SirReal)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 6:21pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/getting-technics-what-to-know/70283/7 "2015-02-20T18:21:38Z")
👍 ---
**Author:** ![ImNotDedYet](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/imnotdedyet/32/13269_2.png) [@ImNotDedYet](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/ImNotDedYet)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 6:28pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/getting-technics-what-to-know/70283/8 "2015-02-20T18:28:25Z")
You can always buy needles/cartridges pre-mounted on headshells. It’s more expensive, but I’m lazy. Watch this video: [![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/uploads/techtools/original/3X/b/1/b1dcd34d1a71fc2b11ad1cd3a45414bba0e764cb.jpeg "dj tutor advise, Buying a second hand dj turntable") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHhJlTmcgqs) Make sure your counterweight is properly setup for your cartridge once you have it, and ensure the skate levels are set properly. (videos to set these out there in mass on youtube) Have fun! ---
**Author:** ![myndgruv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@myndgruv](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/myndgruv)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 6:33pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/getting-technics-what-to-know/70283/9 "2015-02-20T18:33:03Z")
See if you can find someone to ground them internally. Make sure the RCAs are still in good condition as well. I upgraded my RCAs and did the ground mod 2 years ago and never looked back! ---
**Author:** ![Deejaesnafu](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/deejaesnafu/32/12358_2.png) [@Deejaesnafu](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/Deejaesnafu)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 7:40pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/getting-technics-what-to-know/70283/10 "2015-02-20T19:40:20Z")
yah the one huge design flaw of techs is that they never made an external connection bay, rather than housing the connections in the turntable.. still the best ever tho so ---
**Author:** ![cyberninjitsu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d9b06d/32.png) [@cyberninjitsu](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/cyberninjitsu)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 9:22pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/getting-technics-what-to-know/70283/11 "2015-02-20T21:22:23Z")
Speaking from experience: 1. Make sure there is sound coming out of both channels of the turntable. Use needles and an actual vinyl to test or use a voltmeter on the tonearm prongs & RCA’s. 2. Make sure the antiskate is properly calibrated (Check youtube), and make sure there’s no rattle in the tonearm. 3. Check the bearings on the tonearm to see if they’ve been altered or messed with. 4. Check the pitch by watching the dots and making sure there’s no stutters in the dots. 5. Almost in line with one: make sure the prongs on the inside of the tonearm are nice and clean and free from oxidation. 6. Make sure the tonearm isn’t bent. Those are all the huge ones. Don’t want to make the swap only to find out you need to drop another $200 on a tonearm assembly. ---
**Author:** ![Deejaesnafu](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/deejaesnafu/32/12358_2.png) [@Deejaesnafu](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/Deejaesnafu)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 9:56pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/getting-technics-what-to-know/70283/12 "2015-02-20T21:56:14Z")
# 5 isnt an issue as oxidized contacts can easily be fixed. just use an eraser or steel wool. ---
**Author:** ![cyberninjitsu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d9b06d/32.png) [@cyberninjitsu](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/cyberninjitsu)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 9:59pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/getting-technics-what-to-know/70283/13 "2015-02-20T21:59:00Z")
> [@Deejaesnafu](#): > > # 5 isnt an issue as oxidized contacts can easily be fixed. just use an eraser. Speaking from experience I once purchased a table with the pins so badly blackened and destroyed that I had to replace the tonearm. No amount of contact cleaner, rubbing alcohol, polisher, or erasers could get rid of the black that covered the prongs. All it takes is a second to look in and see what you’re working with. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/system/32/11_2.png) [@system](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 12:12am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/getting-technics-what-to-know/70283/14 "2015-02-21T00:12:35Z")
> [@cyberninjitsu](#): > > Speaking from experience: > > 1. Make sure there is sound coming out of both channels of the turntable. Use needles and an actual vinyl to test or use a voltmeter on the tonearm prongs & RCA’s. > 2. Make sure the antiskate is properly calibrated (Check youtube), and make sure there’s no rattle in the tonearm. > 3. Check the bearings on the tonearm to see if they’ve been altered or messed with. > 4. Check the pitch by watching the dots and making sure there’s no stutters in the dots. > 5. Almost in line with one: make sure the prongs on the inside of the tonearm are nice and clean and free from oxidation. > 6. Make sure the tonearm isn’t bent. > > Those are all the huge ones. Don’t want to make the swap only to find out you need to drop another $200 on a tonearm assembly. Boom! This is what I was looking for.