Setting up the Pro-Ject Debut III Turntable: Planet of Sound

[djmob007]

Thanks for the great video!

[WillT23]

thanks. this video helped a load. one key thing though that still left me confused was that when you place the weight on, you click it to the back and set it to zero. then after you''ve got it set up so the arm stays horizontal you HOLD the weight in place and scroll the front end of the weight to zero so the balanced point is the default position. this point took me ages to figure out.

[WillT23]

thanks. this video helped. one key thing though that this didn't explain was that when you place the weight on, you click it to the back and set it to zero, then after you''ve got it set up so the arm stays horizontal you HOLD the weight in place and scroll the front end of the weight to zero so the balanced point is the default position.

[craneywatch]

Thank you very much for that useful and at the same simple guide of setting that wonderful turntable up. Without this video, it would surely take long time to figure out how to make it properly.

[akselwestby]

Thanks, with your help I managed to set it up. Should have watched this right away instead of horsing around with the manual

[xxhennersxx]

I ordered one from work yesterday, and the manual wasn't very clear. thanks!

[damcava]

Thx, it was very helpfull

[MollyMcGorn]

Thank you SO MUCH! You saved my month of january and my honor.

[simon3102000]

it says in the manuel that the down force should be 17'5mn?? Is that the same as 1.8 grames? so is 10mn a 0.1 of a gram?

[planetofsoundhifi]

@simon3102000 Yes, 10nm is 0.1 of a gram. So it should read 17.5 on the dial. We just say 18 for ease. It can run anywhere from 1.75 to about 2 grams, the difference being less high frequency information at points above 1.75 grams.

[mglimabh]

Thank you.. help me a lot..

[figgyjam]

Thanks so much for the how to video!

[stegabilly]

With the pro-ject debut III, with the cartridge straight out of the box, I need a new anti skating weight, which do i need, and any ideas where I can find this? Cheers

[planetofsoundhifi]

@stegabilly anti-skate weights should be available from any Pro-Ject dealer.

[abenedictus]

Many thanks for this video. The Dutch user guide really sucks, but we managed to install our turntable with your video.

[talktoedwin]

Thank you so much for this video. After 1 hour trying to set the tonearm I finally found this video. The instruction manual is terribly confusing. Isn't 18 grams a bit too much for the cartridge? I think the recommended weight for the OM 5E is ~5 g if I'm not mistaken.

[planetofsoundhifi]

It's 1.8 grams, corresponding to 18 on the tonearm

[talktoedwin]

@planetofsoundhifi thanks for the reply, you are correct. tons of help (:

[IndieEsq]

I just wanted to thank you posting this! My turntable is now working perfectly based on the directions given here. I thought that I was a total dunce before watching this, now I know fur sure that I was.

[Bobzilla77]

@IndieEsq I was SO plesed to find this as well. I found the instructions slightly confusing but this 2 minute clip explained & demonstrated perfectly. many thanks to the uploader.

[hemingway36]

Thanks for this video. I plan on buying the project debut III in the near future. My only concern is the manual feature. I agree it should be manual, but will the stylus get damaged if I don't lift the tonearm in time once the record is completed. Also I assume that the connection cables are included. And one more question. Do I need to buy a clamp ? Forgive me if these are lame questions, I am just now getting into vinyl and have about a hundred more lame questions to ask. Thanks.

[planetofsoundhifi]

Unless you leave it running for days, the stylus gets no more wear than when playing the record. The cables are included and you don't need a clamp.

[screamedthemouth]

Hi there, is it exactly the same to set up the Esprit, in terms of the weights etc, as the Debut III? Thanks

[planetofsoundhifi]

yes

[leightonwalter]

Question: At the end of the video you say to connect the turntable to the "phono" connections on the amp, but the instructions that came with the turntable specifically say that it should be hooked up to the "aux" or other connection, not the "phono" ones. (Apparently the pre-amp in the turntable does what needs to be done.) Thoughts?

[planetofsoundhifi]

There is no built-in preamp in the Debut III so it goes into the Phono input. You may have the Debut III SB which has a phono preamp built-in.

[planetofsoundhifi]

@leightonwalter You own the Debut III SB, or USB which both have phono preamps built-in. Those tables go into the Aux input. The regular Debut III goes into the Phono input because it doesn't have a phono preamp built in.

[3VOpRoPhiiT]

FUCKING BEAUTIFUL

[Lam3]

If I combine this TT with the Marantz PM6003 amp and two Wharfedale Diamond 10.1s, I don't need to add any other component to get my vinyl on, right?

[planetofsoundhifi]

That is correct.

[hsp882]

thanks for this vid, very helpful

[julianpumo]

Firts of all, thanx for this video cause ProJect's instructions aren't very clear...

But I still have one question

- in the box i couldn't find any felt mat. since i've got a different platter (translucid, the turntable is black) do i still need it or am i already ok?

[planetofsoundhifi]

You have the Debut III Esprit or someone has upgraded the platter with the Acryl It. This platter doesn't need a mat, just put the record right on the acrylic. It sounds great and is a nice upgrade from the regular platter.

[julianpumo]

it's the Esprit, shame on me...

but there's another pblm.. I connect the Esprit to a Nad C355 via a pre-PP2. Whatever the exit I connect it to there is a noise coming out from the speaker. It gets higher if i touch the cable connecting turntable and pre or if i approach the arm lift with my hand, it gets lower if i touch the bottom of the amplifier. Same noise is nearly unaudible if i switch the commuter and connect the cable to MC (but the cartridge is MM). Thanx again for what you do online

[planetofsoundhifi]

That is because you have not attached the ground wire of the turntable to the PP2. All cartridges must be grounded or you get a hum.

[planetofsoundhifi]

If you have the upgraded acrylic platter, then you don't need the felt matt.

[mollypolliwog]

i'm looking to set up my first-ever stereo on the cheap. i've decided on buying this turntable. i already have a marantz 2220b receiver available to me for free - would connecting the two be totally ludicrous?

[planetofsoundhifi]

That would work very well. Put a pair of $300 speakers with it such as Castle Knight 1 and you'll be amazed.

[mollypolliwog]

thanks for the advice!

[jimik89]

i bought this tt recently and i used this video to set it up. the instructions here are a lot clearer than the bad czech to english translation in the manual. thanks planetofsoundhifi

[SecretStashRecords]

THANKS! I bought one of these babies yesterday and this is a great set-up guide.

[Sportymcdouglas]

Thank you very much for putting this video on youtube.

[luismoleiro]

Biiiiiiiig help.

Thanks

[aboliston]

Does this turntable have 4 legs or does it have 3 legs like a Rega?

The reason I ask is that I have a cat and if it were to climb onto the lid of a 3 legged turntable it could tip the whole thing over!

[planetofsoundhifi]

It has 4 legs

[planetofsoundhifi]

@aboliston 4 legs

[a19993680]

is not necessary to calibrate the azymuth? this video shows the cpmplete set up or is necesaary to do comething more? I need help...

[planetofsoundhifi]

Azimuth is set at the factory since the cartridge is pre-mounted.

[planetofsoundhifi]

@a19993680 It is not adjustable on this tonearm, nor any sub $750USD turntable really. Azimuth matters quite a bit for finer cartridges, but the cartridges likely to be used on this table or others are generally not precise enough to begin with to notice azimuth differences. If you have a better cartridge, it is best to invest in a better table as well. The sky is the limit with analog...

[Goupil7]

Thanks a lot for this video. I bought this turntable last week, and it's much more clear than in the notice.

[DOCTORDOOOOOOOOOOOOM]

This or Technics 1200?

[planetofsoundhifi]

They are totally different tables made for different purposes. The Debut III is made for high quality listening at home and will outperform the 1200 at a lower price. The 1200 is made to be a professional DJ machine so it prioritizes ruggedness over sound quality

[planetofsoundhifi]

This is the anti-skate weight. It stops the needle from skating into the centre of the record. It is essential. Put it on the 2nd indent and hang it over the metal hook so it can move freely.

[teendude16]

Watching the instruction video makes it look easy. Thank you for the instructions.

[wdgalanoo]

Very concise and useful video. Thank you.

[mrhoffame]

I am a huge vinyl collector!! I, like most I'm sure, started off by strolling into a store and pulling a bunch of records out of dollar bins. Now i find myself investing serious cash in Lps..40-50-150 bucks a pop. What I have not done is really look at ugraded equipment. I've seen turntables priced form $99 up to $150,000 on line. What do you look for in a "good turntable"? What do you get for investing $500-$2000 in a turntable? Where should I start?

[planetofsoundhifi]

The Debut III is the best budget product but if you have a larger investment Pro-Ject makes a complete line of top value turntables. Engineering pays off in sound quality so generally the most finely designed tables sound the best. Have a look at the RPM 9.1

[weggles]

Can it play 45's? I don't have many 45s, but for what ever reason a favourite EP of mine is 33 on one side and 45 on the other.

I'm in the market for a new player, and this one seems to be perfect.

[planetofsoundhifi]

Yes, just move the belt from the top cog on the motor to the larger one.

[polbeer]

I love this player, however I still wonder what the purpose is of the weight?

[planetofsoundhifi]

The weight is essential to the setup. It determines how much weight is on the stylus riding in the record groove. Too much or too little will damage the record and result in poor sound. 1.8 grams (18 on the dial) is correct.

[ashleykr145]

I'm still struggling to get the 1.5 gram weight correct, my dial has 0-25, so not sure where 1.5 grams is. In some records it gets stuck but if I move the weight down I get more static sounds, any advice would be appreciated.

[planetofsoundhifi]

On the dial 1.8 grams is 18. The dial is calibrated in nM (neuton-meters) a fancy way of saying grams.

[gnativerson]

how is it's rumble vs a vintage AR table in good shape? is that arm about like the old Linn Basik with regards to bearing precision and lack of slop?

[planetofsoundhifi]

Yes, it is similar to the Basik, but considering a Basik is much much more expensive than the whole cost of the Debut III, it's quite the achievement.

[rancosteel]

Where is the pitch control calibration?

[planetofsoundhifi]

The Debut III uses an AC motor so generally it is locked to the 60Hz of the power out of the wall and never deviates in speed. It is one of the finest motors made today. For very sensitive types Pro-Ject makes a SpeedBox II which cleans the AC out of the wall for more accurate timing, but at this point you are better investing in one of their higher end tables as the overall sound will be better than simply tweaking the speed could ever accomplish.

[polbeer]

very useful video! what is the purpose of the small weight?

[homestarfan2008]

Sounds like a pain in the ass to have to change the belt every time you want to hear 45s. Why can't a 300 dollar turntable include buttons so all you have to do to change speeds is push.

[andrewb773]

you speak as if a $300 turntable is expensive. Quite the opposite. One should expect minimal features at this price point, on a "real" table.

[planetofsoundhifi]

The reason is that adding any mechanism to change speed increases cost and decreases sound quality. The Debut III was designed to be the finest sounding turntable at its price and it handily succeeded. Since the vast majority of people don't play 45s at all, it is small price to pay for quality and reliability (mechanisms to change speed frequently break or go out of alignment). The external Speed Box II elegantly changes speed by adjusting the electrical frequency coming to the motor.

[iamjaddda]

Thank you so much for this tutorial. I just bought my first turntable and couldn't really understand much of the manual. This really helped me to set up my TT.

Thanks!

[RayusgnaL]

Thanks for this one ! I wasn't able to understand the manual's way to do it !

[crayonHB]

Thanks for your video. still useful!

[hpniemi]

It's good to have videos like this. Thank you!

[sdpark62]

I like this video..usefull

[claytonsean]

Could anyone please tell me what is the best amp for this record play that is under $150.00?

[planetofsoundhifi]

The problem is certainly the cartridge, not the turntable. It may have been damaged somehow.

[cjonesuk86]

Thank-you for your reply. I re-balanced the tonearm again today, just in case. Unfortunately, I can still hear the cartridge touch the record from time to time. This will occur more often if the record has a slight warp. Albeit very brief, the noise is unpleasant.

I reduced the tracking force to 15mN, and the problem goes away. Will this be okay, or do you think is it time to return the turntable?

[planetofsoundhifi]

If you have done everything correctly it is not possible for the cartridge body to touch the record. The only two possibilities are that the cantilever of the stylus is broken (collapsed) and riding too low, or you in fact have too much downforce dialed in.

[cjonesuk86]

Very good video, thanks for your efforts. I balanced my tonearm by floating it so the stylus tip was hovering about 1mm above a record placed on the platter. I then dialed in 18mN as you show. However, on quiet sections of a record, you can clearly hear the cartridge occasionally touch the record surface. Any ideas what may be wrong?

[tedpros]

thanks~ very useful video...

[hidrofido78]

THANKS, a loT....!! i was getting crazy with the instructions!!

SALUD!

[mulligans11]

thanks! really useful video. x

[Glombior]

thanx a lot very helpful

[Hilikus3434]

Ok, so why when I attach the anti-skate weight and let go of the tonearm It moves the tonearm all the way to the right??? Without the weight this does not happen.

[tentimestwenty]

The anti-skate weight's only purpose to move the arm to the right. It counteracts the natural tendency for the needle to want to skate into the middle of the record. If it's doing it when you let go of the tonearm and only moving an 1/8" of an inch backwards or less, this is normal. If it is swinging wildly back, there is not enough weight on the counterweight. it should be 1.8 grams (18 on the dial).

[Hilikus3434]

That was my guess but I've must of redone the steps 50 times to now avail. First screwed on the counterweight to level the tonearm, then set the dial to 0 making sure the counterweight is not moving. And then setting the dial to 18 again making sure the counterweight itself is stationary. The tonearm seems to then lowers with force as opposed to when it was level. However when I attach the anti-skate weight it does not move slightly it moves violently. Does clockwise vs. anti-clockwise matter???

[tentimestwenty]

Clockwise! The weight moves towards the cartridge after you've zeroed it. It's a simple lever. Forward more weight, back less weight!

[Hilikus3434]

Alright I got it when I was setting the weight to 1.8 grams I only turned the dial instead of the counterweight, thanks for you replies you have been helpful!

[Hilikus3434]

That was my guess but I've must of redone the steps 50 times to now avail. First screwed on the counterweight to level the tonearm, then set the dial to 0 making sure the counterweight is not moving. And then setting the dial to 18 again making sure the counterweight itself is stationary. The tonearm seems to then lowers with force as opposed to when it was level. However when I attach the anti-skate weight it does not move slightly it moves violently. Does clockwise vs. anti-clockwise matter???

[Hilikus3434]

Just got this turntable and about to set it up. However, I have two quick questions, wrapping the drive belt around the hub does the belt have to be completely symmetrical around the hub I tried to make it as even as possible all around the hub, but am I stressing over nothing? Also when I actually play a record what is the proper what to stop it? would it be to lift the tonearm lift lever and then turn off the turntable or directly lift the tonearm off the record?

[tentimestwenty]

The belt is self centering so as long as it is in the cog/gear then it is perfectly fine.

[RufusTheRuthless]

Ok when I play a 45s on this thing it sounds slow either way I set the belt up. Do you guys have the same problem?

[tentimestwenty]

If the platter is turning, it's physically impossible for 45 not to be faster. The two gears on the motor are different sizes so they will make the platter turn at 2 different speeds, just like the gears on a bicycle. Are you moving from the top to the bottom gear?

[RufusTheRuthless]

I tried them on the top and bottom alike, either way it sounds slow. Its really weird.

[sixstringrock]

thank you i just set it up

[shawnbenfield]

I got mind today in white. I watched your video to set it up. Thanks so much!

[hughenmatt]

this video was very helpful. thanks.

[imprisonedinflesh]

thanks, that was really helpful.

[slothashes]

Thanx a lot!

Really helped me a lot.

[JamesGray]

A great help, thanks

[Colski]

Great video! Work in a Hifi store and sell alot of Debut 3s will be sending a lot of customers here who are having problems

[AelkeA]

Very good video...

better than the manual. I've just set up my pro-ject wxpression II

Thank you very much

Alex

[coasttocoast7]

so theres no switch for 33 to 45????????????

[tentimestwenty]

As with most audiophile turntables you move the belt from the top cog to the bottom cog on the motor. This is designed to reduce interference of a speed switch or mechanical device. Better sound, less complexity and lower price.

[helenkdavis]

Thanks. The video is a great comfort that I'm not far off, but... once I have the counterweight in the right place on the arm, the lid won't close which makes me suspicious I've done something wrong! And once I've attached the anti-skating weight the arm won't stay still when raised - it moves outward - is it supposed to do that?

[tentimestwenty]

Your weight is set incorrectly. It is too far back which is causing the arm to be too light and the cover won't close. Screw the counterweight arm, balance the arm so it floats, reset the weight dial to '0' without moving the actual weight. Then dial forward until you get to '18' which is 1.8 grams.

[Sandcat87]

Yeah, what tentimestwenty said, also make sure you have removed the cartridge guard if it's balancing with the weight that far back.

Thanks for the video!

[loxiran]

nice howto, but i still don't understand how to adjust the anti-skating weight. the manual says that after attaching it to the tonearm/placing it on the hook, the hook needs to be callibrated like shown in that picture (17/9a). unfortunatly, this picture makes no sense to me. :P

[planetofsoundhifi]

There is no other calibration necessary, just hang the weight over the hook and put the loop over the 2nd indent.

[loxiran]

ok, thanks. =)

[jphoward93]

hi to anyone that can help!

i am thinking about getting this turntable.

Could anyone tell me, do you have to have speakers and connect the turntable to them?

Also, what are the pros and cons of this turntable.

Help greatly appreciated!

Jack

[planetofsoundhifi]

yes, you need speakers and an amplifier to have a complete system. i think the pro-ject debut iii is the best table at the price. it has no automatic functions but this is to maximize sound quality.

[jphoward93]

alright thank you

sounds good!

what speakers would you recommend for someone on a budget (under £150?)

[planetofsoundhifi]

Epos ELS 3 or Mordaunt Short Carnival 2

[jphoward93]

thank you for the response mate!

great help.

Jack.

[Anderskh]

I used to set these up at a stereo store I worked for.

I really miss that job !

I love stereo equipment.

[Tchance85]

I'm fixin' to get a green one too!!!!! Sweet looking record player! Vinyl forever!!!!!

[jazzmarn]

Very helpful video. It ws kind of you to post it. Thank you

[danielthomas]

I still don't really understand this very much. The instruction manual is really awful; I think you're expected to know a few things about turntables and all the parts. Thankfully, I was able to figure it out, and now Miles Davis is blaring away. Fantastic sound from this turntable! Many thanks for this video, but could there be further guides for those of us who know nothing beyond "press the on/off switch? Thanks.

[Leyland4321]

Helpful? despite vid makers' best intentions, the balancing of the tone arm is very crude indeed! The balancing should be done after the platter has been placed. Than place a record on the platter, but don't start the turntable yet. Now balance the tone arm according what you've seen in this video. Make sure it JUST floats at the level of the RECORD. Then you've found the correct setting, 0 grams. Then set the correct weight acc. to manuf. reccommendations. Apply anti skate, USE TEST RECORD!!!

[planetofsoundhifi]

Level is level, it doesn't matter whether the platter is on or not. People would more likely damage the needle since you must level it with the guard off.

[coasttocoast7]

lame comment...thank you 1 below

[SteveAndIdiAmin]

Thank you, Planet of Sound. That was very helpful!

[rittersoftlan]

^^ got a green one too last december and it's just awesome!!

[leloodallasmultipass]

I just got a green one too and it is awesome. This vid was super helpful in setting up. Tks.

[kipswitch]

I will be receiving a green debut 3 any day now and it will CRUSH YOURS! Red is for homos(homosapiens)! Thanks for the vid, Canadian- it will be very helpful.

[anse69]

Thank you very much! Very very helpful for me. :)