ProJect Turntable Possible Tonearm Issues

[Squishman]

The tonearm on my Project Debut Carbon Evo seems to be not the greatest. It skids way more than I'd like. When you put it down, it skids into the music rather than land in the outer dead wax. Sure that can happen, but I think it's way too often. Now today, I pulled the cue and it didn't land on the record at all. Floated above! I double checked my weight. I don't have a scale, but zeroed it out to balance it then set it back to 18g. Another thing I don't like is when you do that, the hanging weight pulls the tonearm against the holder so it's a little hard to get a perfect balance. I have to tap it free to see if it is indeed balanced. Do I need to fork over some cash for a better turntable? Not going to happen yet... just planning ahead.

 

[Squishman]

I wonder what I'd have to spend for an upgrade. I'd keep my Ortofon Blue, unless I upgrade to the Black with a new tt.
Anyone have a recommendation of a tt hopefully under $1500 with a more precision tonearm?

 

[TLS Guy]

I wonder what I'd have to spend for an upgrade. I'd keep my Ortofon Blue, unless I upgrade to the Black with a new tt.
Anyone have a recommendation of a tt hopefully under $1500 with a more precision tonearm?

I have a feeling I need to give you a lesson in setting up a turntable. It is a skill and an art. One thing I suspect is that your turntable is not level. Before you do anything else a turntable must be perfectly level. Otherwise everything else is pretty much a waste of time.

I also have a feeling the stylus overhang may not be correct. Properly setting up a turntable is an exacting art. I find most owners do not come close to optimizing their turntables. Small errors downgrade performance significantly. They are very unforgiving beasts. So you need to optimize what you have before buying anything else.
Significantly upgrading what you have will cost you a lot of money. Turntables are analog, and unlike the digital world increased performance does not some cheap. The reason is that they require precision engineering and that is costly. When it comes to turntables the best of years gone by tend to be the best. That is why good vintage turntables command such stratospheric prices.

 

[Squishman]

I have a feeling I need to give you a lesson in setting up a turntable. It is a skill and an art. One thing I suspect is that your turntable is not level. Before you do anything else a turntable must be perfectly level. Otherwise everything else is pretty much a waste of time.

I also have a feeling the stylus overhang may not be correct. Properly setting up a turntable is an exacting art. I find most owners do not come close to optimizing their turntables. Small errors downgrade performance significantly. They are very unforgiving beasts. So you need to optimize what you have before buying anything else.
Significantly upgrading what you have will cost you a lot of money. Turntables are analog, and unlike the digital world increased performance does not some cheap. The reason is that they require precision engineering and that is costly. When it comes to turntables the best of years gone by tend to be the best. That is why good vintage turntables command such stratospheric prices.

That'd be good. I did use a level in about 3 spots. But it is possible that the set-up is lacking somehow.