I bought a Pro-ject Debut Carbon with Ortofon 2M Red cartridge

[Pfenning]

Does anyone have experience with these tables or cartridges? It should arrive later this week, and I was wondering if anyone had any setup tips or tricks for me.

Pfenning 

[Alonzo]

I have one, not much different in the setup of these than in other turntables.  Give it some time to settle, at first I could here the motor but that went away in a week or so.  I went ahead and bought the speed box, and upgraded the platter, that really makes a big difference (no more manual speed changes) and that may have quieted done the motor. 
I have mine in a granite sandbox, dancing doesn't seem to affect it.  Whatever shelf you use should be sturdy.
The bias weight fishing line is a little short for my liking, but that's just a preference.  I had plans to upgrade the cartridge but the Ortofon Red sounds pretty good and I haven't seen the need yet.
Not many tips but I would recommend the speedbox and a good sturdy vibration platform.
Alonzo

[Pfenning]

Thanks Alonzo, I'm glad to hear you like it. I have been looking at the speed box. I'll try it stock first, then possibly add it.

Pfenning

[Mike V.]

Hi Pfenning,

I used  to own one and it sounded pretty well. But when I realized that I wanted to start upgrading my rig, I sold it and got a Pro-Ject Xpression Classic it came with a Sumiko Pearl (I thought it sounded just ok), I upgraded this turntable with a speedbox and a new cartridge a Dennon DL-103R and now I think I will stop and just sit and enjoy.

A good upgrade to your Carbon would be the acrylic platter, the speedbox, and you could swap the 2M red needle to a 2M Blue Needdle (they use the same body).

[Pfenning]

Thanks for the information. If you have to choose one, would you pick the platter or the speedbox?

Pfenning

[Mike V.]

Thanks for the information. If you have to choose one, would you pick the platter or the speedbox?

Pfenning

I´ll go with the Speedbox, instead of the Acrylic platter you could get a Cork mat.

Enjoy your TT!

[Pfenning]

I'm using a homemade record mat currently. It's a layer of dynamat glued to a layer of cork. I didn't even try the mat supplied with the table, it is a felt material that is about as thin as toilet tissue.    I might pick up a speedbox, but the table sounds pretty darn good right now. I have it set up in my hobby room, and I listened to it for about 10 hours yesterday while I wrapped some presents, and finished up a guitar that needs a new home. I have it plugged into a vintage Marantz 2215 (15 watts), driving some bookshelf speakers. It's a pretty great system for what it is. In the right room, it could be a seriously great system. I picked up that Marantz for $20 at the thrift store quite a few years ago, and I'll be hoarding as many of those as I can for the right price. It needs a little service, some lights are burned out, and there is a small hum in the left channel. Nothing that can't be fixed. I'll try and get a picture to post. 

Pfenning

[Mike V.]

wow that Dynamat/Cork Mat sound so interesting, you did it by yourself?

The marantz 2215 looks great when all the lights are working, you should restore it!!

[Pfenning]

Yep. It was easy because the dynamat is adhesive on one side. I used cork from Hobby Lobby or one of those craft stores like that. I stuck them together and piled some weight on top for a week or so. Then I cut the center hole with a 1/4 pin punch, and a wood block with a 5\16 hole in it. Then I used a string to mark the OD circle, and carefully cut it out with an exacto knife. Overall the thickness is just over 1\8". Cheap and easy.

Pfenning
 

[Mike V.]

and where did you get the Dynamat? autoparts shop?
it sounds easy to build, I think I´ll try it later...

[Pfenning]

I got mine at the car audio shop in our town. It's a dense rubber product.

Pfenning

[Pfenning]

Here's a couple pictures of my setup. Nothing fancy, but it works great.

(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi156.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ft23%2Fpfenningv%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2FD25570A2-45C6-4133-8D05-FD70BB422847_zpsf6lsloe8.jpg&hash=5ebb2a6c1b9554392fd15f516e086a90cc00f912)

(https://forum.bottlehead.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi156.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ft23%2Fpfenningv%2FMobile%2520Uploads%2F2A1FAD57-74A5-46E7-AE14-33F1DCAFDBFA_zpsibrg7ubg.jpg&hash=b850e0223711afd585e3f15dd44cc15aa1a5e27f)

Pfenning

[Grainger49]

I used to sell the Marantz 2215 back in the Hey Day of Marantz transistor amps.  It weighs a lot more than 100X5 WPC AV receivers today.  It is rugged stuff.

[Pfenning]

After listening to this 2215, I would love to grab a 2250 or 2275. 15 watts on mildly efficient book shelf speakers is quite impressive.

Pfenning

[JamieMcC]

Also using a Spin Clean here, I picked what I thought was up a pre owned one a few months ago when it arrived it had never been used