Origin Live Sovereign MKI - Manual (Page 11)

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place by a set screw at it’s base – this can be retightened if necessary using the 1.5mm allen key supplied.
Carefully unpack the 2 balls and joining thread. Set up the 2 balls and thread as shown in photo below. The side bias force
is set using the ball which slides along the silver shaft protruding from the rear of the arm yoke (beside the counterweight)
- see photo below. This ball is clamped in position using a set screw in the ball with 1.5mm allen key. Thread the thin nylon
filament line through the small gap of the wire “eye” to allow the ball weight to hang freely. The adjustment ball is initially
set at just under three-quarters of the way out along the silver rod – this is approx the correct position for most cartridges. If
you wish to increase the side bias force then unclamp the ball using a 1.5mm Allen key and the ball further outwards. To
decrease the side force move the ball inwards. Once you have finalised the correct position re-clamp the ball in position.
S E T T H E V T A ( V E R T I C A L T R A C K I N G A D J U S T M E N T )
To allow the cartridge needle to track at the correct angle it is necessary that the base of the arm is at the correct height in relation to the
platter. Usually the optimum setting is such that the TOP edge of the arm is parallel with the surface of a FLAT record – you can use a piece
of card with parallel lines drawn on it to check this. Place the cartridge on the record with the deck switched off. Hold the card edge onto the
record in a position alongside the arm and see whether the top edge of the arm is parallel.. Raise or lower the base of the arm till you achieve
parallel position. Most cartridges have a height of 17mm. If this is the case, the base of the arm should rest approximately 31mm below the
top of the platter surface –see diagram “cross-section of sub-chassis”.
It is worth experimenting with VTA adjustment. Slightly raise or lower the arm and then listen - if the sound is relatively bright then the arm
is too high, if it is relatively dull and bass heavy then the arm is too low.
 If you have no VTA adjuster Raise and lower the arm by fitting spacing washers under the arm. Alternatively you can raise
or lower the height of the platter – this is easily accomplished by removing the platter & sub-platter to re-set the height
of the threaded bearing house (see “diagram showing threaded bearing house arrangement”).
 If you have the threaded VTA adjuster Raise and lower the arm by rotating the VTA adjuster. If you find your arm is too
high in relation to the platter with the VTA adjuster set to give the arm it’s lowest position then you need to raise the height
of the platter a few millimetres – this is easily accomplished by removing the platter & sub-platter to re-set the height of
the threaded bearing house (see “diagram showing threaded bearing house arrangement”).
 If you have the Origin Live VTA sliding adjuster – Raise and lower the arm in the aluminium sleeve and then clamp it
in position via the set screw in the side of the VTA housing (i.e the sleeve is forced in to grip the arm’s threaded base). You
do not need the Rega nut on the base of the arm. Only tighten the set screw just sufficiently to clamp the arm in position
– over-tightening can make the arm sound relatively bright.
S E T T H E A R M F A S T E N I N G T I G H T N E S S
It is best to experiment with the tightness of the large Rega base nut (if fitted) by listening to music. This may seem laborious but you will
be richly rewarded as this adjustment is CRITICAL for performance. The mistake is often made of over tightening this nut with the result
that the music is deadened.
F I N A L C H E C K S
The Sovereign is now ready to use. Use these checks to make sure that you have followed the instructions and have set up the
turntable correctly.
 The platter (inside the skirt) should run above the top of the pulley without touching it
 The tonearm should be set up with correct VTA i.e. the tube should be approx parallel to the surface of the record – see your