Origin Live All non dual pivot arms - Manual (Page 3)

Page3
CONNECT THE ARM TO YOUR PHONO
STAGE / AMPLIFIER
Normaly this is straightforward, however if you have if you have bullet
plugs plugs you should heat them with a hair dryer (or similar) till plugs plugs
they will fi t easily onto your amplifi er phono sockets. If this is
ommitted, the plugs can be such a tight fi t that you damage the
amplifi er. Once fi tted, you do not need to reheat the plugs in
future as they will maintain the correct tightness.
The earth lead should be connected to the earth of your phono
stage, pre-amplifi er or amplifi er. This earth lead is best separated
slightly from the arm signal leads so do not wind it around them
for best performance. Avoid pulling the external wires at the
base of the arm as they are not indestructible and can become
detached if excessive force is used to manipulate them.
If you have XLR plugs, you will not get both plugs through
the mounting hole for the arm. For this reason we normaly
supply the arm with only one XLR plug fi tted. Full instructions
on how to fi t the other XLR are available on our web site - see
top navigation bar, click “general information” then “technical
support” on the drop down list.
Cartridge set up
If you are not familiar with fi tting cartridges then please read the
detailed section “Hi-Fi Cartridges explained” found towards the
end of this manual.
MOUNTING
Mount the cartridge in the headshell of the arm. Cartridge
mounting screws (usually 2.5mm allen bolts) should be
tight. Stainless steel allen bolts are the best for mounting hi-fi
cartridges - aluminum or brass are OK but diffi cult to tighten in
comparison to allen heads. Avoid steel bolts as they are magnetic
and degrade your cartridge magnets.
is best done with the stylus guard in place but it may be necessary
to remove it during at least one phase of the installation. If you
do, replace it as soon as possible. Be especially careful when the
stylus guard is off, as many MC cartridges have a strong magnetic
fi eld at the base of the cantilever. If this attracts the tip of a steel-
bladed screwdriver, it can destroy the stylus - there is no hope of
resisting it. The best precaution is to keep the screwdriver well
away from the cantilever, use a nonferrous screwdriver, or keep
the stylus guard on when you’re using the screwdriver near it.
The headshell screws should be fi nger-tightened just enough
that the cartridge cannot fall off but is still loose enough that the
cartridge is easily moved around. Work whenever possible with
the stylus’s guard in place. Now carry out the set up procedures
outlined below. Do not deviate from this sequence as each step
affects the subsequent one — change the order and the setup
will be wrong.
SET TRACKING FORCE
Set the tracking force to the cartridge manufacturer’s
recommendations using a stylus force gauge (stylus balance).
This will need to be re-set later on so do not worry about getting
it too exact at this stage - within 0.3 grams of recommended
tracking force is fi ne.
Set the tracking force by sliding the counterweight along the rear
stub until the required tracking force is attained, then clamp up
the grub screw in the side. When adjusting the counterweight, When adjusting the counterweight,
set it so that the Allen bolt is at the side of the arm (not at the set it so that the Allen bolt is at the side of the arm (not at the
top)
top) see fi gure “Rear end view of counterweight” . You will
need a stylus force gauge to measure the force underneath the
cartridge tip.
HINT - The counterweight is deliberately a very loose fi t on
the stub for best performance. Because of this, it helps to just
lightly “nip” the allen bolt in the side of the counterweight onto
the stub – this way the counterweight has a little friction to hold
it in position as you slide it backwards and forwards. Once you
have set the tracking force correctly you can tighten the allen
bolt in the counterweight as fi rmly as possible to secure it tightly
to the rear stub. Re-check that the tracking force is still correct
after tightening.
For OL1 tonearms without the rear stub upgrade (i.e it has For OL1 tonearms without the rear stub upgrade For OL1 tonearms without the rear stub upgrade
a plastic rear stub with spiral groove) – turn the counterweight
till the arm balances level – once this is accomplished you can
then set the tracking force by turning the counterweight – half
a turn = 1 gram.
USE OF STYLUS FORCE GUAGE
Most stylus force gauges work on the same principle as a set
of scales or balances. For example with the Ortofon Stylus
Force Gauge, fi rst place the stylus on the inscribed or graduated
portion of the scales. Then try the stylus at different points until
you fi nd the point where the beam “balances” freely in a roughly
level position. You then read the force that is being exerted –(
1gram = 10 mN if the scale is in mN). From this number you
can assess whether you need to increase the tracking force or
vica-versa. Move the tonearm counterweight accordingly and
re-measure the tracking force. Repeat this procedure until the
correct tracking force is obtained. A digital force gauge works
slightly differently so follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
SET TANGENCY ALIGNMENT (LATERAL
TRACKING ANGLE)
First of all set the cartridge overhang, which is 17mm for all
Origin Live and Rega arms. The overhang of the cartridge is the
measurement from the centre of the spindle to the tip of the
cartridge stylus when the armtube is positioned such that it’s
centre line is directly over the centre of the spindle. Whenever
you rotate the cartridge to align it, the overhang position must
be maintained and checked at the end of the whole procedure.
Follow the manufacturer’s literature and the dictates of your
alignment gauge - different gauges use slightly different
methods.
Square up the hi-fi cartridge body with the gauge’s markings, Square up the hi-fi cartridge body Square up the hi-fi cartridge body
be sure that the cartridge sides are square or your alignment will
be wrong. When all adjustments are correct, carefully tighten
down the hi-fi cartridge mounting screws. Keeping a fi rm grip on
hi-fi cartridge and headshell together so nothing shifts, delicately
tighten each screw down a turn or so, then repeat until tight.
Tightening down one screw all the way before tightening the
others is almost certain to twist the cartridge out of alignment.
However careful you’ve been, always check the alignment again
after tightening.
Ensure the headshell wires are bent so that they are clear of the
record surface.