Origin Live All non dual pivot arms - Manual (Page 4)

Page4
VTA ADJUSTMENT
To allow the cartridge needle to track at the correct VTA (vertical
tracking angle) it is important that the base of the arm is at the
correct height in relation to the platter.
For Rega arms, the OL1 series and Silver arm - Usually the For Rega arms, the OL1 series and Silver arm For Rega arms, the OL1 series and Silver arm
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 once the cartridge
is fi tted.
For the Encounter, Illustrious, Conqueror and Enterprise
arms – the
arms arms CENTRE LINE of the tapered arm tube should CENTRE LINE CENTRE LINE
be parallel with the surface of a FLAT record. You can use the
template card supplied to help judge this.
It is always best to experiment with vta height by varying it and
listening to the results till you have found the optimum position.
This is necessary because of variations in stylus angle tolerances.
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EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
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EXTREMELY IMPORTANT EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
The tension you put on the large base clamping nut is fairly The tension you put on the large base clamping nut is fairly
critical to performance. You can tune the arm by listening to
critical to performance. You can tune the arm by listening to
various tensions. This may seem laborious but you will be richly
rewarded in terms of improved performance. The mistake is
often made of over tightening this nut with the result that the
music sounds deadened.
For Origin live OL1 to Silver arms and Rega threaded base For Origin live OL1 to Silver arms and Rega threaded base
arms it is best to tension the arm nut LOOSELY to the deck
arms arms
i.e so that the nut has the minimum possible clamping force
i.e so that the nut has the minimum possible clamping force
and the arm base can easily be rotated out of position. You can
and the arm base can easily be rotated out of position. You can
compromise sound quality for practical purposes if you wish
compromise sound quality for practical purposes if you wish
and clamp it to fi nger tight.
and clamp it to fi nger tight.
For Origin Live DUAL PIVOT arms - Encounter to For Origin Live DUAL PIVOT arms - Encounter to
Enterprise
Enterprise As a rule of thumb you will fi nd the best tension As a rule of thumb you will fi nd the best tension
is simply fi nger tight - as hard as you can. If you do not have is simply fi nger tight - as hard as you can. If you do not have
a stong grip then just tighten to fi nger tight and use a spanner,
a stong grip then just tighten to fi nger tight and use a spanner,
pliers or molegrips to “nip” the nut a tiny fraction tighter.
pliers or molegrips to “nip” the nut a tiny fraction tighter.
The best approach is to tune-in VTA gradually by listening to
music. You know the arm needs to be lowered at the arm pillar
when the overall sound is hard and bright, with thin bass or
no deep bass, edgy highs, and harsh midrange (of course, this
could also be tracking force which is too light). Distortion
obscures low level details between the musical; notes so dynamic
range is reduced. Transient attacks may be too sharp. Raise the
arm when the sound is dull and damped, the highs rolled off,
the lows muddy and lacking defi nition, and transient attacks
are dull. Mind you, this sounds an awful lot like the effects of
changes in tracking force (too light is edgy, too heavy is heavy
and dull). They are different sounding but hard to explain. Start
with the arm a little low and very gradually raise it, fi rst to where
it is parallel to the record, and then so the back of the cartridge
is tilting up. Keep track of your settings so you can return to the
one you like best where everything snaps into focus. The range
of adjustments can be quite broad, as much as 3/4” or even more
(at the arm pivot). Play with the full range so you know what it
sounds like and don’t be diffi dent.
ANTISKATE FORCE (SIDE BIAS)
This applies an opposing, balancing force to the natural inward This applies an opposing, balancing force to the natural This applies an opposing, balancing force to the natural
drag of a pivoting arm while playing. Left uncontrolled, the
stylus would push up against the inner groove wall, causing
distortion both from mistracking and a cantilever skewed in
relation to the cartridge generator.
For OL1 to Silver arms and all Rega arms - The side bias force
is set using the small sliding knob located beside the lift lower
lever. This should be set to a value of approximately 1 or less due
to the fact that the bias adjustments on Rega arms and similar
arms tend to under-read the true value of side force produced.
For new generation Rega and OL1 arms - the side bias is For new generation Rega and OL1 arms For new generation Rega and OL1 arms
adjusted by pulling or pushing the round portion just in front of
the arm clip. Pulling the button out decreases the side bias and
decreases decreases
vica versa. It is advisable to set this slider almost in the fully “out”
position as the bias adjustments on Rega made arms arms tend
to under-read the true value of side force produced.
On the Encounter, Illustrious, Conqueror and Enterprise
arms – Carefully twist the wire loop to the correct angle relative
arms arms
to the arm base – you can use the enclosed paper template,
showing a plan view of the arm to do this – the angle only needs
to be approximate – the wire loop is held in place by a set screw
at it’s base – this can be retightened if necessary using the allen
key supplied.
Carefully unpack the 2 balls and joining thread. Set up the 2
balls and thread as shown in photo . 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). This ball
is clamped in position using a set screw in the ball and 1.5mm
allen key. Thread the thin nylon fi lament line through the small
gap of the wire “eye” to allow the ball weight to hang freely. The
adjustment ball is initially best positioned about 5mm away from
the yoke – this is approx the correct position for most cartridges.
If you wish to increase the side bias force then unclamp the ball
using the1.5mm Allen key and move the ball further outwards.
To decrease the side force move the ball inwards. Once you have
fi nalised the correct position re-clamp the ball in position. To be
on the safe side against excessive side force it is safest not to set
the position of the clamped ball any further out than half way
out along the rod as shown below.
Checking side bias
Ideally you need a test record with a track for checking side bias
(not all do so check before you buy - The Ultimate Analogue
Test LP is one that we can recommend as it has an Anti-skating
test; 315Hz amplitude sweep to +12dbu (Lateral). Also the Hi
Fi News test record has an Anti-skate/bias setting track.
In the absence of a side bias test track then the following method
is better than nothing. Find a test record or a record with approx
10mm of blank vinyl between the end of the lead out groove
and the record label. Lower the stylus needle on the blank uncut
vinyl and observe whether the needle skates inwards towards the
centre of the record or outwards. Increase antiskate until the arm
starts to slowly drift inward towards the label. Also, watch the
stylus when you set it into a groove. Does it move to the right
or left relative to the cartridge body? This indicates too much or
too little anti-skating.
FINE TUNING
You now have three adjustments approximated. Tracking force,
VTA, and azimuth. It’s a matter of reiteration to optimize the
sound. The change in sound with each of these individual
adjustments can be similar. It’s therefore necessary, in optimizing