Origin Live Aurora MKI - Manual (Page 13)

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On Rega, OL1 and Silver arms the side bias force is set using the small sliding knob located beside the lift
lower lever.
On the Encounter, Illustrious and Conqueror arms – Carefully twist the wire loop to the correct angle relative to
the arm base – you can use the enclosed 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 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.
Set the VTA (vertical tracking adjustment)
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.
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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”).
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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”).
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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.
Set the arm fastening tightness
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.