Origin Live Resolution MKI User Manual
Page 8
Page8
cartridge is tracking the grooves this ensures that the drag of the cartridge is taken into account. Speed variations of up to plus or
minus 2% are quite common on decks and the dc motor is capable of plus or minus 0.1% accuracy. Use the strobe disc provided
to set the speed (full instructions are on the card).
However if you have problems using the strobe card, then count the rpm using
the following method. Counting the 33.3 revs per minute is best accomplished by placing a small piece of sticky tape on the
perimeter of the platter and then counting 100 revolutions. 33.3 rpm is exactly 100 revolutions completed in 3 minutes. To save
time in the early stages it is easiest to count 50 revs in 1 minute 30 seconds (or 25 revs in 45 seconds) and save the 100 count for
the final check.
Please note the following points when setting the speed. Firstly all the figures below are based on setting the speed on the deck
using the centre track and letting the deck play for a good 5 minutes beforehand with the stylus on the record so that the whole
system has settled down. The regulators seem to take about 5 minutes to warm up,
so speed is about 2mins 58 seconds for
100 revolutions when the system starts from cold. In other words it is 2/180 x 100 = 1 % fast when started from cold.
Speed
variation with the dc motor can vary minutely depending on the track played and cut of record.
Click the rotary switch to the 2nd click clockwise and set P2 so that the platter rotates at 45 or 78 rpm (if you wish) using the
same procedure as outlined above.
The dc motors are noisy to begin with and are never completely silent in comparison to a/c motors. This is thought to be due
to a different type of precious metal brush. Having said this they still sound a great deal better in performance terms. To assist
“running in” you can turn the speed right up via the control box. The motor then runs at high speed. Allow this for approx 4
hours after removing the belt. After the running in period reset the motor speed. The motor should then be run for approx 3
days under load (i.e. turning the platter) to free it up from vibration and to “bed in” the bearings.
Like most turntable manufacturers we recommend that you leave the turntable running between changing records as this reduces
the belt wear that occurs with constant stopping and starting.
N O T E S O N M O T O R & S P E E D S E T T I N G
-Do not use the power supply for anything other than the dc motor or the power supply will definitely be irreparably damaged
and you could also damage the equipment you are plugging it into.
-The circuit will take at least 20 hours to run in and sound it’s best.
The speed stability of your deck should be excellent once everything has settled down in a listening session i.e.. The power supply
and switch box have been left plugged in on standby for 15 minutes, the platter has been turning for 2 minutes and the cartridge has
been on the record for 30 seconds. Bear in mind that the ear detects when music is playing slightly slow much more easily than it
detects it playing fast. For this reason most manufacturers set their decks to run slightly fast. You can expect a bit of speed variation
when the motor is first switched on - it takes about 2 minutes to warm up properly and then the motor should run at it’s correct
speed but only when the stylus is on the record.
It is highly preferable to keep the transformer plugged in at all times (unless you are away on holiday) because it takes a good
15 minutes to warm up from cold and run correctly. When in standby mode the control box draws a negligible current so you
needn’t worry about your electricity bill.
N O T E S O N S P E E D S T A B I L I T Y
If you keep switching the deck on and off you will get a little speed variation as it takes approx 2 minutes to warm up the circuit
each time even if it’s only switched off for 3 seconds. This is unavoidable although we have tried to design out the variation as much
as possible.
If you measure the speed without a needle on the record the speed will not be perfect, as the speed should only be set with the stylus
tracking the record. If you don’t do this, the record will run slow once you put the stylus on the record.
If you measure the speed within 30 seconds of putting the needle on the record the speed will not be perfect as it takes a while to
settle down.
Some people make the mistake of constantly watching the speed before the deck has settled down and the needle has been on the
record for a good 2 minutes. Strobes are very accurate and the slightest speed variation is picked up. 0.03% variation is observable
which is over 30 times the accuracy of mid-priced decks on the market.