Origin Live Rega Modification Kits - Manual (Page 11)

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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.
W A R R A N T Y
We guarantee arms supplied by ourselves to be free from fault for 2 years and will undertake to correct any faults
providing the arm has not been modified by any party other than ourselves and has not received maltreatment of any
kind. Our OEM arms and modifications are not guaranteed by Rega so in the event of a warranty claim you should
contact ourselves rather than Rega.
N O T E S
A detailed description of Cartridge set up and care is included in the end sections of this manual..
Please note that the occasional rewired arm can make a slight “rustling” noise through the speakers when it is
lifted across the record. This should not be a cause for concern as it is only caused by microphony of the
internal litz cable - under normal playing conditions this is inaudible.
The sound of the arm will improve significantly over the first 2 weeks or so as items “bed in” and the arm
wires burn in.
The earth lead should be connected to the earth of your pre-amplifier or amplifier. This earth lead is best
separated slightly from the arm signal leads so do not wind it around them for best performance.
Now that all the hard work is over you can settle back and hear the results - we wish you many hours of enjoyable
music and rediscovering your record collection.Fit the cartridge to the arm using an alignment gauge and ensure the
headshell wires are bent so that they are clear of the record surface. Ensure that the bias adjustment slider is set to
zero. Set the tracking force to the manufacturer’s recommendations using a stylus force gauge (stylus balance). When
tightening the counterweight, set it so that the Allen bolt is at the side of the arm (not at the top) see figure below and
tighten firmly - check tracking force is still correct after tightening.
Set the sliding control for tracking bias - This should be set to be approximately equal to the tracking weight value.
You can then fine tune the setting by ear using the centre track of a record as the calibration is not always dead
accurate.
It is worth experimenting with VTA adjustment if you can. Slightly raise and lower the arm and then listen - if the
sound is bright then the arm is too high, if it is dull and bass heavy then the arm is too low.
We guarantee arms to be free from fault for 2 years and will undertake to correct any faults providing the arm has not
been modified by any party other than ourselves and has not received maltreatment of any kind.
NOTE: The Ortofon stylus force gauge works on the same principle as a set of scales or balances. First, place the
stylus on the inscribed line on the white portion of the scales. Then try the stylus at different points along the line
until you find the point where the white plastic beam “balances” freely in a roughly level position. You then read the
force that is being exerted - 1gram = 10 mN on the numbered scale. From this number you can assess whether you