Kuzma 2008-6 User Manual

KUZMA 4POINT TONEARM

Instruction manual Serial Number: …..

2008-6

KUZMA LTD
INSTRUCTION MANUAL FOR 4POINT tonearm

The 4POINT tonearm is a very precisely engineered piece of equipment, however, the construction is
robust and requires minimal maintenance for optimal performance.

headshell lock vertical paddle vert. paddle lock horizontal bearing assembly VTA tower

VTA lock

trough - vertical

main tube assembly

horizontal paddle

Fig.1

CONTENTS: Page

General description 3
Basic Setup 5-6
Setting up the tonearm 6-8
Adjustment of tracking force 9
Adjustment of tangential geometry 9
Adjustment of VTA 9
Adjustment of azimuth 10
Adjustment of bias 10
Damping 10-11
Adjustment of cueing device 12
Maintenance 13
Transport 13
Problems 13
Appendix 1 (tangential geometry) 14-16
Appendix 2 (fine azimuth) 17
Appendix 3 (fine bias) 18
Protractors 19

General description :

This differs from other arms by incorporating several unique features. The zero play bearing is
configured on 4 points. There is very precise VTA adjustment and, despite a longer effective length of
280 mm (11 inches), fits the standard mounting distance of 212mm ( for 9 inches arms).

The heart of the new construction is a unique 4 point bearing. The first set of two points (similar
to a double unipivot bearing) allows vertical movement. The second set of two points allows
horizontal movement. All four points have minimal friction and zero play in all playing directions

loop

pin for cable

main counterweights horizontal trough lock trough–horizontal

counterweight tracking force

cable - play position

thus ensuring the cartridge platform and the cartridge itself move with very low friction and minimal
vibration across the record. It is normal to feel slack in the bearings in certain directions.

The whole construction is mounted on a rigid VTA tower which allows very precise VTA adjustment
while playing, without any loss of rigidity, yet with up to 0.01 mm of precision and zero play.

The main tube is constructed and machined from solid aluminium, similar to our tangential Air line
arm. The main counterweight balances the tonearm and there is a second small counterweight with
which the tracking force can be finely adjusted. Azimuth can be adjusted in small repeatable
increments with zero play, by means of an Allen key.

A feature of the tonearm is a unique detachable headshell. The electrical connection is via standard
pins but the headshell can be simply removed by unscrewing with an Allen key. The headshell is
fixed with a precise hexagonal locking system giving the same rigidity as with a fixed headshell.

Two separate troughs damp vertical and horizontal resonances and can be finely adjusted
independently. The troughs can be removed from the tonearm.

Internal wiring is of superior special alloy silver wires. One set of 4 wires runs unbroken from the
cartridge pins to the termination box and further along into a 1.4 m long tonearm cable with silver
Eichmann bullet connectors. The second set of 4 wires runs from the same cartridge pins to the
termination box to female Cardas RCA connectors thus allowing use of any RCA plugged tonearm
cable from termination box, to phono preamp input. This gives so called biwiring on this tonearm and
a lot of flexibility with choice of no compromise cables.

Note:

If both sets of cables are connected, bear in mind that an MC cartridge will see it as »double loading«.
If you want to set up 2000 Ohms, with both sets of wire connected to the same phono unit, then 4000
Ohms loading should be set.

azimuth lock VTA scale - fine horizontal bearing assembly

bias

vertical bearing point azimuth adjustment

Fig. 2

Technical data:

Mass: 1650 gr
Effective length : 280 mm ( 11 inch)
Mounting distance: 212 mm
Offset angle: 19.50 degrees
Distance from spindle to
horizontal bearing: 264 mm
Effective mass: 13 g
VTA adjustment: yes
Azimuth adjustment: yes
Bias adjustment: yes
Vertical damping: yes
Horizontal damping: yes
Cables: biwiring
Arm mount: Air line 212 mm

1. Unpacking

Open the box carefully and remove top covers.
The tube with vertical bearing points is packed separately (tube assembly) on the top of the box.
Please do handle with care and when put aside, ensure that nothing is touching the bearing points.
Bear in mind how you will handle the termination box and output cable.
The horizontal bearing assembly is permanently mounted on the main VTA arm tower. This is
blocked during transport. (Fig. 2)
First remove the armbase and prepare it for fixing onto the turntable. Be sure that the armboard on the
turntable has the correct cut-out (main central hole must be 40 mm in diameter).

2. Basic set up

Armbase:

Mount the armbase on the turntable. If the pre-cut has a thread, then use three screws and fix them
from the top through the armbase into the armboard thread. A second way is to use a ring underneath
and fix three screws into this ring, which will then hold the armbase very tightly. Be sure that you
position the armbase so as to give access to an Allen key for fixing arm into armbase (towards the
back of the turntable). Also check, when mounting the arm on other turntables, that you allow enough
clearance for counterweights and correct position of the tube in relationship to the platter. Due to the
bearing construction, there is only a limited arc which the arm tube can travel in a horizontal way.
Rotation of the VTA arm tower of the arm, to achieve the correct distance of 264 mm, is done with a
protractor after the basic setup.

VTA arm tower:

Insert the VTA arm tower into the armbase. Ensure that the height is such, that the top surface of the
platform holding cueing device is at the same height as the record. Fix it with an Allen key. The
vertical bearing cups should be at the same height as the record. Also check that the VTA adjustment
is in the middle position, to allow fine VTA adjustment up and down 5 mm each way.

With 1.5 mm Allen key, release the small ring which is on the fixing pillar below the VTA arm tower.
Now it will drop down and touch the armbase. Fix the ring again and release the VTA arm tower.
You now have the correct height but you can freely rotate the VTA arm tower horizontally. Rotate it
to such a position that the distance from the centre of the record to the centre of the horizontal bearing
is 264 mm. (Use protractor by gently pulling apart trying to achieve max distance) Now fix VTA
arm tower. (Fig.3)