Origin Live Building a turntable almost from scratch User Manual

BUILDING OR INSTALLI NG THE ORIGIN LIVE
TURNTABLE KITS – ALL VERSIONS

Instructions by Origin live ©

Turntable kit

Instructions

VIEW OF ULTRA KIT MINUS SUB- PLATTER AND PLATTER

VIEW OF ASSEMBLED ULTRA KIT FROM UNDERSIDE

2

Contents

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List of Diagrams 4

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PPAARR TTSS LL IISS TT && TTOO OO LLSS RREE QQ UUIIRR EEDD 77

Parts supplied 7

Optional Parts 7

Tools you will need ideally 7

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Introduction 8
Origin Live Standard Plinth 8
Custom Plinths 11
Sub-chassis design 11
Main Bearing attachment 12
Motor Attachment 13
Wiring 13

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Preparation Error! Bookmark not defined.
Plinth and lid assembly Error! Bookmark not defined.

Fit the rubber feet Error! Bookmark not defined.
Fit the Lid Error! Bookmark not defined.
Fit the switch and dc regulator board to the plinth. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Fit the 3 threaded support bolts Error! Bookmark not defined.

Install the sub-chassis Error! Bookmark not defined.

Fit Bearing house Error! Bookmark not defined.
Fit the motor Error! Bookmark not defined.
Install Sub-chassis & Fit springs Error! Bookmark not defined.
Connect the motor wires Error! Bookmark not defined.

Install the arm Error! Bookmark not defined.

If you do not have a VTA adjuster Error! Bookmark not defined.
If you have the Origin live threaded VTA adjuster (which fits all decks) Error! Bookmark not defined.
If you have the Origin Live VTA sliding adjuster Error! Bookmark not defined.
Fit the arm cable Error! Bookmark not defined.
Fit the cartridge Error! Bookmark not defined.

Install the Sub-platter & Platter Error! Bookmark not defined.

Troubleshooting Error! Bookmark not defined.

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SS EETT UUPP && MMAAII NNTT EENNAA NNCCEE OO FF TT UURRNN TTAABB LLEE EE RR RR OO RR !! BB OO OO KK MM AA RR KK NN OO TT

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3

4

Set up Error! Bookmark not defined.
Notes & Maintenance Error! Bookmark not defined.

Notes Error! Bookmark not defined.
Maintenance Error! Bookmark not defined.

SS EETT UUPP OO FF TT OO NNEEAARR MMSS 22 22

Final arm set up and notes 22

Fit the cartridge (if not fitted already) 22
Set tracking force & side force bias 22
Use of Stylus force guage 22
Set the VTA (vertical tracking adjustment) 22
Set the arm fastening tightness 23
Notes 23

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Introduction 24

General comments 24
Importance of cartridge set up 24
Levelness 24
Hi-Fi cartridges alignment 24
Hi-Fi cartridge aligning tools 24
Check hi-fi cartridge clip connections and mounting 24

Setting up hi-fi cartridges 25

Mounting 25
Tracking Force 25
Tangency Alignment 25
Azimuth(for experts only) 25
Vertical Tracking Angle (VTA) 26
Antiskate Force (pivoting arms only) 26
Fine Tuning 26

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Care of hi-fi cartridges 27
Record care and cleaning 27

LIST OF DIAGRAMS

View of Ultra Kit minus sub-platter and platter................................................................................................................2

View of assembled Ultra kit from underside.....................................................................................................................2

Cross section of suspended sub-chassis.............................................................................................................................6

Diagram of Plinth layout dimensions for non-suspended design(Origin Live Standard Plinth).................................9

Diagram of Plinth layout for suspended sub-chassis design..........................................................................................10

Diagram of Plinth layout for suspended sub-chassis design..........................................................................................10

Diagram of free form plinth example...............................................................................................................................11

Diagram of Sub-chassis assembly .................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.

Diagram of lid assembly and rubber feet ...................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Top view of wiring layout & connections..................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Diagram of support bolts and spring arrangement...................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

Diagram showing bearing house fastening arrangement............................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.

Diagram showing spring positions Error! Bookmark not defined.
Rear end view of counterweight 23

5

Introduction (read carefully)
Congratulations on choosing the Origin Live turntable kit. You now have the potential to build one of the finest

sounding turntables available at any price - not only will this kit provide an extraordinary level of performance but also
excellent reliability and low maintenance.

This manual covers the following options:
Installing the Standard kit of parts into an existing turntable plinth
Installing the Standard kit of parts into a custom turntable built to your own design.
Building the kit using an Origin live Standard plinth.
Building the Complete Ultra turntable kit - These instructions are included to show what is involved if you wish to

upgrade at a later stage – They are also included to serve as guidance for the assembly of a typical turntable.

To achieve the full level of performance it is critical that this instruction manual is followed and read fully. There are
aspects of this turntable kit which run contrary to what you may be expect so before altering anything it is important to
have fully read the manual or degradation will result. For example some people expect all bolts to be fully tightened but
testing has shown this to have a significant degrading effect in certain situations.

Building a turntable will be relatively easy for some and a challenge for others. If at first things appear difficult, give
yourself time to think clearly and you will invariably find ways of accomplishing the objective. Most of the kit does not
demand expertise – if you think anything is beyond your capability then you can either ask a friendly dealer to do the job
for a small fee or get a friend to do it.

These instructions are written to cater for everyone from beginners to experts in kit assembly and vinyl replay. Some
sections may therefore appear lengthy as they need to cater for all potential questions and levels of expertise. When
reading the instructions refer to the various diagrams for part names and clarity.

The complete turntable kits will take between 1 to 4 hours to assemble. The dc regulator electr onics initially encounter
speed drift when first started and so will need at least 4 hours to run in before the speed can be finally set with accuracy.

We wish you an enjoyable time not only in the building but most of all in the end result.

Cross section of suspended sub-chassis

6

Parts list & tools required
Parts supplied

Standard kit of parts
Platter & Sub-platter
Main bearing house bottom nut & ¾” UNF top nut + bearing house plate (fitted on complete standard kit)
Standard Motor & fitted short pul ley - 3 off M2 x 6mm motor screws in bag, 2mm A/F Allen key
Power supply 230 volt or 110 volt (delete one)
Standard DC regulator board / switch
Bearing house plate, rectangular motor plate, Oil, STANDARD BAG OF PARTS – Belt, 2 off cable clips, 10 off No 6

x ¾” screws, 3 off no6 x ½”, 4 off M5 brass washers, Optional Parts

Complete Standard kit (added to kit of parts)
Standard Plinth, 3 off large rubber feet + 3 screws & washers + bearing house plate & armboard
Lid, 2 off Lid hinges, 4 off M4 screw & M4 nuts

Optional parts
Ultra plinth, 4 off small rubber feet & 4 nails
Sub-chassis ( MDF damper arm & spring plates, glued washers)
Spring kit Bag - 3 springs / 3 long M5 bolts / 3 spring seats / 3 rubber washers / 6 off M5 brass washers / 9 off M5

serrated washers / 6 off M5 nuts
Advanced DC regulator board / switch
Upgrade Transformer
Sliding VTA adjuster, Aluminium sleeve, M6 x 16 allen set screw, 3mm A/F Allen key
Threaded VTA adjuster and packing washer
Arm (optional)
Paperwork
Turntable instructions
Strobe card
Upgrade transformer sheet (optional)

Tools you will need ideally
Ruler or measuring tape & Marker pen.
Small hacksaw or powerful snips
Cross head screwdriver
3mm or 3.5mm drill
Pliers or molegrips
Hammer
Soldering iron (not essential)
Spirit level

7

Installing the standard kit of parts
Introduction
The standard kit of parts includes all that is required to build a turntable apart from a Plinth. Once one starts thinking

about what sort of plinth to design, one is faced with the question of suspended or non-suspended? Non- suspended is
certainly the easiest but suspended designs are more popular as they arguably produce superior results. The Standard kit
of parts can be used for both types of design. If you choose to start with a non-suspended de sign you can always upgrade
the design to a suspended type at a later stage. We supply a number of optional parts to cater for upgrading and
alternative ideas. This section provides guidance on the installation of the standard kit of parts into

The plinth of an existing turntable
A custom made deck to your own design.
The Origin Live standard plinth
Whichever of the above options you have chosen it is important to refer to the instructions found in the section - “Ultra

kit turntable assembly”. This covers a typical installation and should be read thoroughly and referred to for guidance. The
section you are reading now is designed to complement these instructions by describing alternatives. This may seem a
little confusing at first but is necessary due to the huge number of options available and the need for a flexible approach
to cover all eventualities.

Because of the enormous range of possibilities for the first two of the above three types of installation, this section can
only cover general principles. I t is important on a project of this nature to think through all the steps in detail before
starting (i.e. read all the instructions first). For a suspended sub-chassis model it is wise to check that no fouls exist in
your design by the use of a hardboard full scale template or drawings.

If you have ordered the Origin Live standard plinth for a non-suspended design then you will be able to sift out the
relevant information to build the kit in this section with additional reference to the later sections.

Origin Live Standard Plinth
If you have the Origin Live Standard Plinth then most of the hard work is already carried out - dimensions for the plinth

are shown on a following page. Assembly is best carried out in the following sequence:
Fit the 3 large rubber feet first by screwing them into the predrilled holes on the underside of the plinth. Only tighten the

screws sufficiently to hold the rubber feet on – do not keep tightening as there is no purpose in doing so and they will
go through the rubber.

Install the motor and switch assembly (see attached sheets and diagram in this section).
Fit the lid if you have one - as described in the Ultra kit section.
Screw on the main bearing plate and install the main bearing (as described later in this section).
Fit the sub-platter, belt, platter and tonearm as described in the Ultra kit section.

8

Diagram of Plinth layout dimensions

472mm

for non-suspended design(Origin Live Standard Plinth)

350mm

75mm

m
m

8

8

211mm Linn ©

223mm Rega ©

m
m

6

7

2

m
m

6

2

3

r

o

t

o
M

35 degree

35mm elongated

53mm

hole for motor

Belt

c

m

m

3

2

1

Note

Only dimensions marked “c”

are critical

All dimensions are in mm

170mm

Switch

For switch hole - first counterbore 1” dia from underside

if necessary to leave 6mm (1/4”) thickness. Then drill 9.5 mm dia hole through

9