The Premier FT-3 is a high-quality tonearm designed for turntables, offering precise control and adjustability for optimal audio reproduction. It is accompanied by a comprehensive mounting template and detailed instructions for installation and operation.
Function Description:
The Premier FT-3 tonearm is designed to hold a phono cartridge and track the grooves of a record, converting the mechanical vibrations into electrical signals. Its design emphasizes stability, precise alignment, and adjustable damping to minimize resonance and optimize tracking performance. The tonearm features a variable fluid damping system, allowing users to fine-tune its response based on the cartridge's dynamic compliance.
Important Technical Specifications:
- Overall length: 305 mm
- Effective length (pivot to stylus): 239 mm
- Overhang: 17.3 mm
- Offset angle: 23.0°
- Mounting distance (record center to pivot point): 221.7 mm
- Maximum backswing: 64 mm
- Cartridge weight range: Standard counterweight up to 8g; with extra weight, 8-14g.
Usage Features:
Mounting and Installation:
The installation process involves drilling several holes in the turntable's mounting board using a provided template. Key holes include:
- Three 5/32" holes (D1, D2, D3) for mounting base bolts, allowing for fine adjustment.
- A 3/4" hole (E) and a 1/2" hole (F) for other components.
- A 1 1/2" hole (C) for the main tonearm pillar.
The template is crucial for ensuring the correct 221.7 mm spindle-to-pivot mounting distance. Users are advised to use a metal ruler for final measurements due to potential paper instability. Careful positioning is required to ensure clearance for the counterweight, cue lever, anti-skate platform, and dust cover.
Parts Identification:
The tonearm includes several key components:
- Arm rest (1): Secures the tonearm when not in use.
- Arm rest lock (2): Locks the arm rest in place.
- Arm rest height adjustment screw (3): Adjusts the height of the arm rest.
- Cue platform (4): Supports the tonearm during cueing.
- Cue height adjustment screw (5): Adjusts the height of the cue platform.
- Cue cylinder (6): The mechanism for raising and lowering the tonearm.
- Damping adjustment knob (7): Controls the amount of fluid damping.
- Anti-skate adjustment knob (8): Adjusts the anti-skate force.
- Serial number (9): Unique identifier for the tonearm.
- Tone arm pillar (10): The main vertical support for the tonearm.
- Elevation collar (11): Used for VTA adjustment.
- Elevation collar lock screw (12): Secures the elevation collar.
- VTA locking set screw (13): Locks the VTA adjustment.
- Elevation screw (14): Used with the elevation adjustment tool for VTA changes.
- Mounting base (15): The foundation for the tonearm on the turntable.
- Stylus force indicator dial (16): Displays the tracking force.
- Counter weight (17): Balances the tonearm and sets tracking force.
- Elevation adjustment tool (18): A 3mm hex key with a knob for VTA adjustments.
- Headshell (19): Where the phono cartridge is mounted.
- Headshell lock set screw (20): Secures the headshell to the tonearm.
Tone Arm Adjustment and Operation:
- Leveling: The turntable must be leveled before any tonearm adjustments.
- Counterweight and Tracking Force: The counterweight is twisted onto the back of the tonearm. For cartridges up to 8g, only the main counterweight is needed. For 8-14g cartridges, an accessory counterweight is used. The tonearm is balanced by moving the counterweight until it "floats" parallel to the platter. The stylus force indicator dial is then rotated to set the desired tracking force, aligning the '0' mark with the white line on the counterweight support shaft, and then rotating the entire counterweight to set the desired gram mark.
- Cartridge Mounting and Wiring: The phono cartridge is loosely mounted to the headshell, and the tonearm wires are attached according to the standard color code (Red R+, Green R-, White L+, Blue L-). The finger lift is optional.
- Overhang and Horizontal Tracking Angle: A high-quality alignment protractor (e.g., Dennesen Soundtractor) is used to adjust the cartridge overhang (17.3 mm) and horizontal tracking angle.
- Azimuth Alignment: With 1 gram of tracking force and zero anti-skate, the cartridge is cued onto a non-rotating record. Azimuth is correct when the stylus's center axis is perpendicular to the record surface. If adjustment is needed, the headshell lock set screw is loosened with a 1.5mm hex key, and the headshell is rotated to correct the azimuth. It's crucial not to overtighten this screw.
- VTA (Vertical Tracking Angle) Adjustment: The VTA-16 mounting base allows for easy adjustment of the tonearm height, which optimizes the Stylus Rake Angle (SRA). The elevation adjustment tool (a 3mm hex key with a knob) is used. To adjust, the VTA locking set screw is loosened, and the elevation screw is rotated. Clockwise rotation lowers the rear of the tonearm, while counter-clockwise rotation raises it. Gross VTA adjustments are made by loosening both the VTA locking set screw and the elevation collar lock screw and moving the arm pillar up or down. The VTA adjustment system works best when the elevation collar is within 10mm of the mounting base.
- Caution: VTA adjustments should ideally be made with the stylus off the record to prevent damage. If adjusting during play, extreme care is necessary.
- Anti-skate Adjustment: After rebalancing and setting tracking force, the anti-skate knob is rotated clockwise until the indicated anti-skate force matches the cartridge's tracking force. Fine adjustments can be made by listening.
- Fluid Damping: The Premier FT-3 can be used with or without fluid damping. It is recommended for cartridges with very low dynamic compliance (below 10 x 10-6 cm/dyne). The damping adjustment knob on top of the bearing housing controls the amount of damping. Damping fluid is added by carefully emptying the vial into the opening of the damping knob.
- Connecting the Tonearm Cable: The five-pin female connector of the tonearm cable or PIB-1 interface box is plugged into the bottom of the tonearm. The PIB-1 box should be mounted to the turntable, and RCA-RCA interconnect cables (with ground wire) connect it to the preamp phono or step-up device.
Maintenance Features:
Fluid Damping Removal:
If the tonearm needs to be shipped or serviced, the damping fluid must be removed to prevent contamination of the bearings. This involves:
- Removing the tonearm from the turntable by loosening the VTA locking set screw and elevation collar lock screw.
- Keeping the tonearm upright, remove the two #0 Phillips screws farthest from the tonearm pillar on the underside of the bearing housing.
- Remove the housing that holds the damping knob to access the hemispherical reservoir.
- Use the damping fluid vial as an eyedropper to remove the fluid, followed by a cotton swab for any remaining fluid.
- Clean the damping piston with alcohol.
- Reassemble the tonearm. Replacement damping fluid is available at a nominal price.
Bearings:
The bearings in the Premier FT-3 tonearm undergo strict quality control for freedom of movement and lack of play. Users are explicitly warned not to attempt bearing adjustments themselves, as this will permanently damage the bearings and void the warranty. For any bearing repairs or adjustments, users should contact their dealer or Sumiko, Inc.
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