Monolith Turntable P/N 27749 User's Manual
SAFETY WARNINGS AND GUIDELINES Please read this entire manual before using this device, paying extra attention to these safety warnings and guidelines. Please keep this manual in a safe place for future reference. This device is intended for indoor use only. Do not expose this device to water or moisture of any kind. Do not place drinks or other containers with moisture on or near the device. If moisture does get in or on the device, immediately unplug it from the power outlet and allow it to fully dry before reapplying power. Do not touch the device, the power cord, or any other connected cables with wet hands. Do not expose this device to excessively high temperatures. Do not place it in, on, or near heat sources, such as a fireplace, stove, radiator, etc. Do not leave it in direct sunlight. Do not place or install this device in an area where it can be exposed to excessive amounts of dust, humidity, oil, smoke, or combustible vapors. Prior to operation, check the unit and power cord for physical damage. Do not use if physical damage has occurred. Before plugging the unit into a power outlet, ensure that the outlet provides the same type and level of power required by the device. Unplug this device from the power source when not in use. Take care to prevent damage to the power cord. Do not allow it to become crimped, pinched, walked on, or become tangled with other cords. Ensure that the power cord does not present a tripping hazard. Never unplug the unit by pulling on the power cord. Always grasp the connector head or adapter body. Ensure that power is turned off and disconnected before making any electrical connections. Clean using a soft, dry cloth only. Do not use chemical cleaners, solvents, or detergents. For stubborn deposits, moisten the cloth with warm water. 2
This device has no user serviceable parts. Do not attempt to open, service, or modify this device. Keep out of reach of children. Keep away from corrosive materials. FEATURES Belt-drive turntable with DC motor Selectable line level or phono level output Gold plated RCA jacks Includes preinstalled Audio-Technica AT100E dual moving magnet cartridge 20 Hz ~ 20 khz frequency response 68dB or higher weighted signal-to-noise ratio Standard H-4 headshell bayonet mount for 1/2-inch cartridges Includes 45 RPM adapter CUSTOMER SERVICE The Monoprice Customer Service department is dedicated to ensuring that your ordering, purchasing, and delivery experience is second to none. If you have any problem with your order, please give us an opportunity to make it right. You can contact a Monoprice Customer Service representative through the Live Chat link on our website www.monoprice.com during normal business hours (Mon-Fri: 5am-7pm PT, Sat-Sun: 9am- 6pm PT) or via email at support@monoprice.com 3
PACKAGE CONTENTS Please take an inventory of the package contents to ensure you have all the items listed below. If anything is missing or damaged, please contact Monoprice Customer Service for a replacement. 1x Monolith turntable with installed cartridge 1x Turntable dust cover 1x Aluminum platter with rubber belt on the sub-platter 1x Rubber slip mat 1x Felt slip mat 1x Stylus 1x 45 RPM adapter 1x 3ft stereo RCA cable 1x AC power adapter 1x User's manual 4
PRODUCT OVERVIEW Top View 1. COUNTERWEIGHT: The counterweight is used to control the amount of stylus pressure on the vinyl. 2. ANTI-SKATE CONTROL: Use this knob to control the anti-skating feature of the tonearm. 3. TONEARM LEVER: Use this lever to safely raise and lower the tonearm. 4. TONEARM REST AND LOCK: The tonearm rests on this post and can be locked in place when not in use. 5. HEADSHELL: The headshell holds the cartridge assembly and attaches to the tonearm with a standard H-4 bayonet mount 6. PLATTER: Place the record on the platter to play. 7. 33/45 RPM SWITCH: Set the lever to the 33 or 45 rpm position to play a record at the indicated speed. Place the lever in the OFF position to pause playback, then place it back in the 33 or 45 rpm position to resume playback. Note that the switch is actually located in the front left corner of the turntable. 5
Rear View 8. AUDIO OUTPUT: Plug in the included RCA cable to connect the output of the turntable to your amplifier's audio inputs. 9. PRE AMP SWITCH: Set the Pre Amp switch to the ON position if you want to connect the output of the turntable to line level inputs on your amplifier. Set the Pre Amp switch to the OFF position to connect the output of the turntable to phono level inputs on your amplifier. 10. AUTO STOP SWITCH: When Auto Stop is enabled, the turntable motor will turn off when the stylus reaches the dead wax area of the record. 11. DC IN 12V: DC barrel connector for connecting the included AC power adapter. 12. POWER SWITCH: Use this switch to turn power on or off. If playback is paused using the 33/45 RPM switch, the motor is still running, even though the platter is not turning. Use this switch to remove power from the motor to save energy. INITIAL SETUP Perform the following steps to prepare the turntable for use. 1. Ensure that all equipment to be connected is powered off and unplugged from its power source. 2. Remove the turntable and all parts from the packaging. Use the PACKAGE CONTENTS list above to verify that no parts are missing. 3. Place the turntable on a flat, level surface. 6
4. Plug one end of the included RCA cable into the AUDIO OUTPUT jacks on the back of the turntable. 5. If your amplifier has phono inputs, plug the other end of the RCA cable into the amplifier's phono inputs, then place the PRE AMP switch on the turntable in the OFF position. Otherwise, plug the other end of the RCA cable into one of the amplifier's line inputs, then place the PRE AMP switch in the ON position. 6. Ensure that the POWER switch is in the OFF position. 7. Plug the DC barrel connector on the included AC power adapter into the DC IN 12V jack, then plug the adapter into a nearby AC power outlet. 8. Raise the dust cover on the turntable, then ensure that the 33/45 RPM switch is in the OFF position. 9. Unscrew the headshell from the tonearm, install the stylus onto the cartridge, then screw the headshell back onto the tonearm. 10. While looking at the top of the platter, reach under the platter with one hand and gently pull the belt near one of the finger holes in the platter. Hold the belt in place with your finger, then insert your thumb through the finger hole and replace your finger holding the belt with your thumb to keep that portion of the belt away from the sub-platter. 11. Position the finger hole on the platter over the motor drive, then let the belt slip into the groove on the motor drive pulley. 12. Position the center hole on the platter over the spindle, then press it down into place. Turn the platter several times to ensure the belt is properly seated on both the motor drive pulley and the sub-platter. 13. Place the included rubber slip mat over the top of the platter, then place the included felt slip pad on top of the rubber mat. 14. Turn the anti-skating knob fully counterclockwise to the 0 position. 15. Use the tonearm lock to lock the tonearm to the tonearm rest, then ensure that the stylus cap cover is in the down position to protect the stylus from damage. 7
16. With the tonearm locked in place, insert the counterweight onto the back of tonearm and push it until it clicks in place. 17. Ensure that the tonearm lever is in the down position (forward), then unlock the tonearm from the tonearm rest and swing it out so it is between the edge of the platter and the tonearm rest. 18. Use the counterweight to balance the tonearm. If the tonearm is below level, turn the counterweight clockwise to move weight to the back of the tonearm. If the tonearm is above level, turn the counterweight counterclockwise to move weight to the front of the tonearm. Continue adjusting until the tonearm is balanced and not moving up or down. 19. On the front of the counterweight is a ring with numbers, which indicates the weight in grams. Without turning the counterweight, carefully turn the ring until the line with the 0 is pointing straight up. Ensure that the tonearm is still balanced. 20. Place the tonearm on the tonearm rest and lock it in place with the tonearm lock. 21. The proper stylus weight for the installed cartridge and stylus is 1.8 grams ±0.5g. Carefully turn the counterweight counterclockwise one until the dial is a little past halfway between the 1.5 and 2.0 readings. This indicates a total weight of about 1.8 grams on the stylus. Note that the ideal stylus pressure varies for different cartridges and styli. If you replace the cartridge/stylus with a different model, refer to that cartridge's specifications for its ideal stylus pressure and adjust these instructions accordingly. 22. Turn the anti-skate knob clockwise to the 1.8 position. The anti-skate setting should equal the stylus pressure set in the step above. Congratulations, your new Monolith turntable is properly setup and ready to use! 8
PLAYING A RECORD Perform the following steps to play a record. 1. Raise the turntable dust cover. 2. Ensure that the 33/45 RPM switch is in the OFF position. 3. Depress the POWER switch on the back of the turntable to turn it on. 4. If you want the turntable to stop turning when the stylus reaches the end of the record, place the AUTO-STOP switch in the ON position. 5. Place a record on the platter. If using a 7-inch/45 RPM record, you will need to use the included 45 RPM adapter. 6. Use a record cleaning product to remove any dirt or dust from the record grooves. 7. Ensure that the stylus cover is in the up position. 8. Push the tonearm lever to the up position. 9. Set the 33/45 RPM switch to the 33 or 45 position, depending on the speed of the record. The platter will begin to turn. 10. Unlock the tonearm from the tonearm rest, then position the stylus over the lead-in groove. 11. Use the tonearm lever to lower the stylus into contact with the record. 12. When the record side is finished playing, use the tonearm lever to lift the stylus off the record, then place the tonearm on the tonearm rest. 13. Place the 33/45 RPM switch in the OFF position. 14. If you are done playing records, lock the tonearm in position on the tonearm rest, ensure that the stylus cover is in the down position so it protects the stylus, depress the POWER switch on the back of the turntable to turn it off, and then lower the dust cover. 9
BEST PRACTICES The following recommendations can help you get the most out of your new Monolith turntable and your record collection. Use a lighted magnifying glass to visually inspect the stylus for the presence of dirt or dust. If dust or dirt is present, use a stylus cleaning brush and liquid to remove it. Always use a record cleaning product to clean the dust and dirt out of the record grooves. This ensures that both your records and the stylus will last longer and helps prevent record ticks and pops. Static electricity may build up on the record surface after cleaning, which can attract dust and dirt from the air. Use a static removal product to remove any static build-up. Most records ship with a paper sleeve. Paper sleeves can contain acids, which can damage the chemical structure of your vinyl over time. Additionally, removing the record from a paper sleeve can cause static build-up on the record surface, which can attract dust and dirt from the air. Consider replacing the paper sleeves with high-density polyethylene, anti-static sleeves for additional protection and elimination of excess static build-up. Always store your records vertically. Placing records on top of each other can cause distortion or warping of the records on the bottom of the stack. When not in use, always keep your records in their outer sleeves. Prolonged exposure to light can damage the chemical structure of the vinyl. Over time, removing and inserting records from the shelves can cause wear and tear on the outer sleeve. This can be eliminated by using plastic outer sleeves. Avoid packing your records too tightly on the shelf. The United States Library of Congress, which maintains a collection of well over 125,000 records, recommends storing records at temperatures between 46~50 F with a 30~40% relative humidity. 10
SPECIFICATIONS Turntable Drive System Motor Type Motor Speeds Drive Belt Length Drive Belt Width Drive Belt Thickness Audio Output Connectors Audio Output Types Phono Output Level Line Output Level Belt drive DC motor 33 1/3 and 45 RPM 534.07 mm 4.5 mm 0.6 mm Gold plated stereo RCA Phono or line level, switchable 2.5mV ±3dB 140mV (-17dBV) Wow and Flutter 0.2% Signal-to-Noise Ratio (weighted) Signal-to-Noise Ratio (unweighted) Platter Material Platter Diameter Auto-Stop Function Input Power AC Adapter Input Power Maximum Power Consumption 68dB or higher (A-weighted, 20kHz LPF) 62dB or higher (unweighted, 20kHz LPF) Aluminum with rubber and felt mats 12" (30.5 cm) Yes 12 VDC, 500mA 100 ~ 240 VAC, 50/60 Hz 1.5 watts 11
Tonearm Tonearm Type Tonearm Material Effective Tonearm Mass Effective Tonearm Length Tonearm Height Overhang Headshell Mount Headshell Weight Pivot Bearing Anti-Skate Adjustment Supported Cartridge Weight Static balanced Aluminum 28.87 grams 224.0 mm 40.2 mm 19.0 mm H-4 bayonet mount 10.7 grams Yes Yes 3.5 ~ 6.5 grams 12
Cartridge Cartridge Model Cartridge Type Stylus Cantilever Audio-Technica AT100E Dual moving magnet 0.3 x 0.7 mil elliptical diamond Aluminum Mount Type 1/2" Frequency Response Channel Separation Channel Balance Load Impedance Load Capacity Output Voltage Cartridge Weight Recommended Tracking Force Vertical Tracking Angle 20 Hz ~ 20 khz 27dB at 1kHz 2.0dB or less at 1kHz 47 kilohms 100pF 4.5mV ±3dB 5.7g ±0.5g 1.8g ±0.5g (1.4g standard) 20 degrees Monolith is a trademark of Monoprice Inc. 13