Acoustical Systems AXIOM User manual

!!1
1
reference tonearm
©
the AXIOM
picture by Harry Ralston owner’s manual

!!2
Text hier eingebenA brief word #
A brief word
from the designer
The AXIOM is the result of my more than 35 years of intimate research and !
preoccupation with analog playback - with the specific focus on the interaction of !
the record groove with the cartridge and tonearm.
A truly universal tonearm, which offers all and every option of alignment –
while ensuring the best possible mechanical guidance for any cartridge.
Taking into account the paramount importance of energy transfer in relation to
effective moving mass.
Resulting in a level of performance only obtainable, when each and every aspect of the analog audio tracking
process is attended to with utmost attention to even the most minute detail.
A level of performance, which transcends prior frontiers and opens new levels of musical realism in the
playback of recorded music.
We do share the real passion for music and I am confident that the AXIOM will allow you to hear and enjoy
your favorite records like never before.
Please get yourself accustomed with this manual.
Make sure you familiarize yourself with each and every aspect of the AXIOM’s options.
Your time will be rewarded with outstanding performance - to the benefit of your whole analog set-up and
ultimately your enjoyment of recorded music.
The AXIOM is entirely designed, manufactured and assembled with care and dedication in Bavaria,
Germany.
Kind regards
D. D. Brakemeier

AXIOM BDA 04-2021
!!
Content!
Technical features & general design 4!
!
Step-by-step procedures 5!
!
Single point mounting vs. SME slide base 5!
!
Unpacking the AXIOM 6!
!
AXIOM variants 6!
!
AXIOM accessory box 7!
!
Mounting the AXIOM 9 !
!
Levelling the AXIOM’s bearing plane 13 !
!
Raising or lowering the pivot plane 15!
!
Setting dynamic VTF 17!
!
Optimizing cartridge mounting 18!
!
Setting Azimuth 19!
!
Setting SRA / VTA 20!
!
Adjustments at SME-adapter 21!
!
Removing finger-lift 22!
!
Removing cartridge mounting plate 23 !
!
Setting anti-skating 23!
!
Specifications 24!
!
AXIOM alignment template 25!

AXIOM BDA 04-2021
!!
Techn ic al fe at ures
& general design
The AXIOM is a pivot tonearm featuring a double
nano-gimbal bearing architecture.
The AXIOM is a static, full lateral balanced design.
The AXIOM features an unique compound arm wand -
a combination of surface hardened Titanium and
Carbon Fiber pipes blocked together and internally
damped by an all new design concept, a concept never
before applied in tonearm design and first featured !
in the AXIOM resulting in unmatched fast !
energy transfer and total absence of any parasitic
resonances in the tonearm.
The AXIOM was designed to explore the possibilities
of analog playback to the utmost degree. To
accomplish the best possible analog playback
performance, the AXIOM offers an unique complete
set of alignment features.
Two (2) variants
The AXIOM is available in 2 standard 12“ variants:
*with fixed standard EIA 1/2“ mounting slots
*with SME-compliant detachable headshell mount!
Alignment options!
Leveling the bearing axis!
!
The AXIOM can be precisely leveled by the user,
independent from the turntable or mounting surface.
This is essential to avoid parasitic side-forces prior to
alignment and anti-skating setting.!
SRA/VTA adjusted at the !
cartridge!
!
In the AXIOM the important alignment(s) !
of VTA / SRA can be made at the cartridge – without
altering the static parameters of the tonearm, while
preserving the other set alignments and leaving the arm
wand always horizontal. !
This again is of paramount importance in a static
balanced design to avoid unwanted changes in static
settings (namely tracking force) when changing
tonearm height to accommodate VTA or SRA.!
Offset and Overhang !
adjustment!
!
Offset is adjusted in the prolonged and slightly
widened slots for the cartridge mounting screws.
Overhang can be adjusted at 2 spots, both located at the
head. First of course in the prolonged 1/2” slots for the
cartridge mounting screws. Here the slots allow for up !
to 5 mm adjustment in overhang and thus !
effective length. The 2nd spot is at the collar of the
headshell where it is clamped to the arm wand. This is
an additional spot for further overhang adjustment only
IF NEEDED. !
The whole headshell can be moved back and forth by
up to another 5 mm in this way.!
This should hardly ever be necessary.
!
Azimuth
The headshell’s collar is also the point for !
azimuth adjustment. By loosening the clamp screw the
user may rotate the whole headshell in either direction.
Small indication marks at the rear of the !
headshell’s collar and on top of the arm wand allow for
reference and easy return to former settings.!
Dynamic anti-skating!
!
Skating compensation – or anti-skating – !
adjustment in the AXIOM is dynamic and !
follows the tangential geometry of the !
AXIOM. If carefully operated, it can be !
adjusted during play. However we recommend that !
you do ALL adjustment or alignment at the AXIOM
ONLY with the cartridge / stylus lifted off the record.

AXIOM BDA 04-2021
!!5
Tonearm height – VTA!
!
Tonearm height can be adjusted on the main VTA-
tower of the AXIOM.
One full turn of the large top knob adjusts height by
precisely 1 mm.!
Tangential alignment!
!
It is possible to align the AXIOM to the !
standard tangential curves of Baerwald, !
Stevenson or Loefgren in any version and !
standard.
The absolute best possible performance !
however is obtained only by aligning the !
AXIOM to the new UNI-DIN tangential curve.
It’s geometric design is uniquely based on !
the UNI-DIN, a tangential curve formulated !
in 2011.!
Step-by-step !
procedures!
!
In the next pages I would like to take you through the
mounting and alignment options of the AXIOM.
All procedures are illustrated step-by-step.
The pictures will give you most all of the !
information you need to perfectly mount and !
set-up the AXIOM.
However, I will guide you through this with !
my comments too and try to give further !
information whenever the mere picture may !
not tell the whole story.
We all like to get a new tool working as fast as
possible.
May I please encourage you to follow me through this
mounting and set-up procedure as precisely as possible
and to the very end - it will be to your advantage.
This will ensure that you get the best !
possible performance from your AXIOM !
and take advantage of all its features and !
capabilities.
!
Single-point mounting vs. !
SME slide base!
In this manual we will cover the AXIOM mounting
with the standard 1-point mounting.
In addition there is the option to mount the !
AXIOM easily onto any existing 9” or 10” SME
armboard.!
!
We do offer - as a special order item - a !
dedicated SME-slide base for the AXIOM.!
If interested, please ask your dealer for the SME-slide
base for the AXIOM.
There is no difference in performance between the 2
mounting options.
We further offer other adaptor mounting plates for
existing armboards upon your request.
If you are in need of a mounting plate for other
existing armboards - to take advantage of !
existing pre-drilled armboards - please kindly check
back with your dealer who will contact us.
GENERAL NOTE
Please make sure prior to setting up !
the AXIOM that your turntable’s !
platter and armboard are dead level.

AXIOM BDA 04-2021
!!6
The AXIOM suitcase
left: AXIOM (special order 24ct Gold finish)
right: AXIOM Annyversary
Unpacking the AXIOM
Please make sure that all parts are present !
by unpacking the AXIOM and all its tools and
accessories: !
!
The AXIOM suitcase !
containing the following:
the AXIOM tonearm
the AXIOM’s accessory box !
AXIOM Annyversary SME - for detachable headshell
and integrated headshell cartridges.
SME/EIA-adapter allows for overhang and offset
adjustment !
AXIOM Annyversary 10“ - with central mounting
base.
Additional variants of AXIOM Annyversary only

AXIOM BDA 04-2021
!!7
The AXIOM’s accessory box !
containing the following:
AXIOM alignment template !
- detailed description on page 25 -
(2) black knob thumb screws
(2) stainless steel countersunk screws
(1) white knob thumb screw with sharp tip!
in 8 mm sleeve
(1) white 20 mm POM adapter
(2) small white 7 mm spindle hood
(1) 100 mm long, 3 mm stainless steel pin
(1) plastic bag with (2) distance stands
(1) small diameter blue spirit level !
for use on tonearm bearing pivot
(1) 20 mm round dial scale for SRA / VTA adjustment
at the headshell
(3) standard M5 mounting screws with a choice of
length: !
-(1)20mmlength !
-(1)25mmlength!
-(1)30mmlength
(1) 29 mm diameter stainless steel mounting plates
with rim edge on downside. !
One each with 8, 14 and 20 mm height.
(1) special M5 knurled head thumb screw
(1) 30 mm diameter stainless steel cover plate for
covering the mounting hole area after set-up.
AXIOM accessory box

AXIOM BDA 04-2021
!!8
Please remove(1) of the lateral weight assemblies and
the main counterweight with the small secondary
counterweight from the accessory box.
Also please take the (3) different height 29 mm
diameter stainless steel mounting washers.
Please do open the tool box to have easy access to the
various bits.
You’ll need some of them each at a time now.
Special order 10“ version of AXIOM Annyversary
with 238 mm P2S and central mounting base.
2021 version of AXIOM w/micrometer VTF and
new knurled thumb mounting screw.

AXIOM BDA 04-2021
!!9
Place the washer with the „rim“ side down over the
thread hole.
You can also use the special thumb knurl head screw -
if you don’t need to cover the mounting hole later with
the (purely cosmetic) cover plate.
Please take one (1) of the 3 different height D29 mm
stainless steel mounting washers and a M5 screw which
is according to the washer.
For the smallest height washer take the shortest screw,
for the middle height the middle … etc.
Mounting the AXIOM
Place the screw through the mounting hole in the
AXIOM’s mounting board.
Gently place the AXIOM - holding it at the VTA tower
like in the picture - over the plain top of the washer
holding the screw in the other hand.

AXIOM BDA 04-2021
!!10
Now please note the 3 grub screws in a circle - !
each at 120° - around the mounting screw in the center.
We will return to the mounting screw later.
Gently screw the M5 screw down - not tighten it, but
just holding the AXIOM in place and still allowing for
some little „play“.
Please turn back the M3 grub screw in the end of the
counter bar by 1-2 revolutions.
From the AXIOM’s accessory box please take the long
tool box and open it.
Select the „1.5“ Allen bit and put it in the tip of the bit
holder

AXIOM BDA 04-2021
!!11
Please put the lateral weight bar - with (1) cylinder
attached - through the cross-hole at the end of the
counter shaft.
Please slide the counterweight + small auxiliary weight
over the counter shaft.
Now attach and fix the 2nd cylinder as pictured.
Place it at the end of the lateral rod.
This way you counterbalance the breakdown torque
effect of the offset angle.
Now please re-tighten the M3 grub screw in the rear
end of the counter shaft while the lateral cross bar is in
a position like pictured.

AXIOM BDA 04-2021
!!12
With very gentle torque only fix the counterweight in
place.
For this please use the 0.9mm Allen bit.
Gently shift the counterweight towards a preliminary
position suitable to act as a good first balance.
The new version of AXIOM (since 2020) features a
stainless steel collar at the forward end of the Teflon
sleeve for the counterweight.
This stainless steel collar can be ordered for older
versions and easy install by the AXIOM’s owner.
In addition to the main counterweight there are
secondary counterweights with different payloads. !
(2) coming with the AXIOM. These will cover all but
cartridges with more than 22 grams weight. Further
each Axiom comes with 2 pair of lateral weights: !
(1) Aluminium and (1) stainless steel. This allows for
very precise fine-tuning of effective moving mass
with ANY cartridge.

AXIOM BDA 04-2021 #
!!13
Please take the 2.5 mm Allen bit from the
tool-box.
Please take the small blue precision spirit level from the
accessory box.
Make sure you view down on the spirit level exactly
from above with your index eye.
Please close or cover your other eye.
Place the precision spirit level on the bearing cover
plate.
Levelling the AXIOM’s bearing plane

AXIOM BDA 04-2021
!!14
While attending one screw after the other at a time you
get more and more accustomed to the routine. Most
important is that you don’t do too much (i.e. engage
and fasten too hard..) at a time and always leave a litte
bit of „headroom“.
Please attend each of the 3 grub screws around the
mounting screw gently and only with quarter turn - one
after the other.
You may watch how the bubble in the spirit level reacts
to up and down movement of the screw.
Work in turn - clockwise or counterclockwise - and that
way you approach more and more a perfect level for
the horizontal bearing.
When you are done all grub screws will be fastened
with fairly tight (= high pressure) torque and the bubble
will be perfect center.
Now the bearing plane is perfect level.

AXIOM BDA 04-2021
!!15
Then - and only after unlocking the side screw!! -
you may adjust tonearm height by turning the top
screw. Clockwise turn lowers the tonearm’s height.
Counter clockwise turn lifts the tonearm’s height.
To adjust tonearm height / VTA first undo the locking
screw with 1/4 turn counter-clockwise.
With the AXIOM Annyversary the procedure to adjust
tonearm height is the same: first unlock the side locking
screw just a tiny bit.
Then - and only after unlocking the side screw!! -
you may adjust tonearm height by turning the top half
of the micrometer. Here clockwise turn lifts the
tonearm’s height. Counter clockwise turn lowers the
tonearm’s height. You can read out relative change and
value at the front scale in 100th/mm precision for
repeat settings.
Raising and lowering the pivot

AXIOM BDA 04-2021
!!16
The anti-skating device on the AXIOM is a non-touch
and dynamic type.
By turning the screw with the 1.5 mm Allen bit inward
(clockwise) you INCREASE anti-skating.
Counter-clockwise turn DECREASES anti-skating.
A good setting to start is with the grub screw’s end still
visible when viewing down from above the bearing
housing.
The anti-skating device on the AXIOM Annyversary
is driven by a micrometer with scale indication.
This scale is RELATIVE value. The scale is to return to
settings with utmost accuracy.
Starting April 2021, the AXIOM’s anti-skating is now
no longer with grub screw and Allen bit, but with a
small knurled head thumb screw.
It still works in exactly the same way as before.

AXIOM BDA 04-2021
!!17
Increasing the value shown on the scale = increase
of VTF.
This is NOT linear an increase and NEITHER an
absolute scale.
It is for very fine reference and the ability to
always return to a former setting with utmost
precision. !
Precision here is 1/100th of a mN = approx. 0.001
gram!
IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE:
Any VTF setting by the dynamic VTF /
micrometer has to be IN ADDITION to at least
92% static VTF setting by counterweight.
The magnetic dynamic VTF setting is ONLY for
fine-tuning the perfect VTF for the given cartridge
by utmost precision.
This can - very careful ! - be done while playing a
record and thus allows a fine-tuning of the
cartridge’s performance, which is hardly possible
on other tonearms.
In addition to the static VTF setting by
counterweight(s), the AXIOM features a non-touch
dynamic VTF setting.
This is now operated by a micrometer adjustment.
In addition to the static VTF setting by
counterweight(s), the AXIOM features a non-touch
dynamic VTF setting.
This is operated by a micrometer adjustment.
Setting dynamic VTF

AXIOM BDA 04-2021
!!18
How to mount your cartridge !
of choice for best performance
Here are just some standard recommendations:
For mounting your cartridge, please use !
NON- magnetic M2.5 screws and plastic !
washers under the screws head. We recommend using
Titanium screws. !
!
If you can’t use Titanium screws, please use brass/gun
metal M2.5 screws. They are non- magnetic and provide
good energy transfer.
Aluminum is too soft and does not give enough
coupling for perfect energy transfer.
Stainless steel screws always have a minimum of
magnetism - do not use them. You will loose sound
quality.
Do use, if possible, a torque driver with !
precisely adjustable settings.
For M2.5 cartridge screws please use torque settings
according to 80-90% of maximum as recommended by
German engineering norm for DIN 912.
This ensures perfect energy transfer - and !
thus gives you the most dynamic and detailed,
uncolored sound from your cartridge.
Detailed recommendations regarding mounting !
screws, settings and special tools are available from
acoustical systems upon your request.
Recommended top quality „Made in Germany“
torque drivers for 1/4“ bits.
left: fixed torque - middle and right: adjustable torque
Best sonic results can be obtained with the special
SMARTscrews - custom made out of Titanium Timet
1100 (if you are interested please ask your dealer).
Recommended torque values for cartridge mounting
screws for optimum energy transfer
M2.5 torque
Titanium 0.75 Nm = 75 cNm
Stainless steel 0.58 Nm = 58 cNm
Brass 0.45 Nm = 45 cNm
Aluminium 0.35 Nm = 35 cNm
Optimizing cartridge mounting

AXIOM BDA 04-2021
!!19
The AXIOM’s mirrored alignment !
template ensures a super precise 1-point !
alignment to the UNI-DIN tangential curve.
The AXIOM’s geometry is tailored to the UNI-DIN
geometry designed and introduced by acoustical
systems in 2011.
If you are interested in the background of this all-new
tangential alignment - please check back on
acoustical-systems.com website for an essay I have
written about UNI-DIN and its unique features.
The AXIOM’s template is a special tailored variant of
UNI-DIN.
Tailored to the use with AXIOM and AQUILAR
tonearms ONLY.
Make sure that the stylus meets the single point sweet
spot in the mirrored template while your cartridge’s
cantilever is in line with the center line behind the
sweet spot.
The template features the same precision and
construction as our SMARTractor universal
alignment tool.
Should you need to adjust azimuth, please look at the
rear collar of the AXIOM’s headshell.
The markings will allow easy return to former settings
and give you a good indication of !
direction and position.
You need to completely loosen the lockscrew on the
lower side of the headshell’s collar, using the 1.5 mm
Allen bit.
Do lock the screw again after finding the right
azimuth.
PLEASE NOTE: good finger-force applied is always
enough on a tonearm/headshell!
Don’t over-tighten with excessive wrist-/hand-force
applied.
Setting Azimuth

AXIOM BDA 04-2021
!!20
The AXIOM is one of only two tonearms on the
market - the other being it’s “little brother” the
AQUILAR - allowing you to set SRA and VTA at the
cartridge without altering static settings.
If you need to adjust SRA / VTA, first loosen the
hidden screw on the front side in the AXIOM’s
headshell.
This screw actually tightens a clamp fixing the
Likewise this change in SRA will of course also
influence the VTA angle of your cantilever.
To raise the SRA° make some “room” first by !
turning the set screw up to the desired position. Now
with 1 finger carefully press the rear !
bottom of your cartridge upwards.
When done, please tighten the headshell clamp again
by turning the screw clockwise.
You can use the 20 mm round scale to return !
to former settings and keep track of SRA !
adjustment.
Now take the 2.0 Allen key in the !
accessory box for adjusting the grub screw at the rear
top end of the headshell.
Clockwise rotation will turn down the tail of the
cartridge and thus will decrease the SRA°.
The total mounting plate angle allows for freely
changing SRA for most all cartridges from 97° down
to 84°.
To accomplish this for other tonearms you would need
to move them up and down their towers by more than
2.5” up and 2.5” down - practically impossible.
You can use the small round scale you’ll find in the
accessory box packed with the small blue spirit bubble
and the SMARTstylus.
Placed around the SRA / VTA grub screw and the
short leg of a Allen key used as a indicator arm you
can very precisely return to former settings.
Setting SRA / VTA