Clearaudio Champion Manual

Page 1 clearaudio electronic GmbH 2006
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Ch ha am mp pi io on n
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Assembly and
User Manual

Champion Level 1
USER MANUAL
Page 2 clearaudio electronic GmbH 2006
DEAR AUDIO ENTHUSIAST
Thank you for your decision to purchase a clearaudio Champion Level 1 turntable. This turntable is
manufactured to the highest degree of tolerance and quality.
Please take a moment to read this owner’s manual to ensure correct set up, to avoid any possible
damage and to learn how proper care of your clearaudio
Champion Level 1 turntable which will give
you many years of musical enjoyment and pleasure.
clearaudio electronic GmbH
Contents
1. Front view 3
2. Package contents 4
3. Assembly and Operation 6
4. Speed calibration 9
5. Special instructions 9
6. Service 9
7. Technical data 11

Champion Level 1
USER MANUAL
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1. Front view
The photo below shows the clearaudio Champion Level 1 turntable assembled and set up with the Unify
tonearm. You can see the use of carefully selected materials and the resonance avoiding construction.
Further the stand-alone Motor reduces any induced vibrations and resonances to the turntable chassis.
Champion Level 1 assembled and set up
2. Package contents
The clearaudio Champion Level 1 turntable is delivered in a special packaging to ensure its safe
transport. Please check the contents as shown in the picture below and in the list on the next page:

Champion Level 1
USER MANUAL
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1 2
4
3 6
5
9
7 8
10 11 12 13
14
15 16
17
Overview of package contents
Not shown: a pair of white gloves
1. Champion acrylic chassis with mounted bearing 10. Champion acrylic chassis (lower part)
2. Complete preassembled stand-alone motor 11. REGA-counterweight
3. Decuppeling device for the motor 12. REGA-tonearm base nut
4. Three Flat Pads to be lawn under the Spikes 13. Complete preassembled REGA-OEM tonearm
5. Pulley made out of acrylic including fixing screws 14. Tube of grease for servicing the platter bearing
6. Grounding cable to ground the bearing screw 15. High-precision turntable platter made out of solid
silicon acrylic
7. clearaudio Clever Clamp 16. Hex key wrenches : one to adjust the tonearm
height, the other for the screws to mount the base
8. Precision level gauge 17. Screw-driver made out of aluminium
9. Two drive belts (one spare)

Champion Level 1
USER MANUAL
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3. Assembly and Operation
First please put on the white gloves to avoid finger prints on the surface of the acrylic chassis during
installation.
1. Place first the lower part-chassis on a clean
and soft surface. Please pay attention, that the
surface of your HiFi-rack is horizontal and
vertical correctly adjusted, by using the
delivered level gauge. Important: Never turn
the Spikes of the turntable chassis, they had
been adjusted in the factory. Use the delivered
Flad Pads to avoid scratches on the surface of
your HiFi-rack. After that place the chassis with
the mounted bearing onto the first one.
2. Now unpack your turntable platter and place
the platter carefully on the upper part of the
bearing which is mounted in the turntable
chassis. Important: take care not to cause to
much pressure!
3. Place the pulley on the motor spindle. The
distance between the pulley and the motor
housing should be approx. 1-2mm. Tighten
the little screws inside the pulley with the
aluminium screwdriver provided.

Champion Level 1
USER MANUAL
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4. Place the decuppeling base for the motor in the
indent of the chassis and place the motor on it.
The switch of the motor should be on the
outside of the turntable and the space between
motor and chassis approx. 1cm. (for an exact
adjustment see chapter 4).
5. Please screw the tonearm carefully into the
upper part of the tonearm base. Then slide the
tonearm nut over the tonearmcable and tighten
it, but not too much because the tonearm
should be still able to turn.
6. Now you can While holding the unit you can
adjust the tonearm height (VTA = vertikal
tracking angle) when you have a cartridge
mounted. The VTA is adjusted correctly if the
tonearm sits parallel to the turntable platter
surface after lifting it down. Now loosen the six
screws with the provided hex key wrench, to be
able to set the distance between the spindle
and the tonarm bearing crosspoint to 222mm,
by turning the tonearm base. After that you can
fix the six srews again.

Champion Level 1
USER MANUAL
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7. Turn the tonearm into the final position where
the tonearm is almost parallel to the right
hand edge of the chassis. After that you can
fix the tonearm in this position by holding the
tonearm nut with one hand and turning the
tonearm against, while using the other hand
or tight the large nut with a wrench. Mount
the tonearm counterweight.
8. To change the height of the tonearm lift, turn
it up to the high position and loosen the little screw at the front. Now you can move the plate of the
lift. The distance between record and cartridge diamond when it is lifted up should be about 5mm.
Tighten the screw again.
9. Place the belt first round the platter, then round the smaller diameter of the pulley (33 1/3 rpm).
10.The tension of the belt can be changed by turning the motor about its axis. The tension is correct if
the correct turntable speed is achieved within 10 seconds. If the tension is too high, the motor
could start to vibrate a little bit. If the tension is too loose, the turntable will not achieve a
constant and correct speed.
11.Assemble the cartridge according to the
manufacturer’s instructions.
Riemen
Motor
Plattenteller

Champion Level 1
USER MANUAL
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12. If you should have problems with hum, the
turntable may need to be grounded. In this
case, connect the grounding wire supplied to
the screw of the bearing and to the earth
connector of your amplifier.
The clearaudio
Champion Level 1 turntable is now completely assembled and you can now enjoy
listening to music.
4. Speed calibration
Install the drive belt, first around the platter, then around the motor pulley. There are two diameters on
the motor pulley:
• smaller for 33 1/3 rpm
• larger for 45 rpm
To correctly adjust the belt tension, turn the motor around its axis. Proper tension will be achieved
through eccentric placement of the motor pulley or if you have enough space on your platform, just
change the distance between the motor and the turntable chassis. The belt tension is correct if the belt
can be deflected by approximately ¾inch by a finger.
5. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS
Please take the time to fill out the enclosed warranty card and return it to Clearaudio or your local
distributor / dealer. If you do not return this card within 14 days of purchase the guarantee will
only be for a period of two years from the date of purchase. During any transportation of the
turntable, always remove the platter and inverted bearing. If this is not done, DAMAGE COULD
OCCUR!
Please regularly check the mains leads of your motor assembly. If there is any damage to any wires or
the mains plug, have them replaced immediately by a qualified person (your dealer or distributor).
To clean the turntable, use only special acrylic cleaner, which is not alcohol based. Otherwise you
could could damage the material (haircracks and spots on the acrylic surface).

Champion Level 1
USER MANUAL
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6. Service
If the platter (without drive belt) does not turn as easy as usual, you should squeeze a 5mm long line of
the bearing grease into the upper part of the platter bearing.
If any service or repair on all clearaudio products is necessary, please contact your dealer / distributor
or contact clearaudio directly. We will inform you about your nearest service location.
PLEASE RETAIN ALL ORIGINAL PACKAGING. You will need it if this unit has to be transported
and/or shipped.
Clearaudio electronic GmbH
Spardorfer Str 150
91054 Erlangen
Germany
Tel/Phon: +49-(0)1805/059595
www.clearaudio.de
[email protected]

Champion Level 1
USER MANUAL
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7. Technical Data
Construction : Geometrically resonance-optimized chassis,
beltdrive
Speeds: 33 1/3 rpm / 45 rpm
Drive unit: Stand-alone synchronous motor
Platter bearing: Patented, inverted bearing with polished ball inside
Platter: Silicon acrylic, surface absolutely plain
Speed variation: ±0,1 %
Weight: Approx. 14 Kg, with motor
Dimensions: Approx. 470 mm x 390 mm x 180 mm
Warranty: 5 Years (see chapter 5)