Clearaudio Universal User manual

User manual
Bedienungsanleit ung
© clearaudioelectronic GmbH, 2018/ 11 Made in Germany
Universal / Universal 12”

User manual / Bedienungsanleit ung
2© clearaudioelectronic GmbH, 2018/ 11
User manual ..................................................................... 2 - 13
Bedienungsanleitung........................................................ 14 - 25
Dear audio ent husiast,
Co n g r at u l at i o n s! Yo u h av e p u r ch ase d o n e of t h e b est r ad i al t o n ea r m ` s av ai l ab l e i n t h e Wo r l d o f Hi g h -
End Au dio. The Universal (optional: with VTA-Lifter and / or Universal 12”) tonearm is manufactured
to the highest degree of tolerance and quality.
This genius tonearm comes with high precision bearings with lowest possible bearing clearance and
with many options of ne adjustments of vertical tracking force (VTF), vertical tracking adjustment
(VTA) and the azimuth.
To achieve the full performance and to avoid any damages to this product, please take your time to
get familiar with your Clearaudio Universal tonearm.
Please enjoy listening to music with the Universal tonearm!
Yo u ’ r e Clearaudio team
Warning
Do not expose the equipment to rain or moisture.
Do not remove t he cover from the equipment.
Do not insert anything into the equipment t hrough t he ventilation holes.
Do not handle the mains lead with wet hands.
No naked ame sources, such as lighted candles, should be placed on the equipment.
Only f or use on t ur nt ables.
CE-MARKI NG

User manual / Bedienungsanleit ung
Made in Germany 3
Cont ent s
1. List of components................................................ 4
2. Universal tonearm mounting................................. 5 - 10
3. Universal tonearm adjustment .............................. 10 - 11
4. Special notes ......................................................... 12
5. Technical data ....................................................... 13
Warranty....................................................................26 - 27

User manual / Bedienungsanleit ung
4© clearaudioelectronic GmbH, 2018/ 11
1. List of components
The Clearaudio Universal tonearm is delivered in a customized packing to ensure its safe transport.
Please check the contents as shown in the pictures below:
List of components for Universal tonearm (9” and 12”) (optional: with VTA- Lif t er ):
1. Universal tonearm
(optional: with pre-assembled
VTA- Lif t er Universal tonearm base)
5. Universal tonearm base and screws:
- 1 x M6 x 8 (Stainless steel)
- 3 x M4 x 10
2. 3x hex wrench
- # 1.5
- # 2
- # 3
6. Pap e r al i g n m en t g au g e
3. Co u n t er w ei g h t s f or
Univer sal 9 “ :
- 18.3 gram (Aluminium)
- 31.5 gram (Aluminium)
- 49 gram (Stainless steel)
- 66 gram (Stainless steel)
- 85 gram (Stainless steel)
Co u n t er w ei g h t f o r Univer sal 12” :
- 49 gram (Stainless steel)
- 66 gram (Stainless steel)
- 85 gram (Stainless steel)
7. Not shown: Warranty card, Clearaudio
Qualit y Card, user manual, sales ret urn
paper
4. Aluminium screw driver
Reco m m en d ed To ol s:
• Clearaudio Cartridge alignment gauge (Art. No. AC005/IEC)
• Clearaudio Weight Watcher (Art. No. AC094)
Bot h it ems and more accessoires are available at www.analogshop.de.
Pic. 1: List of components with VTA- Lif t er (Picture similar)

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Pic. 2: Universal with VTA- Lif t er
2. Universal (9” and 12”) tonearm mounting
Please keep in mind that the following instructions are covering the mount of the Universal tonearm
on any Clearaudio turntable.
2.1 Universal tonearm with VTA-Lifter:
Mounting the VTA-Lifter on a non-Clearaudio turntable:
To i n st a l l t h e VTA- Li f t e r o n t h e t u r n t a bl e ch a ssi s, y o u w i l l n ee d t o d r i l l t h e r e qu i r ed h ol e s.
Please refer to the drilling template shown below (Picture 3) for the measurements to mark the
exact drilling holes.
Please be informed, that this draw ing is not suitable for use as a mounting tool.
Use a 3.2 mm HSS drill bit .
Pic. 3: Mount ing t he VTA-Lifter on a non-Clearaudio t urnt able

User manual / Bedienungsanleit ung
6© clearaudioelectronic GmbH, 2018/ 11
Pic. 4: Setup of tonearm base with VTA- Lif t er
1).
Sli de t h e VTA- Lif t er into the drilling of the tonearm base. Lock the VTA- Lif t er with the screws on the
side of the t onearm base ( pic. 4 and 5).
Pic. 5: Adjustment of the height of tonearm with VTA- Lif t er
To adjust the height of the tonearm in the VTA- Lif t er lift the VTA- Lif t er up and loosen the screws.
After adjustment of the tonearm height tighten the screw again.
Please note:
This drilling template is only for Universal 9 inch tonearms. You will nd the the correct
pivot to spindle for
Universal 12 inch in the technical data on page 13.

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2.)
To adjust the pivot of the tonearm Clear audio recommends the Clearaudio IECalignment gauge
(Art. No.: AC005/IEC; also available at www.analogshop.de).
Make sure that the distance from the spindle to the pivot point (center) of the tonearm (9 “) is exact
222 mm (for Universal 12” = 295 mm). When moving the armboard in one or another direction
you can set the correct distance. After distance is adjusted, tighten the screws of the armboard.
Adj ust m ent of t he t onea rm height w it h
VTA-Lifter :
Pl ease f o l l ow h e r eb y t h e u se r m an u al o f t h e VTA- Lif t er .
The height of the tonearm ist adjusted correct, if the upper side of the mounted cartridge is parallel
to the surface of the record (when the cartridge is lifted down).
Pic. 6a: Distance from spindle to pivot 222 mm / Universal 9”
Pic. 6b: Distance from spindle to pivot 295 mm / Universal 12”
222mm
295mm

User manual / Bedienungsanleit ung
8© clearaudioelectronic GmbH, 2018/ 11
2.2 Universal tonearm without VTA-Lifter:
Pic. 7: Universal tonearm without VTA- Lif t er
Mounting the aluminum clamping ring on a non-Clearaudio turntable:
To i n st al l t h e a l u m i n u m cl a m p i n g r i n g o n t h e t u r n t a b l e ch a ssi s, y o u w i l l n e ed t o d r i l l t h e r eq u i r ed
holes. Please refer to the drilling template shown below (Picture 8) for the measurements to mark
the exact drilling holes.
Please be informed, that this draw ing is not suitable for use as a mounting tool.
Use a 3.3 mm HSS drill bit , t hen cut an M4 t hread int o each hole using an appropr iat e t ap cut t ing
tool. If the turntable chassis material is not suitable for cutting threads, please use a 4.5 mm HSS
drill bit to drill the holes through the material. In this case use standard bolts and nuts to x the
arm base.
Please note:
This drilling template is only for Universal 9 inch tonearms. You will nd the the correct
pivot to spindle for Universal 12 inch in the technical data on page 13.
Pic. 8: Mount ing t he aluminum clamping ring on a non-Clearaudio turntable

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1.)
Tighten the mounting plate for the Universal tonearm with the screws onto the mounted tonearm
base. Please take the delivered screws.
Feed the tonearm cable through the mounting plate and slide the tonearm feet through the drilling
of the mounting plate.
2.)
To adjust the pivot of the tonearm Clea raudio
recommends the Clearaudio IEC alignment
gauge (Art. No.: AC005/IEC; also available at
www.analogshop.de).
Make sure that the distance from the spindle to
the pivot point (center) of the tonearm is exact
222 mm (Universal 9”) or 295 mm
(Universal 12”).
When moving the armboard in one or another
direction you can set the correct distance.
After distance is adjusted, tighten the screw of
the armboard.
Pic. 9: Pl a ci n g t h e t on e ar m
222mm
(Universal 9“)
295mm
(Universal 12“)
Pic. 10: Distance from spindle to the pivot (222 mm/ 295 mm)

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10 © clearaudioelectronic GmbH, 2018/ 11
Adj ust m ent of t he t onea rm height without VTA-Lifter :
By loosen the screws on the side of the mounting plate you can adjust the height of the tonearm.
The height of the tonearm is adjusted correct, when the upper side of the mounted cartridge is
parallel to the surface of the record (when the cartridge is lifted down).
3. Universal tonearm adjustments
The now following adjustments require an already mounted cartridge on the headshell.
Therefore please follow the instructions in the user’s manual of the cartridge manufacture.
Please handle w ith care!
3.1 Adjustment of the Tracking force
1.)
Set u p on e of t he t h r ee ( f or Universal 12”) / ve (for Universal 9”) delivered counterweights onto
the bronze nut of the tonearm tube and tighten it on the bottom side.
Adjusting tracking force is accomplished by moving the counter weight towards or away from the
pivot point on the shaft.
Pic. 11: Adjusting tracking force
Green arrow head = slow er ant i- skat ing
Red arrowhead = stronger anti-skating
3.2 Azimuth adjustment (vertical needle-position in the groove)
2.)
The azimuth is already pre-adjusted, when the Universal tonearm has left our factory:
If you need to change the azimuth, please loosen the screw on the side of the tonearm headshell.
Now you can change t he azimuth.
After the adjustment is nished, lock the srew in the headshell again.
Pic. 12: Adjustment of the azimuth

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Classication counterweights to dierent cartridges (at tracking force 2.8 gram) for
Universal 9“:
Count erw e ight s in gram : Range of adjustable cartridge w eights:
From... ...to
18.3 gram (Aluminium) 2.9 gram 5.3 gram
31.5 gram (Aluminium) 5.1 gram 8.9 gram
49.0 gram (Stainless steel) 7.7 gram 14.9 gram
66.0 gram (Stainless steel) 11.2 gram 19.9 gram
85.0 gram (Stainless steel) 15.0 gram 24.8 gram
Classication counterweights to dierent cartridges (at tracking force 2.8 gram) for
Universal 12“:
Count erw e ight s in gram : Range of adjustable cartridge w eights:
From... ...to
49.0 gram 2.9 gram 11.3 gram
66.0 gram 5.6 gram 16.2 gram
85.0 gram 8.5 gram 21.0 gram
3.3 Antiskating adjustment
By turning the antiskating – screw (see red box on picture 13 you can adjust the antiskating. The
adjustment also depends on the tracking force of the cartridge.
Adjustment antiskating: Tracking force Position of antiskating screw
Minimal antiskating > 10-15mN > see picture 1
Medium antiskating > 15-20mN > see picture 2
Maximum antiskating > 20mN and more > see picture 3
Pi ct u r e 1 Picture 2 Picture 3
(minimal antiskating) (medium antiskating) (maximum antiskating)
Pic. 13: Adjustment of the antiskating
At t ent ion:
Before the rst use or after a long storage, please apply the lift unit up and down approximately
4-5 times, so that the oil inside can dissolve in order that the lift unit can move smoothly.
The general set-up is now nished.
Clearaudio wishes you a lot of pleasure with your new Universal tonearm!

User manual / Bedienungsanleit ung
12 © clearaudioelectronic GmbH, 2018/ 11
User manual / Bedienungsanleit ung
4. Special notes
4.1 Maintenance
If you don` t use your Universal tonearm for a longer time, please move the tonearm lifter in regular
intervals. This avoid that the tonearm hang in a position when you listen to the music again.
4.2 Transportation
Shou l d f ur t her t r an spor t at i on of t he Universal tonearm be necessary, please alway use the original
packing material. Otherwise serious damage could occur.
4.3 Service
If any servicing or repair of a Clearaudio product is necessary, please rst contact your dealer or
distributor. Alternatively contact Clearaudio directly and we will advise you of your nearest service
location.
PLEASE RETAI N ALL ORI GI NAL PACKAGI NG. Yo u w il l n eed i t i f t h i s pr odu ct h as t o be t r ansp or t ed
and/ or shipped. Any further questions you may have about this product should be directed to your
local dealer or direct to Clear audio.

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5. Technical data
9 inch 12 inch
Const r uct ion de t ails: Radi al t on ear m u si ng ul t r a l o w f ri ct ion
bearings.
Fine adjustments of the azimuth.
With carbon tonearm t ube.
Radi al t on ear m u si ng ul t r a l o w f ri ct ion
bearings.
Fine adjustments of the azimuth.
With carbon tonearm t ube.
Cart ridge ba lance range: 2.9 – 24.8g 2.9 – 21g
Null points: Inner: 66.04
Out er : 120.9
Inner: 66.04
Out er : 120.9
Overhang: 16.5mm 13.0mm
Wiring: Clea r audio Sixtream Super Wire
(1.1m) terminated with RCA connector
Clearaudio Sixtream Super Wire
(1.1m) terminated with RCA connector
Distance from pivot to stylus: 222mm 295mm
Oset angle: 25.45° 20.61°
Maximum of tilt angle accor-
ding to the radius:
0.123 °/ cm 0.109 °/ cm
Middle skatingfactor at a ra-
dius of 133 mm and 83.9 mm:
0.49 0.41
Eective Tonearm length: 9.4 inches (exact 239.3mm) 10 inches (exact 265.45mm)
Overall length: 300mm 335mm
Mounting style: Clearaudio (diameter of bore
24.85mm)
Clearaudio (diameter of bore
24.85mm)
Weight: approx. 740g (incl. counterweight) approx. 772g (incl. counterweight)
Warranty: 5 years* 5 years*
* Provided that the warranty card iscorrectly completed and returned to Clearaudio within 14 days of purchase.
Clear audio electronic is not responsible for typographical errors in descriptions.
Technical specications subject to change or improvement without prior notice.
Product availability is as long as stock lasts.
Co p i es a n d r e p r i n t s o f t h i s d o cu m e n t s, i n cl u d i n g e xt r act s, r eq u i r e w r i t t en co n se n t f r o m
Cle ar au di o e lect r on ic Gm bH ; Ge rm any