Kestrel KT-50 User manual

TURNTABLE MANUAL
FOR MODELS - KT-50 KT-100 KT-200

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE
THE POWER SUPPLY UNIT COVER. THERE ARE NO USER SERVICEABLE
PARTS INSIDE. REFER ALL SERVICING TO QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.
Please read this manual carefully and keep it in a safe place for future reference.
•This appliance is a low voltage AC device.
• No naked ame sources such as lighted candles should be
placed on this apparatus, failure to observe this could cause a
risk of re.
• Do not place a liquid containing vessel, such as a vase on this
apparatus, as this can result in a risk of re or electric shock.
• Do not expose this apparatus to rain or place it where it may
come into contact with splashing or dripping water.
• If this apparatus accidentally gets wet, unplug it and contact an
an authorised dealer, service agent or re-seller.
• You can clean this apparatus with a damp cloth when
necessary, but be sure to isolate and unplug the apparatus rst.
• To cut o the power source totally, unplug the apparatus from
the wall outlet.
• Do not overload wall outlets, extension cords or adaptors
beyond their capacity, since this can result in re or electric.
shock.
• Use only the supplied AC power adaptor for the country of use,
should they need replacement please consult your dealer or supplier.
• Be sure to hold the plug, not the cord, when disconnecting this
apparatus from an electric socket.
• Power supply cords should be routed so that they are not likely
to be walked on or pinched by items placed upon or against
them, paying particular attention to cords at the plug end,
adaptors and the point they exit from the appliance.
• Before connecting the AC power cord to the Power supply unit,
make sure the voltage of the Power supply unit, as marked on
the label on the bottom, corresponds to the local electricity supply.
• If this apparatus does not operate normally in particular, if there
are any unusual sounds or smells, unplug it immediately and
consult an authorised dealer, service agent or re-seller.
• Unplug this apparatus from the AC outlet before attempting any service work.
• Only a qualied technician should remove the Power supply unit cover.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Safety Instructions
2. Un-packing instructions/Cleaning
3 - 4. Setup & Connections
5. Adjustments
6. Operation
7. Guarantee
RCA SOCKETS
RED = RIGHT
WHITE = LEFT
GROUND
CONNECTOR
TERMINAL
POWER SUPPLY
SOCKET AND
ON/OFF BUTTON
MOTOR PULLEY
TOP GROOVE
= 33 1/3 RPM
BOTTOM GROOVE
= 45 RPM
VERTICAL
TONEARM
ADJUSTMENT
COLLAR (VTA)
PLATTER AND
SUB PLATTER
LIFT
LOWER
DEVICE
ANTI-SKATE
BIAS ASSEMBLY
COUNTER WEIGHT
AND REAR STUB
CARTRIDGE ON
HEADSHELL
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE BELOW DIAGRAM APPLIES TO ALL MODELS
EXAMPLE SHOWN IS A MODEL KT-200
PLINTH
TONEARM

CONNECTIONS
POWER
Plug the supplied plug top PSU into your AC mains wall socket (having already checked that the voltage of your
local supply matches the label on the PSU). Then push the 2.1mm plug into the socket on the rear.
TO YOUR AMPLIFIER
Next plug the RCA phono cable and the separate Earth connector to either the PHONO input of your amplier (if it
has a phono stage tted ) or to your outboard phono stage such as the Kestrel Audio K-MM1 or K-MM2 ,
depending upon which type of cartridge you have tted. If you do not have a phono stage or a phono input in your
amplier, you will need to obtain one in order to use the turntable, these are available from your dealer.
UPGRADES
The use of our aftermarket electronic speed controller, the Kestrel Audio KSPEED-1, which is a simple plug and
play device, in place of the plug top PSU will bring about improved performance and convenience of push button
speed change and far superior speed accuracy. These are highly recommended for best performance.
ARM CARTRIDGE SETUP
In most cases your dealer may have already tted a cartridge for you, or it will have been tted at the factory, in
which case you can skip this section and move on to the section on setting the tracking weight.
To t the cartridge can be quite dicult, especially if you have not done it before, however if you follow this step by
step guide you should have no problems.
TOOLS
You will require a small pair of long nosed pliers and a 2mm allen (hex) key (supplied) to tighten the mounting
bolts, these are usually supplied with your cartridge of choice.
STEP 1 -
Remove your cartridge from the supplier packaging being very careful not to damage the stylus. With the stylus
guard ON connect the 4 coloured wires in the tonearm to the equivalent coloured pin on the back of your
cartridge, if there are no coloured rings then please refer to the cartridge manual for the markings and colour
code. The standard code is Red = Positive Right channel, White = Positive Left channel, Green = Negative Right
channel, and Blue = negative Left channel.
HINT by using the long nosed pliers to hold the at on the connection tab whilst pushing the tab over the pin you
will nd it easier to attach the wires.
Do the top two pins rst. It is OK to allow the cartridge to hang at this Point.
STEP 2 -
Next you need to mount the cartridge into the tonearm, using the screws provided with your cartridge, place the
screws through the mounting holes such that the head on the screw is towards the plinth of the turntable and the
other end is free to point upwards and through the slots in the headshell, (In some cases you may need to remove
the stylus cover to do this, but we recommend that you replace the guard as soon as possible to avoid accidental
damage), it is easiest to do this one at a time, you can then place the nut on to the screw such that the ats of the
nut are on the top of the headshell, DO NOT tighten the cartridge up at this point. Now align the front of the
cartridge to be parallel with the angled front of the headshell.
ALIGNMENT -
Place the alignment protractor over the spindle and MAKE THE ARROW point towards the pivot point of the arm.
Next, remove the stylus guard, being very careful not to damage the stylus/cantilever move the arm across to the
rst marked position. Move the cartridge, ALWAYS AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE FRONT OF THE HEADSHELL in
the slots until the stylus is in the middle of the cross and tighten the mounting screws, ensuring that the cartridge
does not twist and is still in line with the front of the headshell. Re-check that the stylus is still on the cross and
then go to the second point (if provided) and conrm that it is OK, KEEP RE-ADJUSTING UNTIL IT IS CORRECT.
VERTICAL ARM HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT (VTA) -
The arm should be parallel with the record surface when playing a record, you can increase or reduce the height
at the rear of the arm by using the supplied 2.5mm allen key in the arm collar locking bolt. Loosen this and move
the arm up or down by holding the arm by the clear acrylic platform and lock it o when happy that it is horizontal.
LIFT LOWER ADJUSTMENT -
If you nd that when using the arm lift lever it does not raise the arm high enough from the record, or if its too
high, you can easily adjust this by using the spanner to loosen the top locking nut, adjust the lift lower height using
the knurled lower ring, and the, when you are happy lock it o with the locking nut. There is a more detailed video
about this on the setup up video mentioned above.
TRACKING WEIGHT ADJUSTMENTS -
With the stylus guard removed, gently move he counter weight on to the rear of the arm and push it forward until
the desired tracking weight is indicated by your stylus balance (NOT Provided) add the required tracking weight
for the cartridge in use by moving the counterweight forward until the correct weight. Start with the recommended
tracking force but feel free to experiment as dierent pressures will change the sound quality, however we do
suggest that you only change it by a maximum of +/-0.3 grams from the recommended force to avoid any long
term damage to your records and or cartridge
BIAS ADJUSTMENT -
Bias can now be adjusted by unlocking the small weight via the locking screw and moving it to the desired
position by rotating it on its thread. It was pre-set at the factory for an average tracking fore of 1.8g so it is NOT
usual to need to adjust this. If you have a test record you should set the bias using this but these are only a guide
and not absolute. - If in ANY doubt leave it as factory set.
UNPACKING
Inside the outer carton you will nd two boxes, the larger one contains the turntable and the smaller box contains
all of the parts required to assemble the turntable.
FIRST check that the label on plug top PSU, found in the smaller box, corresponds to the local AC power supply
and that the AC plug shape is correct for your wall sockets, If it does not please contact your dealers or supplier
for a suitable replacement.
The turntable is mostly already pre-assembled, all you need to do is remove the pieces from the smaller box and
add them to the turntable in the following order. Take the hub, remove the tape from the top of the bearing
housing and gently insert the hub into the bearing. It may take a while to go down. DO NOT FORCE IT DOWN.
When settled place the belt around the hub and motor pulley, in the top position ( for 33.3 RPM) and add the
platter, FLAT side (without record label recess) to the hub. Now we need to set up the arm.
Put the bias (anti-skate) wheel with the three rods and weight, which are already assembled on the the bias AXEL
with the weight pointing TOWARDS the FRONT of the turntable, slide it on and put the retaining rubber sleeve on
the end of the axel, allow the arm free movement. Next add the 2mm bias rod to the bell housing, there is a small
2mm threaded hole into which it inserts, screw it in tightly. Then place the actuator rod on the REAR of the bias
rod such that the wants to move to the right, or away from the platter. The point of bias or anti-skate is to counter
the centrifugal force cause by the record spinning.
If the cartridge came with a tted cartridge, then you will have a small spacer made from acrylic in your pack.
Place this around the back of the bell housing and place the counterweight on to the stub and move it until it
touches the back of the spacer and tighten in position. You are now ready to play a record.
SPEED SELECTION
To adjust the speed, remove the platter and move the belt to the alternate position, the smaller (top) position is 33
1/3 the lower is 45. Speed - 33.3/45RPM +/- 1% (I.E.32.97-33.6 or 44.55-45.45)
IF USING THE external speed controller please use the belt in the 33 1/3 (top) position.
CLEANING
To clean ngerprints we recommend that you use a quality Isopropyl Alcohol or furniture polish suitable for wood
with a lint free cloth or soft kitchen towel.

LISTENING
Having successfully connected and installed the Turntable into your system, you can now enjoy it. As a quick
check however, we suggest that before playing a record you select the appropriate input and advance the volume
control slowly to check that there are no major hums coming from it. If there is, it may indicate that you need to re-
position either the Turntable or the phono stage (if you are using one) or you have forgotten to connect the Earth
lead supplied. If you cannot seem to reduce the hum to non-intrusive levels you should consult your dealer for
assistance. You should be able to achieve hum free listening, even at quite elevated listening levels on quiet
passages of music.
HELP
If you get stuck with any of the setup procedures you should consult your dealer for assistance who will be able to
set the turntable up for you, some however may charge for this service but we encourage our dealers to oer an
initial set up as part of the process
SPECIFICATIONS
Speed - 33.3/45RPM +/- 1% (I.E.32.97-33.6 or 44.55-45.45)
Frequency - 50 or 60Hz dependent on mains frequency
Dimensions with Z cover on WxHxL 425mm x 125mm x 325mm (KT-50/100)
WxHxL 465mm x 125mm x 365mm (KT-200)
Weight Packed - 6.90kg
Weight Un-packed - 5.85kg
Power consumption (Max) - 4.0Watts
Performance is ultimately dependent upon the quality of the mains
supply – for improved performance please use the KSPEED-1 speed controller.
WORLDWIDE GUARANTEE
There are no user serviceable parts inside, so please do not be tempted to play or modify any part of the
Turntable as this will invalidate your guarantee. Your guarantee entitles you to have the unit repaired free of
charge, during the rst ten years after purchase, provided that it was originally purchased from an authorised
Kestrel Audio distributor and registered via our website www.kestrelaudio.com.
The manufacturer can take no responsibility for defects arising from accident, misuse, abuse, wear and tear,
neglect or through unauthorised adjustment and/or repair, neither can they accept responsibility for damage or
loss occurring during transit to or from the person claiming under the guarantee.
THE WARRANTY COVERS parts and labour costs for ten years from the purchase date. After ten years you
must pay for both parts and labour costs. The warranty does NOT cover transportation costs at anytime.
CLAIMS UNDER THE GUARANTEE
This equipment should be packed in the original packing and returned to the dealer from whom it was purchased,
or failing this, directly to the /Kestrel Audio distributor in the country of residence. It should be sent carriage
prepaid by a reputable carrier – NOT by post. No responsibility can be accepted for the unit whilst in transit to the
dealer or distributor and customers are therefore advised to insure the unit against loss or damage whilst in
transit.
CONFORMANCE
The Kestrel Audio KT-50, KT-100 and KT-200 has been manufactured to conform with the protection requirements
of the EC Council directive 89/336/EEC relating to EMC by application of the following standards:
BS EN 61000-6-3:2007+A1:2011 Emissions Standard.
BS EN 61000-6-1:2007 Immunity Standard.
and also, the requirements of the EC low voltage directive relating to electrical safety by application of the
following standard:
BS EN 62368-1:2014 International Safety Standard.
For the purposes of testing the Kestrel Audio KT-50/100/200 was used with the supplied high-quality
interconnects. Compliance with the above standards may only be made if the unit is installed as per this manual
and using the correct cables.
FIND US
Telephone - [phone]
Email - [email protected]
Website - www.kestrelaudio.com
Facebook/Instagram - @kestrel.audio
Kestrel Audio Ltd
Unit 12a
Templars Way Industrial Estate
Marlborough Road
Royal Wootton Bassett
Wiltshire
SN5 7SR
ABOUT US
Thank you for purchasing a Kestrel Audio turntable and we hope
you thoroughly enjoy your listening experience.
Being a newly formed company in the later of 2022 and starting to
launch our products in 2023 we have made our mission to provide
excellent nish and performance to our customers, altering the
norms of the industry and nding traction in places where others
could not. This process can involve trial over time but we always
maintain our standards, as well as always looking towards
developing into the future. As mentioned being newly formed you
may not know us as well as we would like you to so please read on.
Kestrel Audio is a British based manufacturer, with a factory space
in Swindon, Wiltshire we are hoping to have a fantastic rst year
and grow year on year. From the very beginning we have partnered
with the better known TALK Electronics, who we have designed our
turntables and continue to further our range with.
A quick note from the director of Kestrel Audio
Hello everyone, my name is Will Turrell. Thank you for supporting
Kestrel with your purchase and I sincerely hope you enjoy your
experience. Kestrel is an extremely important part of my life, I am
not sure of this but being 22 years old I would think I am probably
one of the youngest people in the industry and I aim to make my
mark!
We always love to hear from our customers so please feel free to
contact and interact with us on social media, keep an eye on our
website for product releases and updates and most importantly
ENJOY!