Oracle PREMIERE User manual

The PREMIERE turntable isessentiallya synthesisofcreative
design, painstakingcraftsmanshipandadvancedtechnological
processes.
Theprimarygoalwhichshapedthedevelopmentofthe PREMIERE
was anuncompromisingpursuitofexcellenceinmusic
reproduction.The PREMIERE representstheculminationof
everything that wehavelearnedaboutdiscreproduction;itisan
evolutionarydevelopmentofourwidely-acclaimed ORACLE
DELPHI.
Butwehadan important secondary goal; toprovidea maximum
ofuser-convenience without compromisingthesoundquality,and
toengineertheproductsuch that allmusicloverscouldsetitup
torealizeits full potential— not just technicallyproficient
audiophiles.
We inviteyourcriticalexaminationofthe PREMIERE aswe
expandinthisbrochure.
Marcel Riendeau
President, Trans-AudioCorporationLtd.

Contents
Philosophy
andConcept
TheGroove:NatureandProblems.. 3
ThePREMIERE Turntable
Record CouplingSystem3
TheMat3
ThePlatter4
TheBearing4
TheSubchassis4
TheSuspension5
TheMotor6
ThePulley6
TheBelt6
TheControlUnit6
The FINALE Tonearm 7
TheHeadShell7
TheArm7
TheBearings7
VerticalTrackingAngle
AdjustmentSystem(VTA)7
AzimuthAdjustmentSystem8
Auto-lift System8
RC CompensationBox8
Technical
Informations
Unpackingyour PREMIERE 11
PREMIERE Assembly11
InstallingtheControlUnit12
CartridgeInstallation12
TonearmInstallation12
CartridgeAlignment12
Adjustingyour PREMIERE 13
Fine Tuningyour FINALE Tonearm13
TrackingForceAdjustment13
VerticalTrackingAngle
Adjustment(VTA)13
AzimuthAdjustment13
Anti-skatingAdjustment14
Auto-lift Adjustment14
AttachingtheDustCover14
MotorAngleAdjustment14
ControlUnitOperation15
Speed Calibration15
TighteningtheRecordClamp....15
TipstoMaximizePerformance...15
Maintenance15
Accessories 16
General Description16
Packing List16
2

TheGroove:
Nature and Problems
The musicalinformationona recordiscontainedinthewigglesofthegrooveas
itspiralsinacrossthedisc.Thesewigglesarea mechanicalanalogofthe
waveformsoriginallygeneratedbythemusiciansattherecording session, and
subsequently pickedupbythemicrophones with theultimategoalofbeingfed
fromthedisc into youraudiosystem without anymodificationwhatsoever.For
thistohappen,thestylusmustvibratemechanicallyin exact accordance with
theundulationsinthegroove.Sinceitisthemovementofthestylusrelativeto
thecartridgebody that enablesanelectricalsignaltobegenerated,itfollows
that thecartridgebodyitselfmustnotvibrate,otherwiseunwantedelectrical
signals wouldbegeneratedandsomeofthedesiredgrooveinformationwould
be cancelledout.Forthesamereason,therecord'sgroovesthemselvesmust
notvibrate.
Unfortunately,thisdelicateinterrelationshipisthreatenedthroughtheveryactof
playinga record.Airborneandstructure-bornevibrationsareconductedtothe
turntableasa directresultoftheacousticalenergyproducedbyyour
loudspeakers.
The vinyldiscisexcitedbytheveryactionofthestylusuponit.Thecartridge
bodyisalsoexcited into resonancebythemotionofthestylus,andthisenergy
is conducted into thetonearm,causingittovibrate.
Othersourcesofunwantedvibrationsincludetheturntablemotor,bearings— in
fact,allofitsmovingparts.
The measureofexcellenceofanyturntable/ armcombinationliesinitsabilityto
protectthecartridge/ grooverelationshipfromextraneousvibrations.
Every elementofthe PREMIERE turntablehasbeendesignedtopreservethe
integrity ofthisrelationship.
ThePREMIERE Turntable
RecordCoupling System™ ^-^^1
This system,whichhasbeensuccessfullyemployedinother ORACLE turntables
is comprisedofa specialturntablemat,a screw-onrecordclamp,anda tapered
spacer whichisinsertedthroughthethreadedplatterspindle.
The systemusestheelasticityofthevinylitselftoforcethegroovedsurfaceof
thedisc into closecontact with theturntablemat.Thisresultsinvirtuallyperfect
dampingofvinylresonanceswhichareabsorbedbythematandnotreflected
back tothestylus.
This treatmentalsoflattensallbutthemostsevereofwarps.
TheMat
Itcanbeseen that thepropertiesofthematareveryimportant.Itmustbe flat
(andhavenosculptedridges)toensure that noairpocketsaretrappedunder
thedisc;theseairpocketswouldresonateandexcitethevinylabovethem.It
mustalsobeslightlysmallerindiameter thant thediscinordertoavoidthe
formationofanaircavitycausedbytheraisedlipatthelead-ingroove.For
similar reasons,a recessshouldbeprovidedtoaccommodatetheraisedareaat
thelabel.
The compositionofthematmustbecarefullydeterminedtooptimizeits
absorbtivecapabilities.
All ofthesefeatureshavebeenincorporated into theGrooveIsolatorMat
included with the PREMIERE turntable.
3

The Platter
The platterofthe PREMIERE isprecisionmachined from a specialmagnesium/
aluminumalloywhichcombines rigidity andstrength.The majority ofits mass,
concentratedaroundtheperimeter,helpstheplatterachievea highmomentof
inertiawhichcontributestospeedstability,andreduces flutter inducedbystylus
dragduringtransients.ThePeripheralWaveTrap™— a specialrubberelastic
compoundsetintherimoftheplatter,reducesanytendencyofthealloyto
resonate.
TheBearing
The bearingofa turntablecanhavea criticaleffectonthesoundqualitywhich
itiscapableof.Meredurabilityisnotsufficient.Thebearingmustachievea
verylow friction coefficientinordertoensureaneven,smooth rotation ofthe
spindle, andtoreduceloadonthemotor.However,itisalsoimperative that
thereisnoplayinthebearing.
The spindleofthe PREMIERE ismachinedofhighstrengthsteel within a
toleranceof.0002".A specialchromesurface treatment resultsinanextremely
goodhardnessratingof70Rockwell.Thetungstencarbideball,whichis
inserted into thediamond-lappedtipofthespindle,hasa hardnessratingof
over90Rockwell,makingitvirtuallyimpervioustowearinthisapplication.
We chosea speciallycoatedtungstencarbide thrust pad (with a hardnessrating
ofapproximately92RockwellA)formaximumdurabilityandresistanceto
flexing.
The bushingsusedinthe PREMIERE'S bearingsaremanufacturedofa special
alloywhichproducesalmostzero friction wheninterfaced with thechrome
surface ofthespindle.Infact,thismaterialdoesnotcreatenoisebutactually
absorbs anddissipates into thesubchassisanyvibration that might becreated
as theplatterrotates.
TheSubchassis
The useofa special7-layerlaminateconsistingof4 layersofa magnesium/
aluminumalloyseparatedby3 layersofa specialbondingagent,welded into a
single structureunderveryhighpressure,resultsinsomedistinctperformance
advantages. Theentireassemblyisveryrigidbutalsoextremely inert. Thisisof
greatimportancesincethesubchassishastobequitelargeandistherefore
pronetovibration.Thisiscontrolledbythe3 innerbondinglayerswhichactas
barrierstovibrationtransmissionbydecouplingeachofthe4 metallayers.
These bondinglayersalsoabsorbanddissipatevibrations.
The geometryofthesubchassisisalsosignificant.Wehaveminimizedits
surface areasinceanylargesurfacetendstoactasa diaphragm,while
concentratingthe majority ofitsmassaroundthecentretoabsorbanddissipate
bearingvibrations.
The tonearmmountingplateiscompletelyenclosed within therigidand inert
confinesofa circularextensionofthe subchassis. Thisminimizesanytendency
ofthemountingplatetoactasa diaphragm,andkeepsitatthesameoverall
level asthesubchassiswhichenablesthetonearmmasstobeintegrated with
theoverallmassofthefloatingassembly.
4

TheSuspension
The fundamentalpurposeofa turntablesuspensionistoactasa mechanical
filter foroutsidevibration.Themajorsourceoftheseoutsidevibrationsisyour
loudspeakers whileplayingmusic,andthisinterferenceisconductedthrough
theair,andviathestructuralmembersofyourlisteningenvironment.These
vibrationsare difficult todeal with becausetheyconsistofthewiderangeof
frequencies foundinmusic.
Any vibrationalenergyabovethetunedturntablesuspensionfrequencyis
preventedfromenteringtheplayingsystem,andforthisreasonitcanbe
generallystated that thesuspensionfrequencyshouldbeaslowaspossible.
The suspensionofthe PREMIERE istunedto3.5Hz— wellunderthe
bandwidthofanymusiclikelytobereproduced.Itshouldbenoted that while
the PREMIERE'S suspensionhasbeenoptimizedto filter outmusicalfeedback,it
maybepronetodisturbancearisingfromfootfallsoncompliantfloors—
particularlywherethefloor'sresonantfrequencycoincides with 3.5Hz.Insuch
instances, theremedyconsistsofmountingtheturntablesecurelyona stable
foundation,forexample,a loadbearingwall.
Intheinterestof GROOVE ISOLATION™,itisofvitalimportance that the
suspension displacesthesubchassisina vertical direction only. A sprung
subchassis turntablemustexhibitnotendencytowardsa rockingorswaying
motion. Such movementwouldcompromisethe filtering capabilityofthe
suspension andadd flutter distortion.Thisisbecausetheplatter(andtherefore
thegroove)isdecoupledfromrotationalmovementofthesubchassisbythe
bearing, butthetonearmisnot.In that case, thetonearmwouldshovethe
cartridgeforwardsandbackwardsasthesubchassisoscillates,resultingin
changes intheeffectivegroove speed.
We havepaidparticularattentiontothisprobleminthedesignofthe
PREMIERE. Incommon with previous ORACLE turntables,thecentreofgravity
oftheentirefloatingassemblyisatthesameheightasthefixingpointsforthe
springs. Thisinitselfgreatlyreducesanytendencytowardsrotational
movement. Also incommon with other ORACLE turntablesisthemethodof
levelingthesuspensionbyraisingorloweringtheentirespringassemblyinstead
ofcompressingorexpandingthemwhichwouldvarythetuningofthe
suspension inanunpredictablemanner.Inordertoabsorbverticalshock
transmission effectively,allspringshavetobetunedtoanequalfrequency.
Twomajorproblemsremain.Thewidevarietyofdifferenttonearms(ofvarying
mass) availableonthemarkettodaymakesitalmostimpossibletoreacha state
ofperfectsuspensionequilibrium.Eveniftheuserpainstakinglytuneshis
suspension toaccommodatehischoiceofarm,theoftenbulkytonearmcables
workagainst GROOVE ISOLATION™bycouplingthesubchassis with the
unsuspended base, andbyencouragingrotationalmovementofthesubchassis.
These problemshavebeeneliminatedinthe PREMIERE bydesigningthe
tonearmandturntableasoneharmonioussystem.Witha preciseknowledgeof
the FINALE tonearm's mass, wehavebeenabletoadjustthesuspensionofthe
PREMIERE accordingly.The FINALE'S cablesdonotconnectatthebaseofthe
arm, but into a boxwhichcanbeplacedontotheunsprungacrylic base. Since
theonlyconnectionbetweenthetonearmandthejunctionboxarethethread-
likeinteriorleads,theproblemofcable/ suspensioninteractioniseliminated.
ThePREMIERE'S suspensioncanbetunedtoaccommodateanyothertonearm
iftheusersodesires.

The Motor
ThePREMIERE isequipped with a brushlessDCHalleffectmotorwhichwe
jointly developed with Papst.Themotordevelopsenoughtorquetoachievethe
desired speed within oneplatterrevolution.Themotoriscarefullydecoupledat
theacrylic base, eliminatingcontact with theplayingsystemexceptthroughthe
belt.
ThePulley
A precisepulleyiscriticaltotheperformanceofthedrivesystembecauseeven
minutevariationsinconcentricitycancausesignificantspeedfluctuationand
improperbelt/ pulleycontactcangeneratevibrationnoise.
ThePREMIERE'S pulleyhasbeencombined with a massiveflywheelwhich
combines with theplattertoprovidedoubleinsuranceagainstspeedinstability.
TheBelt
ThePREMIERE'S belthasbeenmanufacturedusinga precisioninjection
moldingprocesswhichresultsina grainorientationfreeofinternalstresses.The
beltisthengroundtoexactspecifications,virtuallyeliminatingvariationsin
thickness andhorizontalplay.Thebelthasbeendevelopedtomaximizethe
transferoftorquewhileminimizingvibrationtransmission.Bykeepingthebelt
underlowtension,wear-causingstressonthemotorbearingandshaftis
reduced whilethelifespanofthebeltisincreased.
TheControl Unit
The electronicsandcontrolsbywhichtheusercanselectthedesiredspeedof
the PREMIERE turntablearehousedina separate unit. A one-metreconnection
betweenthe unit andtheturntableaffordsflexibilityofplacement.
The pitchcanbeadjustedi 5 percentofthestandardplayingspeedto
accommodate thegrowingnumberofprofessionalmusicianswhohavenoted
speed errorsinproduceddiscsoftheirperformances.Theselectedspeed
appears ona digitaldisplayanda memorychipallowsautomaticreversaltothe
33.33 and45standardswheneverthespeedselectionbuttonsaredepressed.

TheFINALETonearm
The samedegreeofengineeringfinesse that distinguishesthe PREMIERE
turntableisevidentinthedesignofthe FINALE tonearm.Whilethegoalofthe
turntableistoisolatethegroovefromextraneousvibration,thegoalofthe
tonearmistoisolatethecartridge.Wehaveexploredtheroleofeachelement
makingupa tonearminordertoreacha newstandardofperformanceforthe
FINALE.
TheHeadShell
The non-detachableheadshellonthe FINALE andthemainarmtubearemade
ofanaluminum/ magnesiumalloywhichprovides rigidity andlow mass. The
diametersoftheheadshellandthemainarmtubearecarefullycontrolledatthe
couplingjunctureso that anextremelyrigidconnectionresultswhentheyare
pressure-fitted.Thismethodensures that thecouplingwillremainrigidthrough
changes inhumidityandtemperatureduetotheharmoniousexpansionand
contractionofthealloys used.
Finally, to further reducetheresonance,theheadshellismadeoftworigidly
assembled sections.
TheArmTube
The armtubemustberigidinordertoresistflexingwhensubjectedtothe
vibrationalenergyradiatedbythecartridge,butrigidmaterialsareinherently
pronetoresonanceswhichifreflectedbacktothecartridgewouldresultin
coloration. Designs that employrubberdecouplers(forexampleatthehead
shell) achievelowcolorationattheexpenseofrigidity,henceinformationlost.
The FINALE'S armtubehasbeenbrokenup into twosections,joinedtowards
thepivotendbytworigidcouplingbraces.Duetothedifferingcharacteristics
ofeachelementcomprisingthearmtube,theresonancesaresplitup into many
frequencies ofdiminishedamplitude,andmanyoftheseareconvertedtoa
frequencyrangeabovethebandwidthofthecartridge.
This means that the FINALE allowsthemaximumamountofinformationtobe
retrievedfromthegroove without thepenaltyofhighcoloration.A further
design benefitarisingfromthisapproachis that thecounterweight,mountedon
thelowerarmtube,hasitscentreofgravityatthesameplaneasthestylus.
This resultsinsuperiorwarp-ridingcharacteristics.
TheBearings
The bearingsofa tonearmarefaced with thenear-impossibletaskofproviding
rigidity andlowfrictionatthesametime.Thefourbearingsofthe FINALE that
controlverticalandhorizontalmotionsina gimbalconfiguration,are Swiss-
sourced andmanufacturedtothehigheststandards that moderntechnologycan
provide.
VerticalTrackingAngleAdjustmentSystem(VTA)
Itisessentialtoadjustthetonearmsuch that thecantilevereffectstheproper
VTA whenthestylusissetinthegroove,inorderforittoaccuratelyretracethe
actionofthecuttingmechanismatthetimeofthe disc's manufacture.
Conventional tonearmmanufacturersinstructtheusertoraiseorlowerthearm
base such that thetubeisparallel with the disc's surfacewhenthestylusisset
inthegroove.Thisprocedureisunsatisfactoryfora numberofreasons.
7

Record manufacturershavechangedthestandardforthecuttingangle,soolder
and newer discs requirediffering VTAs. Inpractice,recordmanufacturersrarely
adhere strictlytothestandardanyway,andmarkeddifferenceshavebeen
observed amongvarious releases. Variationsinvinylthicknesscanalsoeffect
changes intheVTArequired..Tocomplicatetheissue further, cartridgesoften
exhibitgrossvariationsinVTA(when"properly"mounted with thearm-tube
parallel)notonlyfrommanufacturertomanufacturer,butfromsampletosample
duetoqualitycontrolproblemsofsmall-scaleengineering.
Due tothesefactors,nosingleVTAsettingissatisfactoryfortheaccurate
reproductionofa recordlibrary.Thebearingassemblyofthe FINALE isrigidly
anchored toa VTAadjustmenttower,throughwhicha threadedstemattached
toa calibratedknoballowsminutevariationsinheightas little as.001"ata
time.Furthermore,thisadjustmentcanbeaccomplished while the record is
playing.Thusthe FINALE allowstheusertooptimizetheVTAforeachdiscvia
theonlyreliablemethod— byear.
Azimuth Adjustment System
Micro adjustmentofthecartridge'ssidetosideanglecanbeeasilyachievedto
provideoptimumtrackingandchannelseparation.Provisionforthisadjustment
is locatedatthejunctionofthemainarmtubeandthe front couplingbrace.
Auto-lift System
The FINALE features auto-lift actuatedbythecueingmechanism,allowing
listenerstosavourmusicalperformancestotheendintranquility.Thesystemis
mechanically triggeredasthetonearmreachestherun-outgroove,andits
inclusion doesnotresultinanysonicpenalty.
RC Compensation Box
The oxygen-freelitzwires that connecttothecartridgeterminalsareconducted
throughthearmtubeand into theRCCompensationBoxwhichcanbeplaced
ontheacrylic base. Insidethisboxisa printedcircuitboardwhichallowsthe
user tooptimizetheresistive/ capacitiveloadingforthecartridgeofhischoice.
This featurealsoensures that thesuspensionwillremainunaffectedby
interferencefromthebulkytonearm cables.
8

Technical
Section