rek-o-kut Rondine 3 Manual instruction

REK-O-KUT T3378
TURNTABLE
SETUP AND OPERATION

Please read the following before operating the Rek-O-Kut Rondine 3 turntable.
UNPACKING AND SETUP
The carton contains the platter, turntable base, its vibration isolation feet, and all accessories.
The surface onto which the T3378 is to be used should be relatively level and sturdy. It should not rock in response to floor
traffic.
1. Remove the Base Unit from the carton. Save all packing material for reshipping should that become necessary.
2. Carefully set the Base Unit on the surface onto which it is to be used. At this point, the feet have no protection
underneath them to protect furniture surfaces – so be careful.
3. Place one Vibrapod underneath each foot. This isolates the T3378 from floor vibration and also prevents marring of the
surface by the legs.
4. Remove any shipping shims that may be located underneath
the sub-platter. This will allow the spindle to drop into its
bearing well.
5. Loop the belt around the motor pulley and sub-platter.
6. Locate the platter and carefully put in on the spindle,
indent side up. It should slip down snuggly, but not
tightly. BE CAREFUL NOT TO MAR THE UPPER
SURFACE OF THE PLATTER.
7. Place the removable portion of the spindle into the platter
hole.
8. Slide the counter weight on to the rear end of the arm.
9. Remove any restraints holding the arm in place.
10. Locate the headshell, and install the appropriate cartridge.
11. Locate the arm cable and plug it into the bottom of the arm.
TONEARM SETUP
1. Mount the cartridge to the headshell as follows: white to left (+), red to right (+), blue to left (-), and green to right (-).
Use alignment gauge to adjust cartridge position if extreme accuracy is desired. Try to keep the cartridge parallel to the
alignment gauge lines at min. and max. diameters as closely as possible.
2. Attach the headshell to the end of the arm.
3. Adjust the height of the arm such that with the stylus in contact with a record, the arm tube is parallel to the surface of
the record. Adjust the hex screw in the right side of the circular base.
Caution: do not loosen the set screws that hold the anti-skating mechanism to the arm bearing assembly.
4. Check that the arm can swing both to the minimum and maximum record diameters, then tighten the hex
set screw in the base to fix the arm position.
5. Adjust the height of the arm lift mechanism with hex set screw in the base collar. Make sure that the arm
will lift off the record surface and also that it will drop completely to the surface.
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6. If necessary, adjust the perpendicularity of the stylus (azimuth) to record with the hex set screw on the headshell.
7. Rotate the counter weight back and forth to balance the tonearm for equal up and down motion.
8. Set the counter weight’s numbered ring to line up the zero with the index line on the back of the tonearm.
9. Rotate the counter weight so that the desired tracking force is by the index line at the numbered ring.
10. Set the anti-skating force to be the same as the tracking force by rotating the knob at the base.
FINAL SETUP
1. Check stylus pressure and anti-skating adjustment. If you need to exceed 3.0 Grams, you can do it in three ways:
A. By adding small weights to the cartridge mounting headshell after it is balanced. For instance, to get 5 grams, you
can set the arm to 3 grams and then add 2 grams in weights to the headshell.
B. By rotating the weight past 3.0 to 1.0, 1.5, etc. Just add the indicated tracking force to 3.0. So, if you go around once
to 1.0, then the total tracking force is 4.0 Grams.
C. Use a separate tracking force gauge to determine the setting.
2. Check that the turntable is level. If it is deemed too non-level, try leveling the supporting surface first. After that you
will have to rely upon appropriate shimming underneath T3378's legs.
3. Plug the power cord into an AC power outlet.
OPERATION
1. Place a record on the platter.
2. Place the belt in the appropriate speed diameter. This may take a little practice as the dimensions are tight. If necessary,
you can first loop it around the 78 diameter, and then the sub-platter.
3. Operate the Start/Stop switch to Start, the platter will begin to rotate. The motor will purr slightly.
4. Flip the arm’s cuing lever up to hold the arm off the record’s surface.
4. Place the tonearm playing end over the record. Using the cuing arm, lower the arm to the record surface. The arm drops
at a controlled rate.
VERTICAL RECORDS
For play of vertical records, you should reverse the leads to one channel of your phono cartridge, preferably the channel that
has no connection to the cartridge’s case. This is normally the Red and Green leads. A pre-wired vertical only headshell with
cartridge is available from us.
The following list includes some of those that could be cut vertically: Pathe, Edison, Sapphire, Arya, Lyric, Genet,
Phono-Cut, Star, Crescent, Empire, Mozart, Okeh, Operaphone, Rex, Rishell, Aeolian Vocalion, World Transcription.
CARE
1. If you use a record cleaning brush, apply only light pressure to the record and platter.
2. Use only a water-dampened, not wet cloth to clean any surfaces including the dust cover.
3. Be careful of the platter’s surface as it can be marred by improper handling.
4. If the belt gets greasy from improper handling, clean it in warm water with face soap.
5. Lubrication of the bearing should almost never be required. If you do so, wipe the spindle and ball bearing clean. Then
add just enough 10 W 30 motor oil to cover the ball (about 4 drops).
6. If playing metal parts and/or acetates, you may want to use felt mat to protect the platter surface.
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PROBLEMS
Speed is way off Maybe the turntable it very un-level. The belt may be on the pulley flange instead of in the
pulley.
Repeating grooves Too much anti-skating force. Dirty and clogged stylus. Too light a tracking force.
Can hear the motor This is normal with this AC motor. Should be a very noise, almost inaudible at 6 feet.
Platter is scratched Either leave it alone, or try using #0000 steel wool to rub the scratch out. This may require you to
go over most of the surface to blend it. Try working on the bottom of the platter for practice.
Record slides on platter Usually a problem with records that are not flat. You may need a record clamp to hold it in place.
SPECIFICATIONS OF REK-O-KUT T3378
Platter 12 inch diameter 3.75 lbs Delrin
Drive System Belt-Drive, 120 VAC Motor
Speeds 33.33, 78.26rpm
Wow & Flutter 0.07% max
Speed Accuracy +/- 0.3%
Signal-To-Noise -69 dBA from 20 - 20 kHz
Power Requirements 100/130 VAC, 60 Hz
Arm Type 13 inch, static balance, S-shaped, tubular of aluminum and magnesium
Maximum Record Diameter 17 inches
Maximum Tracking Force Cal 3 Grams
Maximum Anti-Skating Cal 3 Grams
Dimensions 18.5” X 15” X 6.5”
Shipping Weight 24 Lbs
VINTAGE RECORDINGS
Esoteric Sound regularly engages in selling vintage records by mail auction at reasonable prices. This includes "78" rpm
records, LP's, broadcast transcriptions, broadcast and commercial tape recordings, and occasionally audio equipment. Please
go to our website, www.esotericsound.com, for the latest list.
WARRANTY
This product has been manufactured to precise standards and rigid quality control. Return authorization must be obtained
before making any return. Unit should be returned in it's original packing otherwise cost of repair for damage incurred will be
charged. We can advise you as to alternate proper packing should this not be available. In the USA, such returns should be
accompanied by a payment of $25.00 for re-shipping. Foreign locations must prepay return freight. Foreign customers will
be given the option of having parts sent for their installation. It is fully warranted against defective materials or workmanship
under normal use for the warranty period of one year from time of purchase to the original owner. Repairs, adjustment for
defects or replacement of parts will be performed free of charge during the one year period, except in case:
a) equipment has been damaged by accident or mishandling,
b) equipment has been serviced or modified by other than our authorized agents, or
c) of theft, loss, fire or other calamities by the Acts of God.
ESOTERIC SOUND
1608 HEMSTOCK AVE.
WHEATON, IL 60189
PHONE/FAX: [phone]
email: [email protected]
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