SUPATRAC Blackbird User manual

Instructions
Blackbird
SUPATRAC
supatrac.com

1
SUPATRAC Blackbird
Thank you for choosing the SUPATRAC
Blackbird, a revolutionary tone arm for high-
performance turntables.
The Blackbird is the world’s first Sideways Uni-
Pivot Arm (SUPA) with a patented* novel
bearing design which directly opposes the
varying drag on the stylus so that energy and
time in musical recordings are reproduced with
unprecedented accuracy.
This manual explains how to install, set up and
maintain your Blackbird Sideways Uni-Pivot
Arm for a lifetime of dependable performance.
* UK Patent 2599073, international patents pending
INDEX
Diagrammes page 2
Box contents page 4
Carriage page 4
Installation page 5
Calibration page 15
Maintenance page 24
Disassembly page 26
Solving problems page 27
Further information page 28
Warranty page 29

2
SUPATRAC Blackbird
Parts and Their Names
HAZARD WARNING:
SHARP EDGES - USE
GLOVES PROVIDED
TO AVOID INJURY
base
pillar
arm tube
headshell
counterweight
right hoist
post
thrust box
bias rig
finger lift
pivot bolt
hoist pipe
hoist pipe eye
hoist pipe
lock screw
pivot bolt
pivot lock nut
pivot
post
pillar
pivot
magnet
3
DANGER WARNING:
SMALL MAGNETS -
KEEP AWAY FROM
CHILDREN
rest magnet
bias rotor
spool
grip
hoist spool
pivot lock nut
pivot
pivot magnet
bias pulley
base
pillar
arm tube
headshell
counterweight
right hoist
post
thrust box
bias rig
finger-lift
pivot bolt

BOX CONTENTS
Blackbird tone arm
Arm support pillar
Mounting base [optional clamp]
Counterweights
Mass adaptors
Amplifier cable
Downforce scale
Rigid finger-lift
Pivot magnets
Through cable clamp
Base bolts & washers
Alternative bias weights
Spare filaments
Allen keys
Spanner
Protractor
Instructions & warranty
CARRIAGE
To transport a turntable short distances with
your Sideways Uni-Pivot Arm attached it is
recommended that you…
1. place a severally-folded tissue between the
pivot point and thrust box
2. stabilise the arm with a support
3. attach a stylus guard
For longer journeys, remove the arm from the
post so that it can be packed separately. See the
‘Disassembly’ chapter.
4
5
INSTALLATION
Attach Base
Attach the base to the arm board or plinth of
your turntable using standard metric bolts.
For Linn:
For SME:
For Rega, Jelco, VPI:
The Rega/Jelco/VPI base can either be clamped
using the clamp and lock rings or bolted on.
base
M5 bolts
bracket
base
M5 bolts
clamp bolts
base
clamp
ring
lock
ring
stopper

Insert Pillar
Insert the pillar into the base, taking care not to
allow it to drop. The bias rig can safely be held
up with one hand while gently tightening the
pillar locking bolt with the other. Do not over-
tighten the pillar locking bolt. Start with the
pivot point just lower than the platter surface.
Orient the pillar so that the pivot bolt points
away from the position of a stylus when it plays
the second half of a record side.
pillar
pillar locking bolt
base
bias rig
post
suggested
pivot angle
6
Set Spindle-Pivot Length
Use the supplied protractor (‘Supatractor’) to set
or record spindle-pivot distance:
-push the protractor hole onto the spindle
-rotate the protractor point towards the pivot
-base position is ideal when the points touch
-if points don’t touch, close the gap by
loosening the base and moving it sideways
-a small gap of a few millimetres may be
compensated by extending the pivot bolt and
hoist pipe, see ‘Extending Pivot’ below
-alternatively, measure the discrepancy to
calculate a new optimal pivot-stylus length
-large gaps need a different arm board or arm
Extend Pivot (Optional)
If your spindle-pivot length does not correspond
to your arm’s pivot-stylus length by a
millimetre or two, the pivot and hoist pipe can
be adjusted forwards or backwards.
-loosen pivot lock nut with supplied spanner
-turn pivot bolt with a small screwdriver to
withdraw or extend it by the desired length
-use screwdriver to maintain pivot bolt
position and re-tighten pivot lock nut
-loosen the hoist pipe lock screw
-extend or withdraw the hoist pipe by the
same length as the pivot bolt was adjusted
-take care not to overtighten hoist pipe lock
screw as thread is short and ductile
hoist pipe
hoist pipe eye
hoist pipe
lock screw
pivot bolt
pivot lock nut
pivot
post
pillar
pivot
magnet
7