Fisher MT-640 / MT-640C Studio-Standard

Important Information

This highly sophisticated turntable was developed by FISHER to give you many years of listening enjoyment. Please read the following instructions carefully. They were prepared to assist you during the initial set-up procedure, and to ensure ultimate performance of the turntable at all times.

THE WARRANTY ON THIS UNIT DOES NOT COVER DAMAGE CAUSED BY MISHANDLING OR MISUSE.

Specifications

* Because its products are subject to continuous improvement, Fisher Corporation reserves the right to modify any design or specifications without notice and without incurring any obligation.

WARNING: TO AVOID THE HAZARD OF FIRE OR ELECTRICAL SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS TURNTABLE TO RAIN OR OTHER MOISTURE.

Unpacking the Unit

1. Carefully unpack the unit. The 45rpm adapter, counterweight and cartridge shell are packed in a parts box on the turntable platter. The rubber mat is packed separately in a plastic bag on the corrugated board.
2. Remove the three screws that hold the turntable platter in place during shipment as follows:
   • Loosen the three screws fully.
   • Slightly turn the turntable platter in a counter-clockwise direction.
   • Then, remove the three screws.

It is advisable to retain the carton, padding and the turntable platter shipping screws in case reshipment is necessary.

Assembling the Unit

1. Remove the turntable platter by pulling straight up.
2. Turn the drive gear until the non-serrated section faces the turntable shaft. Fig. 2: Diagram showing the drive gear with a non-serrated section intended to align with the turntable shaft, and a trip lever.
3. Carefully slip the turntable platter over the turntable shaft.
4. Place the rubber mat onto the turntable platter and the 45rpm adapter in storage recess on the base.
5. Attach the cartridge shell to the tone arm, securing it in place by turning the cartridge shell locking screw in a clockwise direction.
6. Screw the counterweight onto the end of the tone arm to mount. Fig. 3: Diagram depicting the counterweight being screwed onto the end of the tone arm.
7. Unfasten the string or "twist tab" wire that secured the tone arm during shipment. (Refer to Fig. 1)
8. Before adjusting the tracking force, remember to remove the stylus cover.

Tone Arm Balancing and Tracking Force Adjustment

The tone arm should be rebalanced every time you change the cartridge and shell assembly.

1. With cartridge and shell installed, release the tone arm from its rest position. Hold the tone arm loosely by the tone arm lift (Fig. 4). Rotate counterweight in either direction until the tone arm starts to rise. Continue adjusting the counterweight until the tone arm floats (balanced) and is parallel to the surface of the platter. Fig. 4: Illustrates holding the tone arm by the lift while adjusting the counterweight.
2. Grasp the counterweight and set the tracking force indicator dial to the zero position relative to the base line (Fig. 5). The tone arm and cartridge assembly are now correctly balanced. Fig. 5: Shows the base line and the tracking force indicator dial on the counterweight.
3. To adjust the tracking force, simply rotate the counterweight clockwise until the indicator dial shows the correct tracking force recommended by the manufacturer of your cartridge (Fig. 6). Fig. 6: Demonstrates rotating the counterweight clockwise to set the tracking force indicated on the dial.

The MT-640C has a high quality magnetic phono cartridge installed at the factory. The correct tracking force for this cartridge is 2 grams.

Anti-Skate Adjustment

Set the anti-skate control (Fig. 7) to a position which corresponds to the adjusted tracking force. If the cartridge tracking force is 2 grams, the anti-skate control should also be set at 2. Fig. 7: A close-up view of the anti-skate control knob.

Connecting the Turntable

1. Connect the two shielded cables coming from the turntable, to the phono input jacks of your amplifier.
2. Connect the ground wire to the system ground terminal of your amplifier.
3. Connect turntable line cord to an AC outlet (most amplifiers have AC outlets controlled by the amplifier power switch).

Mounting Dust Cover

Fit the hinges of the dust cover into the notches on the rear of the turntable base and then push down. (Fig. 8) Fig. 8: Shows how to attach or remove the dust cover by fitting hinges into notches.

Fine Adjustment of Turntable Platter Speed

1. Place a 33-1/3rpm LP on the platter. Set the SPEED selector button to the "33" (released) position. Move the cueing lever to the ▲ (UP) position. When the tone arm rises, move it over to the lead-in groove of the record. Move the cueing lever to the ▼ (DOWN) position, and the stylus will descend onto the record surface.
2. Watch the rows of dots on the stroboscope display window. They can be synchronized by turning the SPEED ADJUST control knob. With perfect synchronization, the dots will appear stationary at the selected speed and power line frequency. There are four rows of dots for speed adjustment. From top to bottom, they are 33-1/3 and 45rpm at line frequency of 50Hz; 33-1/3 and 45rpm at line frequency of 60Hz.
3. When the dots appear to move in either direction, adjust the speed precisely with the SPEED ADJUST control knob.
   • FAST...the speed will increase
   • SLOW...the speed will decrease
   The platter is rotating at the correct speed when the dots stand still.

The platter speed should be checked regularly. When the selected speed is "33" and the power line frequency is 60Hz, watch the third line of dots from the top. Adjust the speed precisely if the dots appear to move to the right or left.

Identification of Parts and Their Functions

1. Rubber mat
2. Turntable spindle
3. 45rpm record adapter: Place this over the turntable spindle when playing 45rpm records.
4. Turntable platter
5. SPEED selector button: "33"...Release this button when playing a 33-1/3rpm record. "45"...Depress this button when playing a 45rpm record.
6. SPEED ADJUST control knob: Use together with the stroboscope display window to fine adjust the platter speed.
7. Stroboscope display window
8. REPEAT button: Depress this button to listen repeatedly to the same record.
9. DISC SIZE selector knob: "17"...When playing a 17 cm (7 inch) record. "30"...When playing a 30 cm (12 inch) record.
10. REJECT button: Depress this button to stop record play. The tone arm will return to the arm rest automatically.
11. START button: Depress this button to move the tone arm automatically across to the record.
12. Cartridge shell
13. Tone arm
14. Lock lever
15. Arm rest
16. Cueing lever (arm lifter): Raise this lever and the tone arm will rise. Push the lever down and the tone arm will descend onto the record gently. This control can be used either for starting or interrupting record play.
17. Anti-skate control knob: Use this to adjust the force which prevents the tone arm from skating toward the center of the record.
18. Tracking force indicator dial
19. Counterweight

Turntable Operation

Before Record Play

First, set the amplifier or receiver which you have connected to the turntable to the record play mode and make sure that you turn down the volume control before operating the turntable.

Automatic Play

1. Place a record on the platter (if needed, use the 45rpm adapter).
2. Select the SPEED selector button to the "33" (released) or "45" (depressed) position.
3. Set the cueing lever to the ▼ (DOWN) position, raise the lock lever of the arm rest and free the tone arm.
4. Slide the DISC SIZE selector knob to "30" (12 inches) or "17" (7 inches) according to the size of the record.
5. Depress the START button. The platter now starts to rotate, the tone arm moves automatically across to the record and play begins.
6. Once play has finished, the tone arm rises from the record, it returns automatically to the arm rest and the platter stops.

CAUTION:

1. Play records which do not measure the standard 17cm (7 inches) or 30 cm (12 inches) in the manual mode.
2. Do not operate the DISC SIZE selector knob while the tone arm is moving in the automatic play mode.

Repeat Play

1. To listen repeatedly to the same record, depress the REPEAT button to the "ON" position.
2. Once play has finished, the tone arm returns to the arm rest and it then moves across to the record again. This operation is repeated.
3. To stop repeat play, release the REPEAT button to the "OFF" position.

Use the REPEAT button only during automatic play.

Manual Play

1. Place a record on the platter. (Use the 45rpm adapter if required.)
2. Select the SPEED selector button to the "33" (released) or "45" (depressed) position.
3. Raise the lock lever of the arm rest and free the tone arm. Raise the cueing lever to the ▲ (UP) position and the tone arm will rise from the arm rest.
4. Grasp the finger lift on the cartridge shell and move the tone arm over lead-in groove of the record or to the desired place on the record.
5. Move the cueing lever to the ▼ (DOWN) position and the tone arm will descend gently onto the record and play will begin.
6. Once play is finished, the tone arm rises from the record, it returns automatically to the arm rest and the platter stops.

To interrupt play...

• Move the cueing lever to the ▲ (UP) position and the tone arm will rise from the record.
• Push the cueing lever to the ▼ (DOWN) position and the tone arm will descend onto the record surface and play will resume.

To stop play...

• Check that the REPEAT button is at the "OFF" position and depress the REJECT button. The tone arm automatically returns to the arm rest and the platter stops.

DO NOT touch the tone arm while it is returning automatically to the arm rest.

Trouble-Shooting Guide

Before having your turntable unit serviced, be sure to check the following and make the corrections if possible, according to these suggestions.

Maintenance

Remember that your turntable is a sensitive electro-mechanical device that needs occasional maintenance.

CAUTION: FOR YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY, BE SURE TO DISCONNECT THE A.C. LINE BEFORE YOU PROCEED WITH ANY LUBRICATION AND/OR CLEANING.

1. Cleaning the stylus: Dust particles often build up around the stylus. If the build-up becomes excessive it will not only result in noisy reproduction but will eventually shorten the lives of both the record and the stylus. Should this occur, do not remove the dust with your fingers or a tool. Lift the tone arm by its handle and blow the dust away or use a stylus brush.
2. Replacing the stylus: To assure distortion-free reproduction, replace the diamond stylus after 1000/2000 LP plays.
3. Cleaning the dust cover, cabinet and visible metal parts: Wipe gently with a soft cloth moistened with lukewarm water. NEVER use benzol, benzine or other strong chemical cleaners because they may damage the finish of your unit. DO NOT allow moisture to penetrate the insides of the turntable.

Replacing the Cartridge on MT-640C or Installing a Cartridge in MT-640

1. Carefully mount the cartridge according to the maker's instructions. DO NOT tighten the mounting screws.
2. Connect the 4 colored leads in the cartridge shell to the cartridge terminals. Connect properly by matching the colors of the leads and cartridge terminals:
   • White = Left output
   • Blue = Left ground
   • Red = Right output
   • Green = Right ground
3. Before plugging the cartridge shell into the tone arm, adjust the stylus point of cartridge. Move the cartridge back and forth to obtain a space of 1-1/4" (32mm) between cartridge shell and stylus tip as shown in Fig. 12. Fix cartridge in this location by TIGHTENING the mounting screws. Be sure to keep the cartridge straight in the cartridge shell. Fig. 12: Diagram showing the required 1-1/4" (32mm) spacing between the cartridge shell and stylus tip.
4. Plug the cartridge shell into the tone arm and tighten the cartridge shell locking screw by turning it clockwise. (Fig. 11) Fig. 11: Exploded view of the cartridge shell, mounting screws, washer, and tone arm connection.
5. Adjust the tracking force and anti-skating. (See page 4.)

The tone arm used in this turntable has a very low effective mass. It will work best with a low weight, high compliance cartridge. The cartridge weight may vary between 4.5 grams and 6.5 grams with a nominal recommended value of 5.5 grams. The static compliance may vary between 30 x 10^-6cm/dyne and 50 x 10^-6cm/dyne with a nominal value of 40 x 10^-6cm/dyne.