Fisher MT-6330 / MT-6330C Studio-Standard Turntable
Operating Instructions
Introduction
The Fisher "Linear Drive" system represents a novel engineering approach to turntable rotation, designed for accuracy and stability. This drive system utilizes 120 magnetic poles, significantly more than the typical 4 to 24, to achieve uniform rotation and virtually eliminate wow, flutter, and rumble. This highly sophisticated turntable was developed by Fisher to provide many years of listening enjoyment. Please read these instructions carefully for initial setup and to ensure optimal performance.
WARNING: To avoid the hazard of fire or electrical shock, do not expose this turntable to rain or other moisture.
WARRANTY NOTE: The warranty on this unit does not cover damage caused by mishandling or misuse.
Specifications
| Motor | 120 Pole Linear AC Servo |
| Drive System | Direct |
| Wow & Flutter (WRMS) | 0.035% |
| Rumble (DIN 45539B) | -70 dB |
| Speed Variation | ±0.5% |
| Speed Control Range | ±3% |
| Tracking Force Range | 0.6 - 3.5 grams |
| Tracking Force Adjustment | Calibrated Counterweight |
| Platter Diameter | 12-3/8" |
| Platter Weight | 2.2 lbs. |
| Strobe Light | Yes |
| Record Speed Selector | 33/45 rpm |
| Auto Function (Stop) | Yes |
| Reject | Yes |
| Automatic Tone Arm Return at End of Record | Yes |
| Manual Function (Start) | Yes |
| Manual Function (Stop) | Yes |
| Tone Arm Data Resonance | <10 Hz |
| Tone Arm Data Balance Adjustment | Counterweight |
| Tone Arm Data Effective Length | 222 mm |
| Tone Arm Data Shape | S-Form |
| Bearing Type Horizontal Thrust | 0.18 gram |
| Friction Sensitivity Vertical Pivot | 0.22 gram |
| Max. Tracking Error | ±1.8° |
| Anti-Skate Control | Calibrated Adjustable |
| Cueing | Viscous Damped |
| Overhang Indicator | Yes |
| Cartridge Supplied | Model MT-6330C Stereo Magnetic (MG-35V) |
| GENERAL | |
| Power Requirements | 120 V AC ±10% 50/60 Hz |
| Power Consumption | 3.5 Watts |
| Dimensions (WxDxH) | 17-5/16"x14-15/16"x5-7/16" |
| Weight (approx.) | 13.7 lbs. |
* Specifications are subject to change without notice.
Unpacking the Unit
Carefully unpack the unit. The 45 rpm adapter, counterweight, cartridge shell, rubber mat, and trim ring plate are typically packed separately in plastic bags or padding.
1. Remove the three screws that secure the turntable platter for shipping. [See Fig. 1: Diagram showing three screws securing the turntable platter for shipping, with a string attached to the tone arm.]
It is advisable to retain the original carton, padding, and shipping screws for potential future reshipment.
Assembling
1. Place the rubber mat and the trim ring plate onto the turntable platter.
2. Rotate the cartridge shell ring of the tone arm and attach the cartridge shell.
3. Screw the counterweight onto the end of the tone arm. [See Fig. 2: Diagram illustrating the attachment of the counterweight to the end of the tone arm.]
4. Unfasten the string or "twist tab" wire that secures the tone arm during shipment. [See Fig. 1: Diagram showing three screws securing the turntable platter for shipping, with a string attached to the tone arm.]
5. Remove the stylus cover.
Tone Arm Balancing and Tracking Force Adjustment
The tone arm should be rebalanced whenever the cartridge and shell assembly is changed.
1. With the cartridge and shell installed, release the tone arm from its rest position. Hold the tone arm loosely by the tone arm lift. Rotate the counterweight until the tone arm begins to rise. Continue adjusting the counterweight until the tone arm floats parallel to the platter surface. [See Fig. 3: Illustration showing how to hold the tone arm by the lift to check for balance.]
2. Hold the tone arm counterweight and set the tracking force indicator dial to the zero position relative to the base line. The tone arm and cartridge assembly are now correctly balanced. [See Fig. 4: Diagram indicating the base line and the tracking force indicator dial on the counterweight.]
3. To adjust the tracking force, rotate the counterweight clockwise until the indicator dial shows the correct tracking force recommended by the cartridge manufacturer. [See Fig. 5: Illustration of rotating the counterweight to set the tracking force using the indicator dial.]
NOTE: The MT-6330C comes with a high-quality magnetic phono cartridge installed. The correct tracking force for this cartridge is 2 grams.
Anti-Skating Adjustment
Set the anti-skate control to a position that corresponds to the adjusted tracking force. For a tracking force of 2 grams, set the anti-skate control to 2. [See Fig. 6: Close-up view of the anti-skate control knob on the tonearm base.]
NOTE: This setting is generally correct for most spherical styli. For elliptical or SHIBATA type styli, it is advisable to set the anti-skate control to a position corresponding to 1.2 to 1.4 times the tracking force setting.
Connecting the Turntable
1. Connect the two shielded cables 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 the turntable line cord to an AC outlet. Many amplifiers have AC outlets controlled by the amplifier's 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. [See Fig. 7: Diagram showing how to attach the dust cover by fitting its hinges into the rear notches of the turntable base.]
Adjustment of Turntable Speed
1. Place a 33-1/3 rpm LP on the platter. Push the "33" speed selector button. Slide the cueing knob to the UP position. Move the tone arm over the lead-in groove of the record. Slide the cueing knob to the DOWN position to lower the stylus onto the record surface.
2. Observe the rows of dots on the platter rim. Synchronize these dots by turning the "33" 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, corresponding to 33-1/3 rpm at 50 Hz, 33-1/3 rpm at 60 Hz, 45 rpm at 50 Hz, and 45 rpm at 60 Hz.
3. If the dots appear to move in either direction, adjust the speed precisely using the SPEED ADJUST control knob. Turning the knob towards the "F" mark will increase speed, while turning towards the "S" mark will decrease speed. The platter is at the correct speed when the dots appear stationary. Platter speed should be checked regularly.
For 33 rpm playback with a 60 Hz power line frequency, watch the second line of dots from the top. Adjust the speed precisely if these dots appear to move left or right.
Identification of Parts and Their Functions
- 1. 45 rpm record adapter: Place over the turntable spindle when playing 45 rpm records.
- 2. Turntable platter and rubber mat
- 3. Trim ring plate
- 4. Turntable spindle
- 5. Stroboscope
- 6. Speed selector buttons: Push "33" for 33-1/3 rpm records; push "45" for 45 rpm records.
- 7. SPEED ADJUST control knobs: Used with the stroboscope to fine-tune platter speed.
- 8. Overhang indicator: Marks the correct position for the stylus.
- 9. Cueing knob (arm lifter): Slide UP to raise the tone arm; slide DOWN to gently lower the tone arm onto the record. Used for starting or interrupting play.
- 10. REJECT button: Stops record play and returns the tone arm to the rest automatically.
- 11. Cartridge shell
- 12. Tone arm
- 13. Lock lever
- 14. Arm rest
- 15. Anti-skate control knob: Adjusts force to prevent the tone arm from skating towards the record's center.
- 16. Tracking force indicator dial
- 17. Counterweight
[See Fig. 8: A labeled diagram of the turntable's parts, with numbers pointing to components like the platter, spindle, tone arm, controls, and cartridge.]
Turntable Operation
1. Turn on your amplifier or receiver. Set the VOLUME control to its MINIMUM setting BEFORE operating the turntable.
2. Place a record on the platter. Use the 45 rpm adapter if necessary.
3. Select the platter speed by depressing the 33 or 45 button.
4. Slide the cueing knob to the UP position to raise the tone arm. Move the tone arm over the lead-in groove of the record.
5. Slide the cueing knob to the DOWN position; the tone arm will descend gently onto the record, and playback will begin.
6. At the end of the record, the tone arm will automatically rise and return to the arm rest.
To interrupt play: Slide the cueing knob to the UP position to raise the tone arm. Slide it to the DOWN position to lower the tone arm and resume playback.
To stop play: Push the REJECT button. This will cause the tone arm to rise and swing back to the rest. The platter will stop rotating as the tone arm returns to its rest.
NOTE: Do not touch the tone arm while it is returning automatically to the arm rest.
Trouble-Shooting Guide
| SYMPTOM | PROBABLE CAUSE | CORRECTION |
|---|---|---|
| Turntable does not rotate. | Faulty AC power connection. | Make sure the unit is plugged into a live AC socket. |
| No sound is produced. | Output cords not connected. Improper cartridge shell attachment. Faulty lead wire connections in cartridge. |
Connect cords to amplifier. Plug cartridge shell into tone arm and fasten securely. Re-connect lead wires. |
| Noise is audible and there is marked sound distortion in high tonal range. | Dust accumulation on stylus. Dusty or scratched disc surface. Stylus is worn out. Improper tracking force. Treble sound excessive. |
Blow dust off or use a stylus brush. Try a new, clean record. Replace stylus. Adjust tracking force. Adjust tone control. |
| Humming sound evident when playing a record. | Turntable and amplifier are not connected with ground wire. Faulty connections on output cords. |
Connect turntable and amplifier with ground wire at ground terminals. (In some cases, sound may be better when they are not connected by ground wire.) Connect output cords to the amplifier correctly. |
| Speakers howl when volume is turned up. | Improper location of turntable in relation to speakers. | Place turntable on a solid surface at a distance from speakers. |
Maintenance
Remember that your turntable is a sensitive electro-mechanical device requiring occasional maintenance.
Cleaning the stylus: Dust particles can build up around the stylus, causing noisy reproduction and shortening the life of both the record and the stylus. If this occurs, do not remove dust with fingers or tools. Lift the tone arm by its handle and blow the dust away, or use a stylus brush.
Replacing the stylus: To ensure distortion-free reproduction, replace the diamond stylus after approximately 1000/2000 LP plays. To remove the old stylus, pull out the stylus assembly. [See Fig. 9: Illustration demonstrating how to remove the stylus assembly by pulling it out.] Replace with a new stylus, available from a Fisher Service Center.
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, as they can damage the unit's finish. Do not allow moisture to penetrate inside the turntable.
Mounting the Cartridge
1. Carefully mount the cartridge according to the manufacturer's instructions. Do not tighten the mounting screws initially.
2. Connect the 4 colored leads in the cartridge shell to the corresponding cartridge terminals: White = Left output, Blue = Left ground, Red = Right output, Green = Right ground.
3. Plug the cartridge shell into the tone arm and tighten the cartridge shell ring by turning it clockwise. [See Fig. 10: Diagram showing the connection of colored leads (white, blue, red, green) from the cartridge shell to the cartridge terminals, and the process of attaching the shell to the tone arm.]
4. Move the tone arm over the overhang indicator and adjust the cartridge until the stylus point is located exactly above the overhang indicator. Fix the cartridge in this position by TIGHTENING the mounting screws. [See Fig. 11: Diagram illustrating the final cartridge mounting, showing the mounting screws, overhang indicator, and the stylus positioned correctly.] Ensure the cartridge remains straight in the cartridge shell.
5. Adjust tracking force and anti-skating (refer to page 4).
