Clearaudio TT5 Tangential Tonearm

Introduction

Dear Clearaudio customer,

Thank you for purchasing the Clearaudio TT5 tangential tonearm. With the TT5, Clearaudio offers vinyl fans a more affordable entry point into the high performance of tangential tonearm technology.

Please read this user manual carefully to ensure the appropriate care of your tonearm and to avoid any invalidation of your warranty by misuse. The manual will help you with both initial set-up and ongoing maintenance.

We wish you much listening pleasure with your new Clearaudio TT5 tangential tonearm.

Clearaudio electronic GmbH

Safety Instructions

1. General Information

Check the tonearm for any damage before using it. Do not connect the tonearm if damaged!

Never connect the tonearm if it has been dropped or gotten wet; contact your dealer to have the tonearm checked.

Never expose the tonearm to rain or moisture.

The inside of the tonearm is maintenance-free. Never open the case or attempt to repair the unit yourself, since this can lead to loss of warranty!

Before using the tonearm for the first time or after a long period of inactivity, the lift must be operated approx. 4-5 times to loosen the grease in the tonearm lift, allowing the lift bar to lower evenly again.

Contains swallowable parts, not for small children.

2. Intended Use

The TT5 is a tonearm for playing music and is intended exclusively for use on turntables.

Only use the TT5 tonearm in accordance with the information provided in the user manual.

3. Location of Installation

Avoid locations with direct sunlight, temperature fluctuations, and high humidity. Likewise, avoid placing electronic devices near heaters, heat lamps, or other devices that produce heat.

The device is designed for operation at room temperature.

No objects with an open flame may be placed on or near the device (e.g., burning candles).

4. Maintenance

Please ensure that the precision dry ball bearings are not touched, cleaned, or lubricated in any way.

Never move or readjust the screws in the tonearm carriage. They should be adjusted only by qualified dealers or at the Clearaudio factory.

To clean the glass tube, use a cotton bud and a commercially available glass cleaner. Apply some glass cleaner to the cotton bud and slide it through the glass tube with a movement from the inlet to the outlet groove. Never use aggressive cleaning agents.

Do not use dry cloths for cleaning as this generates static electricity. Suitable cleaning and care products from Clearaudio are available at www.analogshop.de or from specialist retailers.

Only use a soft cloth with a smooth surface or a soft brush for cleaning.

Important Warnings and Information

WARNING: Never insert oil into the precision bearing as this will result in damage of bearing.

5. Health Information

Permanently high volume can lead to various types of hearing damage. Use high volume responsibly!

6. Service

The TT5 tonearm should be repaired during the guarantee period by the manufacturer only; otherwise, the warranty claim expires. All Clearaudio products should only be serviced by a specialist retailer.

If, despite the high production standard, service is necessary, the TT5 tonearm must be sent to Clearaudio through your dealer.

7. Transport

Use the original packing material for further transportation of the TT5 tonearm, otherwise serious damage could occur.

Be sure to pack the device exactly as it was shipped. Safe transport is only guaranteed in the original packaging.

During any transportation of the tonearm, always protect the carriage with a piece of foam so that the carriage cannot move during transportation.

When repackaging the tonearm, please follow in reverse the steps indicated in this manual for installation and setup.

8. Disposal

Do not dispose of this product together with other waste. WEEE Reg. No.: DE26004446

9. CE Marking ??????

This electronic product corresponds to the applicable guidelines for obtaining the CE mark.

Package Contents

The Clearaudio TT5 tangential tonearm is delivered in specially designed packaging to ensure safe shipment. Please retain this packaging in case you need to safely transport, ship, or store the tonearm at a future date.

Please check the package contents first. When unpacking the tonearm, be sure to handle the tonearm's sensitive signal cables with the utmost caution.

Important: All threads are right-hand thread (metric).

Contents:

• 1. TT5 tonearm; with pre-installed precision-machined silver carbon arm tube with aluminium headshell (without cartridge)
• 2. Aluminium clamping ring with M6 x 8
• 3. Set of 4 hex wrenches: #1.5, #2, #2.5, #3
• 4. Clamping ring mounting bolts: 3x allen screws M4 x 10. Cartridge mounting screws (not pictured): 2x M2.5 x 12, 2x M2.5 x 14
• 5. 4x counterweights: 2.3g, 2.6g, 4.3g, and 8.0g
• 6. Clearaudio tangential alignment gauge
• 7. 1 pair of white gloves
• 8. Clearaudio Mini Level Gauge
• 9. TT5 VTA fix
• 10. Not pictured: Warranty card; User manual; Clearaudio quality certificate and return delivery note

[Image: Illustration showing the components included in the package: TT5 tonearm assembly, aluminium clamping ring, hex wrenches, mounting screws, counterweights, tangential alignment gauge, white gloves, Mini Level Gauge, and packaging box.]

Mounting the Clamping Ring

2.1 Selecting the Correct Tonearm Base

If you intend to use the TT5 with a swing base, mount the swing base as described in its accompanying manual. The clamping ring is not required in this scenario.

The following instructions for setting up the TT5 (from point 4 onwards) apply regardless of whether you use the TT5 with or without a swing base.

Before mounting the clamping ring, first verify that the correct tonearm base is installed on your turntable.

For Clearaudio Performance DC and Ovation turntables, the following tonearm bases can be used:

• Uni concept / Performance DC / Ovation (Art. No. AC031-5): This base is suitable for mounting all Clearaudio radial tonearms and the TT5 tangential tonearm without needing the clamping ring. Please note: This base is not suitable for mounting a swing base.

[Image: Diagram of the Uni concept tonearm base for Clearaudio turntables.]

• Unify base (Art. No. AC031-4): Used for mounting the clamping ring or the Clearaudio swing base.

[Image: Diagram of the Unify base for Clearaudio turntables.]

For mounting the clamping ring or the Clearaudio swing base on a Clearaudio Innovation series turntable, you will need the Unify 12 inch level base (Art. No. AC030-4).

[Image: Diagram of the Unify 12 inch level base for Clearaudio Innovation series turntables.]

2.2 Mounting the Clamping Ring

If the clamping ring is necessary, proceed as follows. Otherwise, you can skip to point 3.

Attach the aluminium clamping ring to the clean surface of the turntable chassis using the three included M4 x 10 hex socket head cap screws and the matching hex wrench (#3). Ensure a precise fit and a perfectly flat mounting surface.

Tighten all three screws firmly.

[Image: Illustration showing the mounting of the aluminium clamping ring onto a turntable chassis.] [Image: Illustration showing the tightening of the clamping ring screws.]

Mounting the Aluminium Clamping Ring on a Non-Clearaudio Turntable

To attach the aluminium clamping ring to the turntable chassis, you must first drill the required holes. Refer to the drilling template shown below (Pic. 7) for measurements to mark the exact drilling holes. Please note that this diagram is not to scale and is not suitable for use as a mounting tool.

Use a 3.3mm HSS drill bit, then cut an M4 thread into each hole using an appropriate tap cutting tool. If the turntable chassis material is not suitable for cutting threads, use a 4.5mm HSS drill bit to drill the holes through the material. In this case, use standard bolts and nuts to fix the arm base.

[Diagram: Drilling template with dimensions for mounting the aluminium clamping ring on non-Clearaudio turntables, showing hole diameters (Ø30-31, Ø48 PCD, Ø4.3 or M4 mounting hole), base diameter (Ø60), and pivot-to-spindle distance (222mm).]

Mounting the TT5 Tonearm

First, guide the tonearm cable, followed by the foot of the tonearm, through the aluminium clamping ring, swing base, or tonearm base. Subsequently, roughly set the height and position of the tonearm and secure it with the side screw of the clamping ring or tonearm base.

For setting the tonearm's pivot point, we recommend the Clearaudio tangential tonearm alignment gauge (Art. No. AC005/IEC; www.analogshop.de). You can also use a common ruler for this purpose. The distance from the spindle to the tonearm pivot point should be 222mm as a starting measurement for adjustment.

[Image: Illustration showing the tonearm being guided through the mounting base.]

Mounting the Cartridge

Important: Please leave the stylus guard on your cartridge during assembly! Proceed with extreme caution to avoid damaging your cartridge system.

Ensure the headshell is lifted upwards and there is sufficient space above the turntable platter to mount the cartridge. Using the supplied screws (M2.5 x 12 or M2.5 x 14), attach the cartridge to the aluminium headshell.

Next, connect the signal cables to the corresponding colored pins of the cartridge system. Observe the following color coding:

• Red: Right channel / R+
• Green: Right channel / R-
• White: Left channel / L+
• Blue: Left channel / L-

[Image: Illustration showing a cartridge being mounted onto the tonearm headshell.] [Image: Illustration showing a mounted cartridge with connected wires.]

You can now remove the rubber band that serves as a transport lock.

TT5 Adjustment

5.1 Setting the Position

Using the included alignment gauge, measure the distance from the needle tip to the front edge of the tonearm slide. The optimal measurement is 64mm (see Pic. 12).

To correct this, slightly loosen both screws on the top of the tonearm carriage using the #1.5 hex wrench and move the headshell into the correct position.

[Image: Close-up of screws on the tonearm slide for position adjustment.] [Image: Diagram showing the correct tonearm position relative to the needle and tonearm slide, indicating 64mm measurement.]

5.2 Pre-adjustment of the Tracking Force

To perform this adjustment, you must now remove the stylus guard. Please handle the system with care to avoid damage.

Use one of the supplied weights to roughly set the tracking force by sliding the counterweight onto the end of the tonearm tube (Abb. 13) and fixing it with a #1.5 hex wrench (Abb. 14).

The choice of counterweight depends on the weight of the cartridge. Our recommendation:

• Weight Size 1: for cartridges weighing 7g
• Weight Size 3: for cartridges weighing 8g
• Weight Size 4: for cartridges weighing 12g

This tonearm is suitable for cartridges weighing 5.5g or more. If your cartridge is lighter, please use an additional weight between the headshell and the cartridge (headshell plate not included; available from your dealer or clearaudio at info@clearaudio.de).

[Image: Illustration of mounting a counterweight onto the tonearm.] [Image: Illustration showing the counterweight assembly fixed on the tonearm.]

5.3 Positioning the Tonearm Horizontally

Before adjusting the horizontal alignment of the tonearm, first check the horizontal alignment of your turntable.

After correctly adjusting your turntable horizontally, loosen the two screws with a #2 hex wrench (see Abb. 15) by approximately one turn. By alternately tightening the screws, and observing the built-in bubble level, you can bring the tonearm into level alignment until the bubble is centered.

[Image: Illustration showing the horizontal adjustment of the tonearm using a bubble level.]

5.4 VTA-Adjustment

The Clearaudio alignment gauge is suitable for adjusting the tonearm height, as it corresponds to the thickness of a record and has a marked linear track.

Place the Clearaudio alignment gauge through the existing hole on the turntable spindle and align it so that it points towards the tonearm base. Place the included Mini Level Gauge on the headshell and adjust the VTA setting by lowering the lift, readjusting if necessary.

Proceed as follows:

• Clamping ring / Tonearm base: Loosen the screw on the clamping ring/tonearm base and move the tonearm in the appropriate direction until the bubble of the Mini Level Gauge is centered in its housing.
• Swing base: Lift the top of the swing base and loosen the screws on the bottom of the swing base, then move the tonearm in the appropriate direction until the bubble of the Mini Level Gauge is centered in its housing.

Repeat this process until the desired alignment is achieved. Fix this position and check it again.

To fix the VTA during further adjustment of the TT5, we recommend the use of the included TT5 VTA clamp. Remove both M4 hex socket head screws from the TT5 VTA clamp using the #3 hex wrench. Place the two halves of the VTA clamp around the tonearm pillar, resting on the tonearm base or swing base, and gently tighten the screws with the #3 hex wrench. You can now loosen the screw of the tonearm base/clamping ring or the screws of the swing base and proceed to point 5.5.

[Image: Illustration showing the VTA adjustment using the TT5 VTA fix, indicating measurements 'a' and 'b'.]

5.5 Adjustment of the Azimuth

(Vertical position of the cartridge / stylus in the record groove)

Important: Please use extreme caution during this step! Always lift the cartridge upwards during the adjustment.

Using the arm lift, carefully lower the cartridge onto the included alignment gauge. Check the alignment of the tonearm from the front using the Mini Level Gauge and readjust if necessary. The cartridge is in optimal alignment when it is vertical to the platter surface (see Pic. 17) and the bubble of the Mini Level Gauge is centered (Pic. 18).

[Image: Illustration showing optimal azimuth with a 90° angle indicated.] [Image: Illustration showing the azimuth adjustment process.]

5.6 Fine Adjustment of the Tracking Force

Set the correct tracking force of your cartridge according to the manufacturer's instructions. For setting the correct tracking force, we recommend the digital cartridge weight "Weight Watcher touch" from Clearaudio (Art. No. AC163, also available at www.analogshop.de) (Pic. 19).

After completing all settings, please ensure that the signal cable forms a smooth loop to the rear.

[Image: Illustration showing the adjustment of the tracking force using a digital scale.]

5.7 Setting the Tangential

Reposition the Clearaudio Alignment gauge through the existing hole on the turntable spindle and align it so it points towards the tonearm base. Lower the stylus with the lift to the "outer groove" height (near the center of the record) onto the Clearaudio Alignment gauge and carefully move it until the stylus tip sits exactly on the reference line (see Pic. 20, red line). Lift the cartridge again and position it at the "lead-in groove" height (Abb. 21). Lower it there again.

[Image: Illustration showing the tangential adjustment process at the outer groove position.] [Image: Illustration showing the tangential adjustment process at the lead-in groove position.]

IMPORTANT: Never move the cartridge in the adjustment template while it is lowered!

If the cartridge is not parallel to the reference line, rotate the tonearm base in the appropriate direction, fix it lightly, and recheck your result. Repeat this process until the stylus tip perfectly follows the reference line of the alignment gauge in all positions. Finally, hand-tighten the tonearm base screw(s) to fix the final adjustment.

Now, check all settings as described from point 5 onwards and repeat the adjustment if necessary. After setting the tangential tracking angle, fix the tonearm foot to the tonearm base / clamping ring / TT5 swing base. Finally, remove the TT5 VTA fix by unscrewing the M4 cylinder head screws with the #3 hex wrench. The Clearaudio TT5 tonearm is now fully adjusted and ready to play.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter a problem with your TT5 tonearm, first check possible causes to rule out operational errors. Contact your dealer if the error persists!

Never attempt to open and/or repair the product yourself, as this will void the warranty!

Technical Data

* Provided that the warranty card is correctly completed and returned to Clearaudio, or your product is registered online at https://clearaudio.de/en/service/registration.php, within 14 days of purchase.

Warranty Information

The full, extended warranty period for the TT5 tangential tonearm is 5 years. To receive this full Clearaudio warranty, you must either complete and return the relevant section of the warranty registration card to Clearaudio, or register your product online at https://clearaudio.de/en/service/registration.php, within 14 days of purchase. Otherwise, only the legal warranty can be considered. The full 5-year warranty can only be honoured if the product is returned in its original packaging.

Summary of Warranty Information (Other Languages):

• Français: Contact local distributor for warranty. Keep proof of purchase.
• Deutsch: Contact your Clearaudio dealer for warranty questions. Keep your proof of purchase.
• Nederlands: Contact your local Clearaudio for warranty information. Keep your receipt/cash receipt.
• Italiano: The appliance is covered by a one-year warranty or the period provided by law, starting from the purchase date. Repairs are free of charge for defective parts. Improper use, incorrect installation, or unauthorized maintenance are not covered.
• Español: Contact your Clearaudio distributor for warranty information. Keep your proof of purchase.

Contact Information

Clearaudio electronic GmbH

Spardorfer Straße 150
91054 Erlangen
Germany

Phone/Tel.: +49 9131 40300 100

Fax: +49 9131 40300 119

Website: www.clearaudio.de

Online Shop: www.analogshop.de

Email: info@clearaudio.de

[Social Media Icons: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, LinkedIn]

Handmade in Germany

Clearaudio Electronic accepts no liability for any misprints. Technical specifications are subject to change or improvement without prior notice. Product availability is as long as stock lasts. Copies and reprints of this document, including extracts, require written consent from Clearaudio Electronic GmbH, Germany.

© clearaudio electronic GmbH, 2024-01