1
Unpacking the Box
The turntable and tonearm are packed very carefully to avoid damage during shipping. It is
important that you save the packing materials and box to use for shipping or moving the table.
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Carefully remove the tonearm watching for the delicate wiring with Lemo connector
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Remove and set aside these items:
Alignment Jig.
Record clamp.
Power cord.
Stylus force gauge
Tools
Prime 21 isolation feet
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Make space for the Prime 21 and remove the chassis from the box. Put the chassis down on a
solid surface.
The warranty does not take effect until the warranty
card is returned online as given at the end of the
manual.
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Remove the Prime 21 motor and place it in the Prime 21 cutout to the left. Be very careful not
to hit or damage the motor pulley. It me/- .0005” when it was tested at the factory.
Try not to disturb it at all.
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Remove the turntable platter and peel the tape of the bearing hole. Carefully lower the platter
on to the Prime 21 spindle, (there is a black cap on the spindle – remove it). The platter is
lubricated with PTFE grease and needs no maintenance for at least two years.
Setting up the Prime 21
The Prime 21 must be placed on a flat, level surface. This will make setup easy, provide better
sound quality, and put less strain on the main bearing.
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Place the turntable chassis, with the motor cutout on the left, on the shelf or stand where it will
be used. The better isolation you provide the Prime 21, the better it will sound. We highly
recommend a 1 to 3-inch-thick maple shelf sitting on rubber isolator feet for this purpose.
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Connect the power cord to the motor, put the belt around the motor pulley and platter, spin the
platter by hand and the belt will self-level.
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For 33 RPM operation, place the belt on the upper part of the pulley. For 45 RPM operation,
place the belt on the lower, wider part of the pulley. The centre groove in each diameter is the
correct speed. The optional VPI Analog Drive System (ADS) speed controller is an accessory
that provides the ultimate speed accuracy and improved sound. Check with your dealer about
availability.
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Verify the turntable is level by using a 9 or 12-inch spirit level front-to-back and side-to-side on
the platter. If it is not level, rotate the feet up or down. If there is a need to turn the Prime 21
feet more than three full turns, level the shelf or platform the table sits on first.
