HiFi Stereo turntablewith automatic record changer, PS 600

User's guide

1 Frame

2 Chassis

3 Tone arm

4 Turntable

5 Turntable axis

6 Diameter selector buttons

7 Stop button

8 Cueing lever

9 Speed change lever

10 Speed adjustment knob

11 Strobe light indicator

12 Tracking force knob

13 Counterweight

14 Tone arm rest

15 Cartridge shell nut

16 Cartridge shell

17 Vertical tracking angle switch

18 Tone arm lift

19 Support screw

20 Anti-skating knob

21 Notch for mounting cover

22 Slot for lid support

23 Chassis adjustment screws

24 Thread for "Dust Bug" axis

General

The PS 600 is a HiFi studio unit with anautomatic record changer. It is created formusic lovers who want to have a recordplayer, that has all the technicalrefinements for natural reproduction aswell as, for continuous operation, offersthe convenience of changing recordsautomatically. It is driven by anelectronically controlled, brushless motor.This new drive system is characterized byunusually smooth operation andindependence of voltage and frequencyvariations in the mains.

The chassis is suspended by three oil-hydraulic dampers in the frame. Thisdamping of the chassis is of particularvalue to a HiFi record player that operateswith minimal stylus pressure. It protectsthe drive and the tone arm from vibrations,floor oscillations and even against firmthrusts.

To operate properly the turntable must beconnected to an amplifier with an input formoving magnetic pickup systems.Only quality HiFi stereo amplifiers

render justice to the excellent propertiesof the PS 600. Ideal combinations for PS600 are e.g. Braun stereo amplifiers 500CSV, CSV 1000/1 or the stereo receiverregie 501.In changer operation mode a maximum of10 records, with the same diameter, maybe played in sequence. For this purpose,the vertical tracking angle of the pickup isadjustable.

To protect against damage some parts ofthe record player are separately packagedand secured. How to make the PS 600operational on its location, is described inthe following section.

Please note:

On the opposite, there is a fold-out pagewith an overview of PS 600 withdesignation of all visible parts.

It facilitates the identification of thecontrols that are mentioned in the textwith the corresponding reference numbers,without having to turn over the pages.

Preparation for playing

The turntable should be placed on a level,vibration-free and stable surface.

The cardboard strips between the chassisand frame are simply pulled out.

Check the voltage selector (25). Thevoltage indicated (black arrow on red dot)should correspond to the mains voltage.From the factory the voltage selector is setto 220 V; the switch over to 110 V can bedone with a screwdriver.

The transport locks are released by turningthe two thumb screws (26) (counter-clockwise) until they stop.When transporting the unit again thesescrews should be firmly retightened.

To avoid mechanical damage to the idlerwheel (27), check that the changermechanism is in the zero position, beforemounting the turntable. The unit is indeeddelivered in this state, but the mechanismmay have been accidentally activated bypressing any of the buttons.

To check, do the following operations:Move the pickup arm a few centimeters(see figure) towards the center. If the idlerwheel (27) moves in the arrow direction,and in the opposite direction whenreturning the arm, then the changermechanism is in the zero position. Thengently push the idler wheel inwardstowards the motor shaft (28) to its restposition and mount the turntable with aslight clockwise rotation. #1

If the idler wheel is not moving, then onehas to perform the following:

Put the tone arm on its rest (14) and lockit. Turn the turntable hub (29) in aclockwise direction until the idler wheelmoves in the opposite direction of thearrow.

Then move the idler wheel by gentlypushing it towards the motor shaft to itsrest position, mount the turntable and therubber mat.

The head shell (16) is inserted at the frontend of the tone arm and tightened byclockwise rotation of the nut (15). Uponinsertion, the guide pin must be fitted intothe groove of the pickup arm tube. Thecounterweight (13) is screwed onto therear end of the tone arm with the smallbore diameter looking forward.

It is essential for the reproduction qualityand the protection of the records that thetracking force is set correctly.

The PS 600, uses a counterweight tobalance the weight of the tone arm, and atension spring to generate the trackingforce.

To set the tracking force one begins withturning the tracking force knob (12) toposition ⪻ ⪼0 , then lifts the tone arm fromthe tone arm rest (14) and pull the cueinglever (8) to the position labelled (lowering).

Now rotate the counterweight, moving it inor out until the tone arm - with cartridgeshell and pickup system - is floating parallelto the horizontal axis.

For the pickup system supplied from thefactory, Shure M 75-G ll, a tracking forceof 1.2 to 1.5 gram is set with the trackingforce knob (12). This value results inmaximum record protection and optimalplayback quality.

Playing records create a small force pullingthe tone arm in the direction of theturntable center, i.e., it increases thetracking force on the inner groove wall(skating).

The necessary counter force, for eachtracking force, may be set with the anti-skating knob (20). When the value on theanti-skating knob and the tracking force onthe tracking force knob agree, the correctcompensation for "skating" is achieved forpickup systems with conical stylus.

If the PS 600 is retrofitted with an ellipticalstylus (e.g., N 75-E II),

the anti-skating value should be multipliedby a factor of 1.5.

The unit is now ready for connection to themains.

The PS 600 can also be connected to 110V, 50 Hz AC. The correct voltage is setwith the voltage selector (25).

The connection between the turntable andthe input jack of the amplifier isestablished with the standard round plugof the signal cable.

The unit is now ready to play. Forprotection against dust and damages theincluded clear cover is mounted by fittingthe eyelets in the corresponding notches(21) in the frame.

The lid support is inserted with its frontend in the slots (22) in the frame. Whenthe lid is raised the support will lock it inthe open position.

A support axis for a record cleaner ⪻DustBug⪼ may be screwed into the thread (24)in the chassis.

The ⪻Dust Bug⪼ is an accessory whichmay be purchased from specialist dealers.

With the three adjustment screws (23),the vertical position of the chassis withinthe frame may be adjusted. It is possible todo this visually, individually compensatingfor the conditions on the place ofassembly. #2

Speeds

The desired speed is set with the speedchange lever (9).

The rated speed may be adjustedcontinuously ±3.5%, with the speedadjustment knob (10).

The adjustment of the speed changes theplayback pitch, correspondingly. Suchcorrections may be desirable when therecording is to be accompanied by a liveinstrument, or if a listener with absolutepitch, finds that the recording is tuned toohigh or too low.

The strobe light indicator (11) shows,independently of any room lighting, whenthe turntable is running exactly at thespeeds of 33, 45 and 78 rpm repectively,corresponding to the nominal values (fromoutside towards the centre). If this is thecase, the black dots sits apparently still.

If the turntable runs faster, the black dotsmove in the direction of the turntablerotation; if it runs slower, they move in theopposite direction.

Please note: The desired possibility tochange the speed, i.e. fixate it at differentvalues, has nothing to do with theundesirable speed variations, caused byirregularities in the drive for devices whichare of inferior quality. Such speedvariations for PS 600 are so minimal(flutter <0.07%), that they always remainbelow the human perception threshold.

Playing records

The PS 600 comes with two axes ofdifferent lengths. The short axis is used forsingle record playing, the long axis forchanger mode operation. For playing 17cm records without the standard axis hole,a center piece is provided.

Should one also need to play recordswithout the standard axis hole in changermode, a corresponding axis is available asan accessory.

To achieve the best reproduction qualitythe diamond of the cartridge should travelthe record grooves at an angle of 15° tothe normal of the record surface. Inchanger mode this angle will change whenthe record stack grows. To maintain theangle of 15° in both single recordoperation, as well as for the medium stackheight in changer mode, the tracking angleknob (17) may be set corresponding tothe mode. With the player operating insingle record mode the knob is turned tothe symbol ─ and in changer mode to .

The large lift height of the cueing device isdue to the changer operation (withmaximum stack height). This results in along time lowering the stylus onto therecord, when playing single records.

With the support adjustment screw (19),the lift height can be shortened. To do thisput the tone arm on the tone arm support(cueing lever in the lifting position ) androtate the support adjustment screw in orout until narrow slit remains between it andthe tone arm lift (18).

If the PS 600 should be used again inchanger mode operation (i.e. 10 recordscould be stacked on the turntable) thesupport adjustment screw should be set sothat the stylus is about 5 mm over thestack when the cueing lever is in theposition (lifting).

Manual player mode

To play a single record in manual mode,you first stick the short axis with thepointed end into the hollow turntable axis(5).

The tone arm is lifted by hand from thearm rest. The unit turns on at the sametime. Bring the arm to the desired playposition, and lower it with the cueing lever(8) onto the record ( ).

At the end of the record the tone arm liftsup automatically and returns to the armrestand turns off the unit, whereby a brakeprevents the turntable from rotating for alonger time. The playback operation can beinterrupted with the red stop button atany time. When the button is pressed, thetone arm raises from the record, turns tothe arm rest and the unit is turned off.

The stop button works in the same way forthe other three modes: automatic player,record changer and continuous playing.

Automatic player mode

In automatic player mode all functions arecontrolled with the four buttons.

The short axis is mounted as in manualplayer mode. Depending on the record size(17 cm, 25 cm, 30 cm) one pushes thecorresponding diameter selector button.Then, the unit turns on, the tone arm liftsoff from the support (please open thelatch on the arm rest!) and rotates to thelead-in groove of the record and lowersitself slowly on to the record. The shuttingdown process is the same as for manualplayer mode.

Changer modeChanger operation is possible for all threerecords sizes. First, the long axis is placedwith the pointed end into the hollowturntable axis.

Up to 10 records with the same diametercan be played in sequence. The maximumstack height of 19 mm is limited by the redring on the long axis. To start, the buttonwith the corresponding diameter value ispressed. The unit turns on and at the sametime the first record is released. After ithas landed on the rubber turntable mat,the tone arm lifts off from the support,rotates and descends into the lead-ingroove of the record.

After playing the first record, the tone armlifts off and swings back to the support;the next record is released and theplayback process is repeated.

After playing the last record the tone armswings itself back to the support, lowersonto it and the unit turns off.Simultaneously, the turntable is braked.

It is possible to add records duringoperation, if initially the stack height wasnot up to the color marking.

It should be noted that the entire stack ofrecords (on the axis and on the turntable)must not exceed the maximum stackheight.

However, adding records must be madebefore playing the last record. If one putsrecords on the empty axis, theywill be dropped, but not played. By pushingany start button, the PS 600 will resumeoperation again.

Continuous playing mode

The PS 600 can be used with an individualrecord, of all three sizes, as a continuousrepeating player. For this, the short axis isreversed, i.e. the blunt end is sticked intothe hollow turntable axis.

The unit is started by pushing thecorresponding diameter selector button.The tone arm goes through the normalstart process and descends into the lead-ingroove. At the end of the record, the tonearm lifts off, swings back to the startingpoint and lowers itself onto the record.This playback process is repeated untileither the stop button is pushed or thetone arm is lifted and guided by hand tothe arm rest.

Maintenance

The turntable itself does not need anymaintenance. The stylus wear dependslargely on the contact force of the system.With the low contact forces, which your PS600 use, you can expect at least 500hours of playing time. Then you shouldcheck the degree of wear with anauthorized dealer.

To replace the stylus its carrier is pulledout of the cartridge. It is not necessary toreplace the entire cartridge system.

The stylus also has to be taken out andreplaced when records with larger grooves(78 rpm) will be played. The requiredstylus for the cartridge Shure M 75-G ll hasthe type designation N 75-3.

The stylus wear is increased by dust on therecord. To avoid this, the dust should beremoved by suitable means before playingrecords. There are a few substances anddevices that achieve a satisfactorycleaning effect and also are suitable fordelicate record playing systems. Incontrast to anti-static cloths,

whose chemical preparation is easilytransferred to the record surface, thesubstances of the cleaning device DiscPreener, also called "Parostatik", remain inthe velvet cover of the roll, when usedproperly.

The "Dust Bug" has also an anti-staticeffect, without passing its substance tothe record surface.

Heavily contaminated or accidentallycontaminated records by antistatic agentsmay be cleaned by using a soft, lint-freecloth with a mixed solution of double-distilled water and purified alcohol.Although records are almost unbreakable,they may become deformed. Therefore,they should be stored vertical, tightly (butnot pressed) together in narrowcompartments. You can (less good) storethem horizontal when they are restingentirely on a flat surface. Especially shouldlarger records not be stacked on smallerrecords. More than 10 records should notbe stacked on top of each other. It is alsounderstood that records should always bekept in their sleeves, when they are notbeing played.

Specifications

Pickup systemShure M75-G II

Speeds33⅓, 45, 78 rpm

Wow and Flutter< 0,07%

Rumble, DIN A weighting> 45 dB

Rumble, DIN B weighting> 65 dB

Speed fine adjustment range± 3,5%

Tangential tracking errormax. 0,2° per cm radius

Mains connection110/220V, 50 (60) Hz

Stacking axisfor 10 records (max. 19 mm)

Electronic components9 transistors, 8 diodes,1 Selenium rectifier

Measurements43 x 19,5 x 32 cm (w x h x d)

Weight11,7 kg

Translator's notes

#1 To remove the turntable it may be necessary to first remove the securing ring on top of theturntable axis.

#2 The german text reads “Je nach den Gegebenheiten des Aufstellungsortes ist dieseoptische Korrektur individuell möglich.”. I do not really understand the meaning and/or purposeof this sentence.

The motivation for translating this user´s guide is to better understand my own unit. I welcomeany suggestions improving this text. If you found any errors, exclusions misunderstandings inthe text, please send a message to henning.bjorn@gmail.com.

Hopefully this translation will also be useful for other non-german owners of the Braun PS600...