American Audio TURNTABLE HTD 45 User Manual

							
USER INSTRUCTIONS
    HTD 4.5
4295 Charter Street
Los Angeles Ca. 90058
www.AmericanAudio.us
Rev. 4/05
HIGH TORQUE DIRECT DRIVE TURNTABLE 
						

							
©American Audio®   -   www.americanaudio.us   -   HTD 4.5™ Instruction Manual Page 2 
						

							
©American Audio®   -   www.americanaudio.us   -   HTD 4.5™ Instruction Manual Page 3
ELECTRICAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS..................................................................................................4
INSTALLATION     GUIDLINES................................................... .................................................................5
PRODUCT      INFORMATION......................................................................................................................6
CUSTOMER  SUPPORT ..........................................................................................................................6
QUICK START.........................................................................................................................................7
ASSEMBLY ..... ........................................................................................................................................8
SET-UP.......... ............................................................................................. ............................................9
HEADSHELL  AND  CARTRIDGE  ASSEMBLY..................
.......................................................................9
PROPER  TURNTABLE  INSTALLATION
................................................................................................11
TONEARM BALANCING..................
.....................................................................................................11
ANTI-SKATE............................................................... ..........................................................................11
FUNCTIONS AND CONTROLS
  MAIN  UNIT...........................................
......................................................................................12
  TONEARM  ASSEMBLY.........................
.....................................................................................15
TROUBLE SHOOTING..........................................................................................................................16
WARRANTY.................................... ............................................................ ..........................................17
SPECIFICATIONS.................................................................................................................................18
 CONTENTS
CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC  SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE THE COVER.  
THERE ARE NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS  INSIDE.  REFER ALL SERVICE TO YOUR 
AUTHORIZED AMERICAN AUDIO
® DEALER.
CAUTION
Do not open -
risk of electric shock
The  lightning  flash  with  an  arrow  triangular 
symbol  is  intended  to  alert  the  user  to  the 
presence of non insulated “dangerous volt
-
age”  within  the  products  enclosure,  and 
may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute 
a risk of electric shock.
The  exclamation  point  triangular  symbol  is 
intended  to  alert  the  user  to  the  presence 
of  important  operating  and  maintenance 
(servicing)  instructions  in  the  user  manual 
accompanying the amplifier.
NOTE:  This  product  satisfies  FCC 
regulations  when  shielded  cables 
and  connectors  are  used  to  con
-
nect  the  unit  to  other  equipment. 
To  prevent  electromagnetic  inter
-
ference  with  electrical  appliances 
such as radios and televisions, use 
shielded  cables  and  connectors 
for connections. 
						

							
WARNING: TO PREVENT FIRE OR ELECTRIC 
SHOCK  HAZARD,  DO  NOT  EXPOSE  THIS 
UNIT TO RAIN, LIQUIDS, OR MOISTURE 
The  serial  and  model  number  for  this  unit  is 
located  on  the  rear  panel.  Please  write  down 
the  numbers  here  and  retain  for  future  refer
-
ence. 
Model No._____________________________
Serial No._____________________________
Purchase Notes:
Date of Purchase_______________________
Dealer Name__________________________
Dealer Address_________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
Dealer Phone__________________________
CAUTION:  TO  PREVENT  ELECTRIC  SHOCK 
DO NOT USE THIS (POLARIZED) PLUG WITH 
AN  EXTENSION  CORD,  RECEPTACLE,  OR 
OTHER  TYPE  OF  ELECTRICAL  OUTLET 
UNLESS  THE  WIDE  BLADES  CAN  BE 
CAREFULLY  INSERTED  INTO  A  MATCHING 
WIDE SLOT.
ATTENTION: POUR  PREVENIR  LES  CHOCS 
ELECTRIQUES  NE  PAS  UTILISER  CETTE 
FICHE  POLARISEE  AVEC  UN  PROLON-
GATEUR,  UNE  PRISE  DE  COURANT  OU 
UNE  AUTRE  SORTIE  DE  COURANT,  SAUF 
SI  LES  LAMES  PEUVENT  ETRE  INSEREES  A 
FOND SANS EN LAISSER AUCUNE PARTIE A 
DECOUVERT.
©American Audio®   -   www.americanaudio.us   -   HTD 4.5™ Instruction Manual Page 4
 ELECTRICAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
CAUTION:
1. Handle the power supply cord carefully.  Do
   not damage or deform; it may cause elec-
  tric shock or malfunction when used. Hold
  plug attachment when removing from wall
  outlet. Do not pull on the cord.
2.  To avoid electric shock, do not open  the    
  top cover when the unit is plugged in. If
  problems occur with the unit, call American
  Audio
® customer support.
3. Do not place metal objects or spill liquid    
  inside or on the turntable. Electric shock
  or malfunction may occur.
I.  Heat - The turntable should be situated    
  away from heat sources  such as radiators,  
 heat registers, stoves, or other appliances   
  (inclucing amplifliers) that produce heat.
2.  Do not let insecticides, benzene, or thin
-   
 ner  come in contact with the surface of     
 the unit.
3.  Never disassemble or modify your unit in  
 
  any way, doing so will void your manufac-  
 tures warranty.
4. Never plug this unit in to a dimmer pack
5.  Do not
 attempt to operate this unit if it 
  becomes damaged
 in any way.
6. This unit is intended for indoor use only,    
 use of this product outdoors voids all war-  
 ranties.
7. Always mount this unit in safe and stable
 matter.
8. Disconnect from main power before    
 making any type of connection.
9. Cleaning - The turntable should be clean-   
  ed only 
as recommended by the manufac- 
  turer.   Use  
a   soft   cloth   to   wip e  down     
  the   outside
 of the unit. For stubborn stains   
 moisten a soft cloth with class cleaner or    
 other mild detergent to wipe away any     
  stains. Use a soft cloth to wipe any residual   
 cleaner. Never use volatile cleaners such     
 as  benzene, solvent,  or thinner to clean     
 your unit, these cleaners will damage the     
  units surface.           
						

							
ELECTRICAL PRECAUTIONS
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCKDO NOT OPEN
CAUTION
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is
intended to alert the  user  to the  presence  of important
operating  and maintenance  (servicing) instructions  in
the literature accompanying the appliance.
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within anequilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to thepresence of uninsulated "dangerous voltage" within the
product's  enclosure  that may  be of sufficient  magnitude
to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.
READ INSTRUCTIONS — All the  safety  and operating
instructions  should be read  before  the product is
operated.
RETAIN INSTRUCTIONS —  The safety and operatin
g
instructions  should be retained for future  reference.
HEED  WARNINGS — All  warnings  on the  product  andin the  operating  instructions  should be adhered to.
FOLLOW  INSTRUCTIONS — All  operating  and use
instructions should be followed.
CLEANING 
— T he  product  should be cleaned  only witha polishing  cloth or a soft dry cloth.  Never  clean withfurniture  wax, benzine,  insecticides  or other volatile
liquids since they may corrode the cabinet.A TTACHMENTS — Do  not  use attachments  not
recommended  by the  product  manufacturer  as they
may cause hazards.
WATER  AND MOISTURE 
— Do  not  use this  product
near water — for  example,  near a bathtub,  wash
bowl,  kitchen  sink, or laundry  tub; in a wet  basement;
or near a swimming pool; and the like.
ACCESSORIES 
—  Do  not  place this  product  on an
unstable  cart, stand,  tripod,  bracket,  or table.  The
product  may fall, causing  serious injury to a child oradult,  and serious  damage to the  product.  Use onlywith a  cart,  stand,  tripod,  bracket,  or table
recommended  by the  manufacturer,  or sold with
the  product.  Any mounting  of the  product  shouldfollow the manufacturer’s  instructions, and should
use a  mounting  accessory  recommended  by the
manufacturer.
CART — A  product  and cart combination  should be
moved with  care.  Quick  stops,  excessive  force, and
uneven  surfaces  may cause  the product  and cart
combination to overturn.
VENTILATION 
—  Slots  and openings in the  cabinet  are
provided  for ventilation  and to ensure  reliable
operation  of the  product  and to protect it from
overheating,  and these  openings  must not be
blocked  or covered.  The openings  should never be
blocked  by placing  the product  on 
a bed,  sofa,  rug,
or  other similar  surface.  This product  should not be
placed in a built-in  installation  such as a bookcase  or
rack  unless  proper ventilation is provided  or the
manufacturer’s  instructions have been  adhered to.
POWER  SOURCES — This  product  should be operated
only  from  the type  of power  source  indicated  on the
marking  label. If you  are not sure  of the  type  of
power  supply to your  home,  consult  your product
dealer or local power company.
LOCATIO
N –  The  appliance  should be installed in a
stable location.
NONUSE  PERIOD
S – The  power  cord of the  appliance
should  be unplugged  from the outlet  when left un-
used for a long period of time. GROUNDING OR POLARIZATION
•
If this  product  is equipped  with a polarized  alternating
current  line plug (a plug  having  one blade  wider than
the  other), it will fit into  the outlet  only one way.  Thisis a safety  feature. If you  are unable to insert  the plugfully into  the outlet,  try reversing  the plug. If the  plug
should still fail to fit,  contact  your electrician to
replace  your obsolete outlet.  Do not  defeat the
safety purpose of the polarized plug.
• If this  product  is equipped  with a three-wire
grounding  type plug, a plug  having a third  (grounding)
pin, it will  only fit into a grounding  type power outlet.
This is a  safety  feature. If you  are unable to insert the
plug into  the outlet,  contact  your electrician to
replace  your obsolete outlet.  Do not  defeat the
safety purpose of the grounding type plug.
POWER-CORD  PROTECTION 
- Power-supply  cords
should  be routed  so that  they  are not likely to be
walked  on or pinched  by items placed  upon or
against  them, paying  particular  attention to cords  at
plugs,  convenience  receptacles, and the point  where
they exit from the product.
OUTDOOR ANTENNA GROUNDING —  If an outside
antenna  or cable  system  is connected  to the  product,
be  sure  the antenna  or cable  system is grounded  so
as  to provide  some protection  against voltage  surges
and  built-up  static charges.  Article 810 of the  National
Electrical  Code, ANSI/NFPA  70, provides  informatio
nwith regard to proper  grounding  of the  mast  and
supporting  structure, grounding  of the  lead-in  wire
to an  antenna  discharge unit, size of grounding
conductors,  location of antenna-discharge  unit,
c o n n e c t i o n  t o g r o u n d i n g  e l e c t r o d e s ,  a n d
requirements  for the  grounding  electrode. See  Figure
A.
LIGHTNING 
—  For  added  protection for this product
during a  lightning  storm, or when  it is  left  unattended
and  unused for long  periods  of time, unplug it from
the wall  outlet  and disconnect  the antenna  or cable
system.  This will prevent  damage to the  product
due to lightning and power-line surges.
POWER  LINES 
— An  outside  antenna  system should
not  be located in the  vicinity  of overhead  power lines
or other electric light or power circuits, or where it
can 
fall into  such  power  lines or circuits.  When
installing  an outside  antenna  system, extreme  care
should  be taken to keep  from touching  such power
lines  or circuits  as contact  with them  might  be fatal.OVERLOADING — Do  not  overload  wall outlets,
extension  cords, or integral  convenience  receptacles
as this can result in a risk of fire or electric shock. OBJECT 
AND LIQUID  ENTRY 
- Never  push  objects  of
any  kind into this product  through  openings  as they
may  touch  dangerous  voltage points or short-out
parts  that could  result 
in a fire or electric  shock.
Never spill liquid of any kind on the product.
SERVICING —  Do  not attempt to service this  product
yourself  as opening  or removing  covers may expose
you 
to  dangerous  voltage or other  hazards. Refer  all
servicing to qualified service personnel.
DAMAGE  REQUIRING  SERVICE  - Unplug this  product
from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified
service personnel under the following conditions:
• W hen the power-supply cord or plug is damaged.
•If liquid  has been  spilled,  or objects  have fallen into
the product.• If the product has been exposed to rain or water.•If the  product  does not operate  normally  by following
the  operating  instructions.  Adjust only those  controls
that  are covered  by the  operating  instructions  as an
improper  adjustment  of other  controls  may result 
in
damage and will often require extensive work by a
qualified  technician to restore  the product to its
normal operation.
•If  the  product  has been  dropped  or damaged in anyway.
• W hen the product  exhibits a distinct  change in
performance — this indicates a need for service.
REPLACEMENT  PARTS 
-- When  replacement  parts
are  required,  be sure  the service  technician  has used
replacement  parts specified  by the  manufacturer  or
have  the same  characteristics  as the  original  part.
Unauthorized  substitutions may result  in fire,  electri
c
shock, or other hazards.
SAFETY  CHECK 
- Upon  completion  of any  service  or
repairs to this  product,  ask the service  technician to
perform  safety checks to determine  that the product
is in proper operating condition.
WALL  OR CEILING  MOUNTING 
— The  product  should
not be mounted to a wall or ceiling.
HEAT 
—  The  product  should be situated  away from heat
sources  such as radiators,  heat registers,  stoves, or
other  products  (including 
amplifiers)  that produce
heat.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
ANTENNA
LEAD IN
WIRE
GROUND
CLAMP
ANTENNA
DISCHARGE UNI
T
(NEC SECTION 810-20)
GROUNDING CONDUCTOR
S
(NEC SECTION 810-21)
GROUND CLAMPS
POWER SERVICE GROUNDING
ELECTRODE SYSTEM
(NEC ART 250, PART H)
ELECTRIC
SERVICE
EQUIPMENT
Fig. 
A NEC — NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE
C A U T I O N : T O R E D U C E  T H E R I S K  O F E L E C T R I C 
SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE THE COVER (OR BACK). 
T H E R E  A R E N O U S E R  S E R V I C E A B L E  P A R T S 
INSIDE  REFER  SERVICE  TO YOUR  AUTHORIZED 
AMERICAN AUDIO® SERVICE TECHNICIAN.
 ELECTRICAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
©American Audio®   -   www.americanaudio.us   -   HTD 4.5™ Instruction Manual Page 5 
						

							
 PRODUCT INFORMATION
©American Audio®   -   www.americanaudio.us   -   HTD 4.5™ Instruction Manual Page 6
WARRANTY INFORMATION
The HTD  4.5™  carries  a ONE  year  (365  days) 
limited  warranty.  This  warranty  covers  parts 
and labor. Please  fill out the enclosed warranty 
card to validate your purchase and warranty . All 
returned service items whether under warranty 
or  not,  must  be  freight  pre-paid  and  accom
-
pany  a  return  authorization  (R.A.)  number.  If 
the  unit  is  under  warranty,  you  must  provide  a
 
copy of your proof of purchase invoice. Please 
contact  American  Audio
®  customer  support at 
(800) 322-6337 for a R.A. number. All packages 
not displaying a R.A. number on the outside of 
the package will be returned to the shipper.
Customer Support:   American Audio® pro-
vides  a  toll  free  customer  support  line,  to  pro
-
vide  set  up  help  and    to  answer  any  question 
should  you  encounter  problems  during  your 
set up or initial operation. You may also visit us 
on  the  web  at  www.americanaudio.us  for  any 
comments  or  suggestions.  For  service  related 
issue please contact American Audio
®. Service 
Hours  are  Monday  through  Friday  9:00  a.m.  to 
5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.
  Voice:  (800) 322-6337
  Fax:   (323) 582-2610
  E-mail:   [email protected]
To purchase parts online visit 
http://parts.americandj.com
Warning!  To  prevent  or  reduce  the  risk  of 
electrical  shock  or  fire,  do  not  expose  this  unit 
to rain or moisture. 
Caution! There  are  no  user  serviceable  parts 
inside  this  unit.  Do  not  attempt  any  repairs 
yourself,  doing  so  will  void  your  manufactures 
warranty.  In  the  unlikely  event  your  unit  may 
require  service  please  contact  customer  sup
-
port.  Please  do  not  return  to  your  dealer  with
-
out first contacting customer support. 
The  shipping  carton  and  packing  materi
-
als  are  constructed  of  recyclable  material, 
please recycle when ever possible.
Features:  
  •  Metal Tone Arm
  •  High Torque Platter Motor
  •  2 Platter Start/Stop Buttons
  •  3 Speeds (33, 45, & 78 RPM)
  •  45 Adapter for 7" Records
  •  Forward and Reverse Play
  •  Stylus Target Light
  •  0% Pitch Quartz Lock
  •  Adjustable Feet for Leveling
  •  Adjustable Pitch Ranges
     +/- 10%; +/- 20%; and +/- 50%
  •  Tone Arm Height Adjustment
  •  Anti-Skating Tone Arm Adjustment
  •  Tone Arm Height Lock
  •  Tone Arm Holder with Lock 
  •  Adjustable Starting/Braking Speeds 
Please  carefully  read  and  understand  the 
instructions  in  this  manual  thoroughly  before 
attempting  to  operate  this  unit.  These  instruc
-
tions  contain  important  safety  information 
regarding the use and maintenance of this unit. 
Take special care to follow all warning symbols 
and  labels  both  on  the  unit  and  printed  in  this 
manual. Also,  Please keep this manual with the 
unit, for future reference. 
						

							
 QUICK-START
Turntable Quick-Start:
1. Changing Platter Speed
Use the RPM selectors (11 & 12) to change the platter speeds. Press both the 33-rpm (11) and 45-rpm 
(12) speed selectors at the same time to rotate the platter at 78-RPMs.
2.  Start/Stopping Platter
Use  the  Start/Stop  Button  (13  or  18)  to  switch  back  and  forth  between  platter  rotation  and  pause 
modes.
3.  Reverse Play
To rotate between reverse and forward platter rotation tap the REVERSE Button (7). 
 
4. Pitch Control
1.   The pitch adjustment is a fine adjustment to the platter's RPMs.
2.  The pitch adjustment is variable and may be adjusted between -20% and +20% of the platter    
  selected speed.
3.  The pitch ranges can very between +/-10% to +/-20% to +/-50%. To change the pitch level tap    
  the  Pitch Select Button (5 & 6). To select +/-50% press +/- 10%(6) and +/- 20(5) together. An 
  LED will indicate the current pitch level. When +/- 50% is selected both button LED's will glow.
4.  The pitch is changed by sliding the Pitch Slider (3) in an up and down motion. The pitch may only  
  be changed when the Quartz Lock (4) function is turned off.
5.   The Strobe Indicators (17) on the rim of the Platter (1) can be used to visual approximate the     
  platter pitch. These indicators are lit by the Strobe Indicator Pilot Lamp (15) as they pass by the     
   Power Switch (14). At different pitch levels each row of Strobe Indicators (17) may appear to    
  stand still. 
Note:  The  use  of  heavy  fluorescent  lighting  directly  above  the  turntable  will  defeat  the  Strobe 
Lamp Pilot Lamp (15) affect indicator accuracy.
Product Service:
1.  Clean the stylus periodically with a soft brush to prevent the accumulation of dust. 
2.  When sound becomes distorted or noisy, check the stylus. If the stylus is worn out, replace it    
  with a new one.
 
3.  From time to time, the turntable should be wiped down with a soft, dry cloth.
4.  Volatile materials should not be used, such as:  alcohol, thinner, benzine etc. They may remove    
  the paint or damage the luster.
Note: When storing the turntable please remove the target light.
©American Audio®   -   www.americanaudio.us   -   HTD 4.5™ Instruction Manual Page 7 
						

							
Some  assembly  required  before  you  can  begin  to  use  your  new  HTD  4.5.  Please  follow  the 
assembly instruction below before attempting to use you new turntable.
ASSEMBLY:
Before you begin assembly please be sure all parts and accessories have arrived intact. Please use 
the check list below to identify and order parts and accessories.
  ASSEMBLY
This  unit has  been  thoroughly  tested  and  has  been  shipped  in  perfect  operating  condition.  Care-
fully  check  the  shipping  carton  for  damage  that  may  have  occurred  during  shipping.  If  the  carton 
appears to be damaged, carefully inspect your unit for any damage. Be sure all accessories needed 
to  operate  the  unit  has  arrived  intact.  In  the  event  damage  has  been  found  or  parts  are  missing, 
please contact our toll free customer support number for further instructions. Please do not return 
the unit to your dealer without first contacting customer support. 
Headshell TT-HEADSHELL-S
Slipmat Z-SLIP-MAT/ADJ
Turntable Platter Z-HTD-TTP
Rubber Foot Z-TT/RF
Counter Weight Z-HTD-CW
©American Audio®   -   www.americanaudio.us   -   HTD 4.5™ Instruction Manual Page 8
45 RPM Adapter Z-TT/45ADAPT 
						

							
  SET-UP
NOTES:
•  Do not connect the AC power plug before assembly has been completed.
•  Before turning the power on, make sure once again all the connections and power voltage set-   
  tings are correct. Always turn off the power when connecting or disconnecting.
•  Read this manual carefully before using the unit. Be sure to store the manual in a safe place for    
  future reference. 
•  Attach a stylus cartridge to the Headshell (25) before assembling the turntable unit.
Headshell and Cartridge Assembly:
When  installing  a  cartridge,  refer  to  the  operating  instructions  of  that  cartridge.  During  installation, 
attach the stylus protector to guard the stylus tip from damage.
    Connect the Headshell (25) lead wires to the cartridge terminals. The terminals of cartridges    
       and the Headshell (25) lead wires are color coded. Connect each lead wire to the cartridge    
    terminals of the same color.
      White  (L+) .............……………......Left channel +
      Blue  (L-) ....……………................Left channel -
      Red  (R+) ..…………....................Right channel +
      Green (R-) .......……………............Right channel -
Turntable Assembly:
1.  Removing from carton:
Carefully  remove  the  main  unit  with  the  packing  material  intact  from  the  box.  Remove  the  packing 
material once the unit has been removed from the shipping carton. All accessories should be located 
in the packing material.
2. Turntable Platter (1):
Remove  the  turntable  platter  from  the  packing  material  and  gently  insert  the  platter  into  the  center 
spindle on the base of the turntable unit.
4.  Slipmat:
Remove the black slipmat from the packaging and place it on the Platter (1).
5. Headshell (25):
Insert the Headshell (25) into the front end of the Tonearm Assembly (2). While holding Headshell (25) 
firmly into the front end of the tonearm assembly, turn the Headshell Locking Nut (20) counter-clock
-
wise to firmly secure the Headshell (25) to Tonearm Assembly (2).
©American Audio®   -   www.americanaudio.us   -   HTD 4.5™ Instruction Manual Page 9 
						

							
6. Counterweight (27):
Locate  and  remove  the  tonearm  Counterweight  (27)  from  the  packaging.  Slide  Counterweight  (27) 
onto the rear of the Tonearm (2). Turn it lightly and it will screw onto the rear shaft of the tonearm.
Turntable Connections:
1.  Connect the unit's stereo output leads to a receiver or mixer. The red phono terminal represents  
  the right output channel and the white terminal represents the left output channel. 
2.  The thin black wire with a spade connector is the ground lead. The ground lead must be con- 
  nect to the mixer (receiver) to avoid pops and clicks associated with magnetic pick-up system  
  such as turntables.
     Output Leads           Mixer (Receiver)
      L (White)    ----------------------------->    L Channel
      R (Red)  ----------------------------->    R Channel
      GND (Spade)----------------------------->    Ground
3.  Connect the power core to matching outlet for your area. Only connect the power cord after the  
  all other connections have been made.
NOTE: Be sure to connect the ground terminals firmly to the Mixer or receiver.
   SET-UP
Phono ground lead
Stereo phono lead
Stereo phono lead
Phono ground lead
©American Audio®   -   www.americanaudio.us   -   HTD 4.5™ Instruction Manual Page 10