Pro-Ject Elemental/Phono USB Instructions

: June 7, 2024
: Pro-Ject

Table of Contents

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE
**Pro-Ject Elemental/Phono USB
Warranty
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Download This Manual (PDF format)

Pro-Ject Elemental

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE

Pro-Ject Elemental/Phono USB

Pro-Ject Elemental Phono USB-Top View

Pro-Ject Elemental Phono USB- Rear View

Controls, features and connections
1 -Power switch
2/22- Stepped drive pulley and drive belt
3 – Platter with felt mat
4 – Tonearm counterweight
5 – Tonearm lift lever
6/66 – Tonearm rest and removable transport lock
7 – Tonearm tube
8 – Headshell with finger lift and fitted Ortofon OM 5E cartridge
9 – Phono output sockets, earth connection and USB-out
10 – Power supply socket
– Power supply (not shown)
– Signal output and USB-cable (not shown)
– Hexagonal allen wrench (not shown) *

**Pro-Ject Elemental/Phono USB

**

Dear music lover,
thank you for purchasing a record player from Pro-Ject Audio Systems. In order to achieve maximum performance and reliability with this record player you should study these instructions for use carefully.

Warning of a hazard for the user, the unit or possible misuse. Important notice.

* Your turntable has been delivered with a factory fitted and adjusted cartridge, please ignore the cartridge set up instructions unless changing the cartridge at a later date. During assembly and adjustment of the deck small parts could be lost if not carefully placed in a suitable receptacle. Before starting assembly make yourself acquainted with the parts listed above and correspondingly numbered in the technical drawings above. Separately packed items are marked with an asterisk .

Safety instructions

AC outlet voltages vary from country to country. Before connecting to the mains, make sure that the voltage in your area meets the voltage requirements printed on the power supply. The power supply is used to disconnect the unit from the mains. Make sure that the power supply is easily accessible at all times. Never handle the device, the power supply while your hands are wet or damp. Avoid letting liquids enter the device or the power supply. Never place any item containing liquid,
such as a flower vase on or near the device. Never spill any liquid on the device or the power supply. Never place any naked flame sources, such as lighted candles on or near the device. The product shall not be used in damp or wet locations, next to a bathtub, sink, swimming pool or any other similar conditions. Keep plastic bags away from children to prevent any risk of suffocation.

Set-up
The deck is supplied partially disassembled and carefully packaged for safe transport. Carefully remove all parts from the transport packaging.
Make sure the surface you wish to use the turntable on is level (use a spirit level) before placing the turntable on it. Fit the drive belt (22) around the platter (3) and the smaller diameter part of the motor pulley (2). Avoid getting sweat or grease on the belt as these will deteriorate the performance and reduce the belt’s lifespan. Use absorbent kitchen paper to remove any oil or grease from the outer edge of the platter and the belt.
Fit the felt mat over the spindle of the platter (3). Remove the transport lock (66) from the tonearm tube. Store the transport lock in the original packaging so they are available for any future transportation.

Cartridge downforce adjustment
The counterweight (4) supplied is suitable for cartridges weighing between 3,5 – 5,5g. The counterweight is pre-set perfectly from the factory.

Connection to the amplifier
The record player has gold-plated female RCA phono sockets (12) so you can substitute the interconnect cables supplied with those of your choice for connection to the amplifier if you wish. Your dealer can advise you on alternative cables. Use a line input (such as AUX, CD, Tuner, Tape or Video) on your amplifier.

Due to the built in phono pre-amplifier, a phono input (sometimes labelled gram, disc or RIAA) is not suitable.
Take care to connect the left and right channels correctly. The right channel is usually marked red, the left channel black or white. Check the manual supplied with your amplifier for relevant information. The earthing wire of the tonearm lead should be connected to the earth terminal on your amplifier (if provided).

Connecting to a Computer
Connect the USB-output of the unit to a free USB-socket on your computer and turn it on/make sure it is powered on. The “new hardware found assistant“ will automatically detect the unit and announces it as a Microphone USB audio codec. There is no need to install a driver manually. After installation, one setting has to be done. For example – Windows 7® operating system: → Control Panel → Sound → Recording → Microphone USB Audio CODEC → Properties → Advanced: set to 2 channel, 16 bit, 48000 Hz (DVD Quality)

Please note: Connection should be made to an USB-socket of your computer directly. Connecting to USB-hubs or switches can cause problems.

Recording Programme
In case you do not have a recording programme installed on your computer, you may download one free from the Internet. Recording programmes may be found by searching Google.
In the menu of the recording programme, source or input may have to be set to Microphone USB audio codec. Please be aware that downloads from the Internet are made entirely at your own risk. Under no circumstances can we carry responsibility or provide support for third-party software products sourced from the internet or for any damage or problems arising from the use thereof. All downloads should be checked with an up-to-date anti-virus programme. License fees may be applicable.

Mains power connection
The turntable is supplied with a power supply suitable for your country’s mains supply. Check the label before connecting to ensure compliance with the mains rating in your house.
Connect the low voltage plug from the power supply to the socket (10) on the rear of the record player before connecting the power supply to the mains.

Switching on and off
Pressing the power switch (1) alternately starts or stops the motor.

Changing replay speed
Put the belt (22) over the larger diameter part of the motor pulley (2). To revert to 33 r.p.m. repeat the proceedings using the smaller step on the pulley.
For detailed product information please refer to the Pro-Ject web site www .project-audio.com.

Maintenance and cleaning
Your record player requires little or no regular maintenance. Remove dust with a slightly moistened antistatic cloth. Never use a dry cloth because this will create static electricity which attract more dust! Antistatic cleaning fluids are available at specialist stores but must be applied sparingly to avoid damage to rubber parts. It is recommended to fit the needle cover before cleaning or maintenance is carried out to avoid damage. If the player is not used over a long period of time the drive belt can be removed to prevent unequal stretching.

Always disconnect the record player from the mains power supply as a precaution before maintenance!

Fitting and connecting the cartridge
**Other cartridges with half inch mounting holes can be fitted. Please consider adequate cartridge weight, because this tonearm is optimised for lightweight cartrigdes like OM series. Leaving the needle’s protection cover on, fit the cartridge to the headshell (8) using the screws supplied with the cartridge by passing one screw through each slot in the headshell (8). Do not tighten the nuts yet. Connect the tonearm wires to the cartridge pins as follows:
white – left channel positive (L+)
red – right channel pos. (R+)
green – right channel return (R -)
blue – left channel return (L -)
The full sound quality of the record player can only be achieved if the cartridge is correctly adjusted. Particular tools like the Pro-Ject alignment tool “Align it” are required to accomplish this job properly. If you are not well acquainted with the adjustment of cartridges you are advised to call upon the willing help of your Pro-Ject dealer to accomplish this task for you.

Please note: Adjusting a cartridge and tonearm calls for the greatest care in order to avoid damaging the cartridge or tonearm bearings. Leave this work to your dealer if you are in any way unsure of the necessary steps and precautions to be taken.

Useful tips
The record player should be positioned on a low-resonance surface such as wood or multiple layer plyboard to avoid structural vibrations disturbing replay.

Technical specifications Pro-Ject Elemental / Pro-Ject 8.6
Nominal speeds – 33/45 r.p.m.
Speed variance – 33: 0,80% 45: 0,70%
Wow and flutter – 33: 0,29% 45: 0,27%
Signal to noise – 65dB
Effective tonearm mass – 8g
Effective tonearm length – 8,6″ (218,5mm)
Overhang – 22mm
Power consumption – 4,0W
Outboard power supply – 15V/500mA DC, suitable for your country’s mains supply
Dimensions (W x H x D) – 430 x 90 x 300mm (WxHxD)
Weight – 2,7kg
Dimensions packaging (W x H x D) – 530 x 370 x 155mm
Weight incl. packaging – 4,5kg

Technical specifications MM-Cartridge Ortofon OM 5E
Frequency range – 20-25.000Hz
Channel separation – 22dB/1kHz
Output voltage – 4mV
Recommended load impedance – 47kohms/amplifier connection – MM-input
Compliance/stylus type – 20μm/mN – elliptical
Recommended tracking force – 17,5mN
Weight -5g
Technical specifications moving magnet phono pre-amplifier
Gain – 32dB
Output voltage typically – 160mV/1kHz at 4mV/1kHz input
Input impedance – 47kohms/100pF
Noise floor – 88dB
RIAA-equalisation curve accuracy – 20Hz-20kHz / max. 0,5dB
USB output: – digital serial data protocol USB 1.1
Operating systems: – Windows XP®, Windows VISTA®, Windows 7®, Windows 8®, Mac OS

Potential incorrect use and fault conditions
Pro-Ject turntables are manufactured to the highest standards and undergo strict quality controls before leaving the factory. Faults that may possibly occur are not necessarily due to material or production faults but can sometimes be caused by incorrect use or unfortunate circumstances. Therefore the following list of common fault symptoms is included.
The platter doesn’t turn although the unit is switched on:
– The unit is not connected to the mains power supply.
– No mains at the socket.
– Drive belt is not fitted or has slipped off.
No signal through one or other channel or both channels:
– No signal contact from the cartridge to the internal tonearm wiring or from that to the arm lead or from that to the phono box or between that and the amplifier. This could be due to a faulty plug, broken wire or solder joint or simply loose plug/socket connection.
– Phono input not selected at amplifier.
– Amplifier not switched on.
– Amplifier or speakers defective or muted.
– No connection to the loudspeakers.
Strong hum on phono input:
– No earth connection from cartridge or arm or arm cable to amplifier, or earth loop.
Distorted or inconsistent sound from one or both channels:
– Record player is connected to wrong input of amplifier, or MM/MC switch incorrectly set.
– Needle or cantilever damaged.
– Wrong r.p.m., drive belt overstretched or dirty, platter bearing without oil, dirty or damaged.
Service
Should you encounter a problem which you are not able to alleviate or identify despite the above information, please contact your dealer for further advice. Only when the problem cannot be resolved there should the unit be sent to the responsible distributor in your country.
Guarantee repairs will only be effected if the unit is returned correctly packaged. For this reason we recommend
keeping the original packaging.
Never return a record player without making sure that is it safely disassembled and correctly packaged in the original packaging according to the diagrams on the last page of this user guide.
Fit the cartridge protection cap and the transport lock for the tonearm tube (66), prior to carefully packaging the record player.

Warranty

The manufacturer accepts no responsibility for damage caused by not adhering to these instructions for use and/or by transportation without the original packaging. Modification or change to any part of the product by unauthorized persons release the manufacturer from any liability over and above the lawful rights of the customer.

The information was correct at the time of going to press. The manufacturer reserves the right to make changes to the technical specification without prior notice as deemed necessary to uphold the ongoing process of technical development.

Pro-Ject Elemental Phono USB-Power Supply