Mayware Formula IV
Professional Laboratory Variable Mass Silicone Damped Pick-Up Arm
(1 review)
Description
The Formula 4 pick up arm has been designed to obtain the best possible reproduction from both ultra high or low compliance cartridges.
Consequently, the music will be far more realistic dependant only on the particular cartridge used and the recording quality of the record being played.
Suitable for a wide range of turntables by various manufacturers due to it's compact dimensions.
Specifications
Effective length: 224mm
Mounting distance: 209 to 215mm
Mounting hole: 25mm
Pivot friction: less than 5mg in any plane
Effective mass: low and variable
Pivot: inverted hardened steel pin pivoting on a jewelled bearing damped by viscous silicone fluid
Tracking force: 0 to 3g is achieved with a small cursor which slides along the calibrated aluminium tube.
As stylus compliance increases less effective mass is required; less compliant stylus assemblies require more effective mass than highly compliant assemblies do.
Generally, low compliance cartridges require more tracking force than high compliance cartridges. Thus, the cursor of the arm increases slightly effective mass of the arm and stylus at the same time.
Bias compensation: Adjustable to correspond with tracking force, provided by variable weights applying torque around the alloy and perspex hub in the correct horizontal plane in relation to the pivot point, ensuring complete stability.
Hydraulic lift and cueing device: an oil-damped device, fully adjustable for correct cueing
Static low frequency response: The fundamental resonance will vary according to stylus compliance.
Review
It is well worth considering to complement any of today's turntables requiring a separate pickup arm. It's performance and styling are good enough to put alongside the best and it's price will not upset the budget balance if used with more moderately priced decks - Formula 4 mark III £69.50 Gramophone 1979
Downloads
model PL S4/D instruction/owners manual (en)
mkIII instruction/owners manual (en)
mounting template (not to scale) (en)
mkIII instruction/owners manual (de)
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Mayware Formula IV / 4 owners manual, service manuals and schematics are for reference only and the Vinyl Engine bears no responsibility for errors or other inaccuracies. The PDF files are copyright the Vinyl Engine and provided under strict licence. Reproduction for financial gain is strictly prohibited. This website is not affiliated with or sponsored by Mayware.
User Reviews
A very interesting arm, a unipivot design from an age gone by, where low mass arms were needed to track high compliance / low tracking weight cartridges.
I used one of these on a TD160 with a Shure M75ED-2 with really excellent results.
The design and construction of the arm are now long out of fashion but it makes an interesting and unusual arm with a suprisingly good performance - but use it as intended, tracking high compliance low tracking weight carts, e.g. Shure M75ED (1.2 grams TW)
They appear on EBay quite regularly but be cautious, since they will prob. need some TLC.
8/10 by mike19455