Question: How do I set up the AT6006R Safety Raiser to automatically lift the tonearm on my turntable?

Answer: If you have an AT-LP5, AT-LP7, or other fully manual turntable with a clearance of at least 14 mm between the platter edge and the base of the tonearm,* you can use the AT6006R safety raiser to lift your tonearm automatically once it reaches the end of a record. Every record has a locked groove (aka runout groove), which is the innermost infinite groove that prevents the stylus from running into the label. Leaving the stylus in this locked groove will not damage your records or your stylus, but all use degrades the stylus to some extent. (The stylus should be changed after a certain number of hours of use, similar to tires on a car.) Using the AT6006R safety raiser will help extend the life of your stylus by gently lifting the tonearm up off the record. But it is important to position the AT6006R correctly so that it doesn’t lift the tonearm too soon (raiser placed too far forward) or fail to lift it at all (raiser placed too far back). So you need to find the spot on your turntable that is “just right” for your AT6006R safety raiser.

The AT6006R includes a 12 mm and a 24 mm spacer that you can apply to the AT6006R if it is too short to effectively raise up your tonearm. You will first want to determine if a spacer is needed. Place the safety raiser between the platter and the base of the tonearm, then engage the raiser’s lever so that the lift bar rises to the up position. Place the tonearm on the lift bar with the stylus positioned above the record’s locked groove. The stylus tip should be roughly 5 mm off the record surface. Return the tonearm to its rest, then press the raiser’s lift bar back into its down position. Place the tonearm back over the lift bar and lower the stylus to the record. The stylus tip should be on the record surface while the tonearm remains above (and not touching) the raiser’s lift bar. You may adjust the height of the AT6006R by turning the height lock screw and/or by adding a spacer. Once the height is properly configured, put the stylus guard on your stylus to protect it during the remainder of the safety raiser setup. Attach a piece of double-sided tape to the bottom of the safety raiser (or to the bottom of the spacer if you are using one). Do NOT remove the paper from the side of the tape that will attach to the turntable just yet – we still need to determine the proper placement for the raiser.

Place your tonearm just before the locked groove at the end of your record and then raise up the tonearm with the cueing lever, making certain not to move the tonearm forward or backward. With the safety raiser’s lift bar in the down position, place the raiser on the turntable between the platter and the base of the tonearm so that the engaging lever is parallel to the tonearm. This will ensure that the tonearm engages the lever when it reaches the end of the record. Once you have determined the proper placement for the safety raiser, you may now attach the AT6006R to the turntable. First, return the tonearm to its rest, making certain not to move the safety raiser. Carefully remove the paper from the double-sided tape and attach the safety raiser in the proper position on the turntable.

Once you have attached the raiser, you will want to double-check your work. With the raiser’s lift bar in its down position, start the turntable. You may listen to just the last little bit of the last song to ensure that the tonearm is lifted at the correct point. If it lifts too early, you will need to move the raiser slightly back toward the rear of the turntable. If it doesn’t lift at all, you will need to move the raiser slightly forward toward the front of the turntable. Verify operation with a few different records. Once everything checks out, you are all set up and ready to enjoy your records and your AT6006R safety raiser.

If you have further questions about setting up your AT6006R safety raiser, please contact the Audio Solutions Department.

* The AT-LP5 and AT-LP7 are the only Audio-Technica turntables that will work with the AT6006R.