+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Protractor alignment question

  1. #1
    Join Date: Sep 2009

    Location: Derbyshire

    Posts: 9,228
    I'm Josie.

    Default Protractor alignment question

    Hello.

    Does anyone know which is the best 'printable' protractor for the SME 3009 S2 (None Improved) tonearm?

    Currently using the Baerwald and Loefgren protractor.

    Many thanks
    Ultrafide U500DC power amplifier - Croft Vitale )highly modified) - TRIO L-07D Turntable - Denon DL103C1 - Funk Firm Houdini - Lentek MC head amp - 15" Tannoy Monitor Gold Loudspeakers in Lockwood Major cabinets (From Trident Studios) - Tannoyista SPEC 3 Custom Crossovers - VanDamme Black Speaker Cable


    Tannoyista.com

    Facebook

  2. #2
    Join Date: May 2008

    Location: A Strangely Isolated Place in Suffolk with Far Away Trains Passing By...

    Posts: 14,535
    I'm David.

    Default

    The old SME's used 60mm from disc centre as I recall (same as Rega still do) and only later with the Series V on, went to the 65mm standard.

    The original SME alignment cards are readily available on ebay...

    As for plotting curves at both null points, it's the INNER one which is the most important IMO. The increased "reading speed" at the outer grooves keeps tracing distortion well down irrespective of the tracking error.

    I think I'm right, but the 65mm inner null was optimised for 7" records IIRC.. Long time ago and my memory may be incorrect - it has been known
    Tear down these walls; Cut the ties that held me
    Crying out at the top of my voice; Tell me now if you can hear me

  3. #3
    Join Date: Dec 2008

    Location: Yorks

    Posts: 16,643
    I'm Nobody.

    Default

    Why do people make such a simple thing as aligning a cartridge so discombobulating?

  4. #4
    Join Date: May 2008

    Location: Bristol, UK

    Posts: 9,962
    I'm Nick.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Rare Bird View Post
    Why do people make such a simple thing as aligning a cartridge so discombobulating?
    Have you ever wondered why us normal folk spend our lives fretting that our TTs aren't set up properly?!
    Nick
    My system...


    Follow AOS on Twitter: @AoS_Forum

  5. #5
    Join Date: May 2008

    Location: A Strangely Isolated Place in Suffolk with Far Away Trains Passing By...

    Posts: 14,535
    I'm David.

    Default

    Some of us have been there, done that and lived to tell the tales
    Tear down these walls; Cut the ties that held me
    Crying out at the top of my voice; Tell me now if you can hear me

  6. #6
    Join Date: Dec 2008

    Location: Yorks

    Posts: 16,643
    I'm Nobody.

    Default

    Come on the headaches are for the manufacturers, just follow the manufacturers recommendations, set the cart alignment up by protractor & don't worry.

  7. #7
    Join Date: Mar 2010

    Location: Sheffield

    Posts: 2,898
    I'm Simon.

    Default

    I still favour an alignment that minimises end of side distortion over a lower overall RMS distortion. There are loads of printable protractors over on vinyl engine including the arc protractors that let you input your own pivot to spindle distance etc.
    Kuzma Stabi/S 12", (LP12-bastard) DC motor and optical tacho psu, Benz LP, Paradise (phonostage). MB-Pro, Brooklyn dac and psu, Bruno Putzeys balanced pre, mod86p dual mono amps, Yamaha NS1000m

  8. #8
    Join Date: Dec 2008

    Location: East Riding of Yorkshire these days

    Posts: 4,779
    I'm Shaun.

    Default

    Jesus Christ this is mind numbing...! I bloody hate aligning cartridges and constantly worry that it is all to cock. I used an alignment sheet that I got from Nottingham Analogue many years back and it works pretty good but the sheer bloody complexity of it all...!!!

  9. #9
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK

    Posts: 110,012
    I'm AudioAl'sArbiterForPISHANTO.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by sq225917 View Post
    I still favour an alignment that minimises end of side distortion over a lower overall RMS distortion.
    +1, which is why I like using Stevenson...

    Marco.
    Main System

    Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.

    Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.

    Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.

    CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.

    Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new, by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.

    Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. LDR Stereo Coffee. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.

    Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.

    Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.

    Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.


    Protect your HUMAN RIGHTS and REFUSE ANY *MANDATORY* VACCINE FOR COVID-19!

    Also **SAY NO** to unjust 'vaccine passports' or certificates, which are totally incompatible with a FREE society!!!


  10. #10
    Join Date: May 2008

    Location: A Strangely Isolated Place in Suffolk with Far Away Trains Passing By...

    Posts: 14,535
    I'm David.

    Default

    This is AOS, a bobbyist site and since all hobbyists are anal to the point of OCD, I'm not surprised that people make mountains out of molehills and then claim to hear "enormous" differences... I was there twenty years ago and then I met Ashley James

    The rest of us can just kick back and enjoy our choons
    Tear down these walls; Cut the ties that held me
    Crying out at the top of my voice; Tell me now if you can hear me

+ Reply to Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •