Cart set-up - To skew or not to skew ?

[RobbieGong]

Do any of you guys skew your cartridge in the headshell to any degree to follow arc and sit perfectly squarely in the null point grid ? This is in respect of the Rega Baerwald Arc Protractor. It really isn't easy to follow arc and sit squarely in the grid. I have room for movement in the ADC magnesium headshell I use. Some tips, advise and experience / opinions would be much appreciated.

[Light Dependant Resistor]

Hi

This video explains how the cartridge should be aligned, and factors relating to cartridge alignment
that includes moving the cartridge in the head shell explained at approx 6 mins in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tU_jM8Hq9Ag

Cheers / Chris

[struth]

couldnt hear the dialogue it was so quiet. will try on pc later.

[Barry]

Not the most erudite of tutorials but essentially correct.

What was not mentioned was that most (if not all) alignment protractors are designed to set the arm/cartruidge alignment to the Baewald geometry (also known a Loefgren 'A'). If the arm was not designed for this geometry (such as early SME and Decca arms), then you will have to skew the cartridge in the headshell so that the cartridge is parallel to both the alignment lined at both positions on the protactor, or use the protractor the manufacturer has supplied with his arm.

You say your Rega arm follows the Baerwald geometry, so you should have no trouble in aligning the cartridge using a Baerwald protractor and have no need to slew the cartridge in the headshell.

If you are interested in the whole business of the optimal arm/cartridge alignment for pivoted arms then have a look at this: http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?20109-Tonearm-alignment.

[NRG]

Do any of you guys skew your cartridge in the headshell to any degree to follow arc and sit perfectly squarely in the null point grid ? .....

Yep, if it's necessary I do it...