anyone have experience with this headshell?

[fletchdirect]

25286

Evening all,

I am looking at getting one of the Audio Technica technihard headshells with only a single set of holes for cartridge mounting.

I have a variety of cartridges and am not the best at fiddling to align them in a conventional headshell with a sliding groove allowing backwards and forwards and rotational adjustment.

I am therefore ditching a rega based origin live RB250 on my Technics SL1015 in favour of a new arm and headshell combo. It must have a detachable headshell.

My question is has anyone used these or have some knowledge? I believe they have azimuth and can slide forwards and backwards, but am worried about horizontal tracking angle, which I have had to rotate the cartridge previously to get alignment. Do these types of headshells have this rotational adjustment, or if not would they only be able to work in something like an SME 3009 or M2 R? I was hoping to get away with a used Jelco 250 for my budget, but that has to use headshells with the groove in them.

Your help is much appreciated.

Thanks
Julian


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[Boyse6748]

Not quite as you say. I have a Denon 103 pro in this particular headshell. As you can see from your supplied photo, there are two sets of mounting points, plus many other adjustments to align the cartridge correctly.

I personally have had no issues with this headshell and it a decent bit of kit.

Hope this puts your mind at rest.


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[fletchdirect]

Hi Peter, thanks for the reply. Which arm do you use with it?

[Boyse6748]

Dynavector 507 Mk II.




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[Boyse6748]

Sorry, that was a bit of a naff response.

I have three headshells / three cartridges.

1. Arche' / AT33SE
2. Dynavector / Benz Wood SE
3. Technics / Denon 103 pro.

Combinations 1 &2 when I want refinement.
Option three when I want music.

It horses for courses as they say..... Loads of money doesn't necessarily mean enjoyment.


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[Barry]

When you say you have difficulty in achieving correct alignment, what type of alignment protractor are you using? Or to be specific, does the alignment protractor match the geometry of the tone arm?

Tonearms are designed to have a geometry which follows one of three generally recognised minimal tracking error schemes: that of Stevenson, Baerwald or of Loefgren. Most Japanese arms are designed to follow Stevenson's geometry, whereas most modern European arms follow Baerwald.

Arms usually come complete with an alignment protractor appropriate to the geometry of the arm. However most aftermarket protractors usually come with markings corresponding to Baerwald. If you try to align your cartridge using a protractor with an arm which uses a different geometry, you will have to alter the horizontal angle, by 'slewing' the cartridge in the slotted fixing holes in the headshell; as you have found.

The Audio Technica headshell you show is a very good design and will work perfectly well with your Jelco arm, but you will have to use an alignment protractor appropriate to the Jelco arm geometry.

For the Jelco 250 arm, the two null-radii are at 59.1mm and 112.5mm.

[Boyse6748]

When you say you have difficulty in achieving correct alignment, what type of alignment protractor are you using? Or to be specific, does the alignment protractor match the geometry of the tone arm?

Tonearms are designed to have a geometry which follows one of three generally recognised minimal tracking error schemes: that of Stevenson, Baerwald or of Loefgren. Most Japanese arms are designed to follow Stevenson's geometry, whereas most modern European arms follow Baerwald.

Arms usually come complete with an alignment protractor appropriate to the geometry of the arm. However most aftermarket protractors usually come with markings corresponding to Baerwald. If you try to align your cartridge using a protractor with an arm which uses a different geometry, you will have to alter the horizontal angle, by 'slewing' the cartridge in the slotted fixing holes in the headshell; as you have found.

The Audio Technica headshell you show is a very good design and will work perfectly well with your Jelco arm, but you will have to use an alignment protractor appropriate to the Jelco arm geometry.

Barry, I'm not too sure you are correct in your assumptions. Thats a bit of a guestimate about European / Jap arms!! Needing different alignment profiles.


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[karma67]

yep i'd go along with what barry says, jap arms favour stevenson alignment,thats not to say you cant use any other though. i use uni-din just to add a forth lol

[fletchdirect]

I am familiar with alignment and use of protractors - my issue is just that it takes me quite a time to fiddle with the cartridge in the headshell, to get it aligned against a protractor grid. I was attracted by this headshell, as it looked like it removed part of the pain by a couple of fixed holes, not a sliding groove / use of nuts etc.

[Barry]

Have look at the tonearm database on vinylengine.com.

Or read this: https://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?20109-Tonearm-alignment.

I can assure you that not all tonearm manufacturers choose to use the same geometry.

[fletchdirect]

25288

so if I used this, with the jelco and said AT headshell - I may not be able to get fully spot on alignment? My principle worry is Horizontal tracking angle

thanks for posting the alignment facts.....looks like I am already out of my depth !!

[Boyse6748]

Have look at the tonearm database on vinylengine.com.

Or read this: https://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?20109-Tonearm-alignment.

I can assure you that not all tonearm manufacturers choose to use the same geometry.

Barry, after paying some 6k for this arm and £500 for the Arche headshell and 2k for the cartridge do you not think I've done my homework? (That's without the 4k for the TT)

I agree, there is a best setup profile.. But my arm manufacturer recommended what was best...... And it sounds sublime. (With no effort at all.)

Perhaps let's just leave it there [emoji7]


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[Boyse6748]

25288

so if I used this, with the jelco and said AT headshell - I may not be able to get fully spot on alignment? My principle worry is Horizontal tracking angle

thanks for posting the alignment facts.....looks like I am already out of my depth !!

You need something better than this!!! Loads better on the market place.


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[Barry]

25288

so if I used this, with the jelco and said AT headshell - I may not be able to get fully spot on alignment? My principle worry is Horizontal tracking angle

The Ortofon protractor you show is designed for the Baerwald geometry (the two null radii are at 66mm and 121mm), so in principle you will only be able to achieve zero tracking angle error at one of these radii only with the Jelco arm/AT headshell. I would recommend you choose to minimise the error at 66mm. However there will always be another null radius somewhere on the record surface near 121mm; its just that overall the second harmonic distortion elsewhere will not be quite as low as it could be. It will be pretty low however so I wouldn't worry about it.

[fletchdirect]

I think I will just get my coat and leave you gents to battle it out.......

[fletchdirect]

thanks Barry - maybe I will just get it and have a play and see what happens...

[Boyse6748]

I think I will just get my coat and leave you gents to battle it out.......

I'm so sorry we have not been able to help you in some constructive way.

It's usually the way on this forum... Soooo many different views.

Try a few different protractors (including the one the arm manufacturer recommends.) and let your ears dicide what's best.

All I can say is.....the headshell ain't bad at all and will suit your setup.


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[Gerry]

Yes I have that headshell plus most of the others in the range 13g 15g, 18g, and various materials.
Great headshells. I don't have any issues aligning them I fact they are the most versatile headshells I have.
Used with At33, Linn Trioka, 103s etc. The weight and material with specific cartridges does have an effect.
Better than the Jelco ones.

[fletchdirect]

I'm so sorry we have not been able to help you in some constructive way.

It's usually the way on this forum... Soooo many different views.

Try a few different protractors (including the one the arm manufacturer recommends.) and let your ears dicide what's best.

All I can say is.....the headshell ain't bad at all and will suit your setup.


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cheers peter, think I will just give it a whirl and if not may end up just wrestling with the jelco's stock headshell

[Boyse6748]

Don't give up!

This is a very good headshell with multiple adjustments. (Everything you will need).

It really is worth a try with your arm!!!

You won't regret the purchase..

Sorry.... An old gits advice.!!!


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[Beobloke]

The AT headshell linked to by the OP is very good and can be easily adjusted for length and rotation.

However, one warning - it isn’t very big and it can sometimes be difficult to fit a chunky cartridge into it. As an example, the last time one came my way I wanted to use a Denon DL103 and it simply wouldn’t fit and allow the cartridge wires to connect at the same time.

[Barry]

The AT headshell linked to by the OP is very good and can be easily adjusted for length and rotation.

However, one warning - it isn’t very big and it can sometimes be difficult to fit a chunky cartridge into it. As an example, the last time one came my way I wanted to use a Denon DL103 and it simply wouldn’t fit and allow the cartridge wires to connect at the same time.

Agree about the bulky and 'long' body of the DL103. I have a couple, one of which is fitted into an EMT TSD-G headshell to use on my EMT deck. It's a tight fit and the cartridge tags have to be carefully bent and dressed for the cartridge to fit without fouling the headshell connections.

[TKK]

Japanese audio (or other) designers can seem to be one quirky lot, compared with the rest. Underhung tonearms and tapped detachable headshells appear to come from nowhere else.

One big merit of the AT headshell is you can squarely sit the cartridge with less bother than if you had to fiddle with screws and nuts. Obviously this also means you cannot skew the cartridge to compensate for less than accurate tonearm mounting. The two nuts from both ends of the cylinder holding the shell are meant to be loosened to adjust for overhang and azimuth. You most likely will end up with the shell further out than in towards the tonearm. It is my experience that if you precisely set the overhang as determined by the manufacturer, you will naturally end up with the null points the tonearm designer had in mind. If you desire a different set of null points, your overhang will likely have to change.

I use the somewhat special headshell that came with my Audio Technica AT33R on my Alfred Bokrand 12” tonearm that has a Lofgren A set of null points. As I swapped between an Ortofon Royal N and a Denon 103 on the same headshell the alignment has always been perfect that I no longer bother with an alignment protractor. That they are very precisely made cartridges helps, obviously.

To further my point on Japanese unconventionality, my AT headshell comes with two cylinders giving a choice of either a 16gm headshell or one weighing 6gms more. The AT33R is a upper middle compliance design and one would think it unwise to use it on a 16gm headshell which naturally would require quite sizeable counterweights to balance, and therefore a very high-mass tonearm. I never tried the combination at the time I had the AT33R. I remain unconvinced that the quirky lot always have it right.

[Barry]

Fortunately your Denon and Ortofon Royal N must have the same stylus to fixing hole distance. Perhaps they both comply to the IEC standard of 9.5mm +/-1mm when the cartridge is operating at the recommended VTF.

Agree the Audio Technica headshell design is very good; offering both overhang and azimuth adjustment with the minimum of mechanical interfaces.

[TKK]

I think we all like to believe that with easy and low cost access to computer-assisted means that even the low-cost, high-volume makes get to enjoy a high degree of precision manufacture. But we can well imagine certain cottage builders, for all kinds of reason, resisting and rejecting new and able technology. The local agent for a certain make of very high-cost Japanese cartridge revealed to me that he once had a batch of long-awaited cartridges with skewed cantilevers, every single one of half a dozen. He was told not to worry about it.