Cartridge alignment - may be of interest!

[good_enough]

Thought I'd try one of these, having strayed across the idea on FB. https://ebay.us/m/mbVSot. The chap does other models. Evidently he's popping a 3d file of the cartridge body onto a standard plastic printed 'stick' that slots over the spindle in two places.

What can I say? Does what it says on the tin.

If like me you're a bit lary about lining up bits of paper by eye, is well worth a go.

Keeps the stylus off the mat while you're twiddling.

It indicated i had a bit of fine adjustment to make. Can't say it's 'night and day' difference in sound but good to know everything's as it should be.

Pros: positive unmistakable indication of proper alignment

Cons: price

HTH.

 

[Rui]

Is this toll for every kind of turntable with totally different geometry, you install it has one have done for the last 40 years and at the end this helps? or how does it works, i´m only asking because a friend who never had interest in equipment,

now thinks he knows it all, bought a 1.000€ Pro-Ject without cartridge than a bit of paper to align the cartridge.

When arriving to his home he had the cartridge and stylus reading the records by the side, like a very good carbon fiber arm with the cartridge turned 90 degrees to the right if taking in consideration the arm direction and using a Fluance paper in a totally different type of turntable from Pro-Ject ,

i who worked for 40 years in a radio station either than assembling all it´s turntables and cartridges and choosing them first for one studio and later for two studios ,also worked as a DJ for 35 years ,

don´t know how many turntables i install in those 40 years, but has this friend of mine thinks i know nothing about how to set a turntable, like if it was a new thing and at a certain point it is but not regarding arms or cartridges instalation,

also he sends me messages of all evolutions he discovers and i reply more than 20 times since 2019, my technics turntables all have it(being all from the 70´s)and he calls a SL-1000mk II , a SL-1100, a SL-110, a SL-3310, a SL-3100, a SL-1310mk II, etc. , 100€ turntables and 15€ stylus,

for some of the best cartridges known, but then he adds, "you said the turntables should sound a lot better than any cd player, i never noticed that" , "well with a pro-ject turntable of a 1.000€ and a 110 € cartridge ,for sure you´ll never will"

the ridiculous of this is how bad is the sound of vinyl in new 1500€ to 2000€ turntable and cartridge, this not even thinking of the poor quality of materials they are done, and what about belts all dirty of being handled and they brake, so dirt and fat leaved there doesn´t affect the working and we are now entering the 70´s with a very low quality direct drive turntables that some years ago were worth nothing,

i have a lot of Technics by chance (and a lot of others)but when trying new models what is that? it´s a joke, and they cost a lot of money with ridiculous cuts in the way of working as they had never been so bad,

i can predict the future , next step in evolution quartz engines for direct drive turntables, you´ll see and maybe next linear tracking will be re-invented in a cheap ridiculous form, first for S-shaped arms, then...will see

 

[good_enough]

Is this toll for every kind of turntable with totally different geometry, you install it has one have done for the last 40 years and at the end this helps? or how does it works

The same geometry for any turntable/arm - it's positioning parallel to the tracks at two separate points.

This is a cheaper approach: https://www.sound-smith.com/sites/default/files/Novak Universal Overhang Gauge.pdf.

It's called the 'Baerwald' method.

 

[Rui]

The same geometry for any turntable/arm - it's positioning parallel to the tracks at two separate points.

This is a cheaper approach: https://www.sound-smith.com/sites/default/files/Novak Universal Overhang Gauge.pdf.

It's called the 'Baerwald' method.

thank you for the information, i´m going to try it to see if it matches my installed cartridges.

normally the stylus reads perfect from the start and end of the record side ,

only there are more joined grooves than others or the size they are appart, this maybe helps in install it with acurate perfection

 

[daytona600]

Only Baerwald & Stevenson Alignment
Eg Project , Technics , Rega
You get free downloads & Alignment Protractors on the market for 50+ years
Basic to Advanced to cover all make of cartridge
No need for a Hana version , Hana is just a re-badged OEM

 

[good_enough]

Only Baerwald & Stevenson Alignment
Eg Project , Technics , Rega
You get free downloads & Alignment Protractors on the market for 50+ years
Basic to Advanced to cover all make of cartridge
No need for a Hana version , Hana is just a re-badged OEM

View attachment 11564

It's not a 'Hana version' it's a 3D- printed gizmo that combines the Hana cartridge shell shape with a plastic template so alignment is guaranteed by snapping the cartridge into the space for it.

Calling Hana an 'OEM manufacturer' is pointless - unless you think the shape of their shell is EXACTLY the same as all others. Which it isn't.

 

[Al ears]

It's not a 'Hana version' it's a 3D- printed gizmo that combines the Hana cartridge shell shape with a plastic template so alignment is guaranteed by snapping the cartridge into the space for it.

Calling Hana an 'OEM manufacturer' is pointless - unless you think the shape of their shell is EXACTLY the same as all others. Which it isn't.

Hana cartridges are produced by Excel Sound, perhaps this is the OEM he refers to.
That aside I still cannot see why you'd buy a protector that was only useful for one specific cartridge.

 

[good_enough]

Hana cartridges are produced by Excel Sound, perhaps this is the OEM he refers to.
That aside I still cannot see why you'd buy a protector that was only useful for one specific cartridge.

I take it you mean 'protractor'.

As above - it's more convenient than doing the 'by eye on a sheet of paper' thing.

For me.

To each his or her own...

 

[good_enough]

I take it you mean 'protractor'.

As above - it's more convenient than doing the 'by eye on a sheet of paper' thing.

For me.

To each his or her own...

Should add that the only upgrade I'd be looking at would be a Hana 'M' type which this also fits!

 

[Al ears]

I take it you mean 'protractor'.

As above - it's more convenient than doing the 'by eye on a sheet of paper' thing.

For me.

To each his or her own...

No, I was referring to Hana cartridges themselves, as was @daytona600 I believe.

 

[Entrigo]

I have a Technics and keep hearing people say - "just use the Technics jig and you are set". But even that requires eyeballing, so I would be very keen on a tool that gives me 100% reassurance my stylus is perfectly aligned. Because that's the key.

So yeah, this tool could be a great help, but only if the cantilever is dead straight.

 

[Shrek]

Ortofon Concorde plug & play any day . Very pleased with my bronze on my Technics TT. Head shell is still in packaging.

 

[good_enough]

No, I was referring to Hana cartridges themselves, as was @daytona600 I believe.

"That aside I still cannot see why you'd buy a protector that was only useful for one specific cartridge."

 

[good_enough]

I have a Technics and keep hearing people say - "just use the Technics jig and you are set". But even that requires eyeballing, so I would be very keen on a tool that gives me 100% reassurance my stylus is perfectly aligned. Because that's the key.

So yeah, this tool could be a great help, but only if the cantilever is dead straight.

It seems very well made to me. And glad you get the point!