Cartridge / Stylus Alignment

[RogerM]

Hello all,
I've been a member for about 2 months now, and this is my first post. I'm more of a reader, rather than poster. Mainly because I don't have anywhere near the knowledge of any of you. I've gleaned a ton of information from this forum, as well as one or two others.

I'm just getting back into my old vinyl, and began the whole process because of an advertisement from DAK on transforming Vinyl to CD. I've had most of my collection since the late 70's, and 80's. Not an avid collector, only about 300 or so, but adding more as I go.

After doing a lot of reading, I've come to realize that the cartridge / stylus alignment has a lot to do with sound reproduction, and life of the vinyl. Most of mine is probably bad any way, since they have most recently been played on cheap players.

I, like a lot of others don't have an unlimited source of funds, so I've put together what I believe is an acceptable system.

Yamaha Natural Sound A-1000 amp
Yamaha YP-D6 Turntable, Ortofon FF15Xe MK11 cart and stylus, Signet TK5Ea cart and stylus
Realistic LAB-400 Turntable, realistic R1000 cart and stylus
Polk Audio SDA SRS2 speakers
KLH PR-950S speakers
Onkyo Integra Tuner

Now the problem.
I've downloaded a couple of the generic alignment protractors, and like the AccuTrak. Seems simple enough for me, the novice.
After printing, gluing to a cardboard backing, and carefully cutting it out, upon using it, I find that both turntable carts are off, by a lot.
The Realistic should have a 15mm overhang, and the Yamaha should have a 17mm overhang, according to the manuals. Unfortunately, in order to get even close using the AccuTrak protractor, I have to move the carts all the way forward in the headshell, and it is still off a bit.

I'm using the Baerwald alignment, and using a lazer to line everything up, and taping down the platter. After all of this, and checking, and re-checking, I'm getting a terrible hum from the Polk speakers that I didn't have before.

I checked the other alignment charts, and the Stevenson comes the closest to what I've achieved. Am I doing something wrong?
My albums sound a bit brighter with the new alignment, but am I destroying the grooves, and or styli?

Thanks for any input.

RogerM

[felixscerri]

G'day mate, it sounds like there might be multiple issues involved here, but as far as basic overhang adjustment goes, see here: www.vinylengine.com/protractor-user-guide.shtml Regards, Felix.
_________________

[Conrad Hoffman]

Cartridge alignment won't produce hum unless a wire gets damaged during the process. Check your terminal clips and solder joints. Check the tt ground wire.

Try my alignment template generator at

http://www.conradhoffman.com/chsw.htm

If you can measure the distance from your platter spindle to your tonearm pivot, you can choose an alignment method that (hopefully) will be achievable with the available slots.

Best,
Conrad

[mysticfred]

We all have to start somewhere, when i think of the mess i used to make of installing, adjusting and aligning cartridges thirty years ago using a simple cardboard alignment protractor and a screwdriver on my turntables, i shudder to think of the effect all this had on my prized records - fortunately there has been no apparent damage whatsoever, so i would advise using a simple protractor on your turntable and doing your best, they would have to be a long way out to cause any damage, and your ears will tell you if anything is badly wrong.

[Klaus R.]

[JaS]

[1200y3]

Yamaha may have used thier own alignment. If the cartridge is accurately installed in the headshell and the overhang is correct, use a two point and try to find the null points.

If you want to go a step further, then measure the offset angle and feed it, the null points, and the length of the stylus to arm pivot distance or pivot to spindle distance and see if it lines up with figures calculated in the tonearm alignment calculator. You may have to add some of your own figures and keep calculating untill you extrapolate the proper null points for future reference.

If Yamaha supplies an overang distance, then use it. They usually use very sophisticated alignment techniques with computers worth millions.

[JaS]

[RogerM]

Thanks to all for responding to my post. As always, I received great info and advice.

Thanks again,
RogerM

[Klaus R.]

[1200y3]

I was suggesting that with attempt with the VE Alignment Calculator, the offset angles, distances, and overhang Yamaha provided may make some sort of sense. I use it for oddball setups and situations wher the cartidge can not be moved in the hedshell. It is as simple as filling the blanks with the figures.

I wouldn't know if Yamaha's engineering department was concerned about alignment, but from what I know about Yamaha's quality, I wouldn't question their individuality. They sure made nice sound reiforcement amplifiers too.

[JaS]

[JaS]

[Bigears]

I've always found that VTF has more audible impact than slight (say half degree) variances in horizontal alignment and setting VTF too lightly is probably more harmful for record wear than a slight horizontal alignment error. Having said that, some cart's are more susceptible than others to tracking errors unless perfectly set up and I'm not familiar with the carts quoted so can't offer any advice other than what's already been said.

The use of the Stevenson protractor usually results in lower distortion for the inner grooves but is higher elsewhere than say Baerwald which is one I personally prefer, but that again depends on the arm's effective length

After searching through my own collection of protractors, I came across a Van den hul mirrored protractor (useful for checking azimuth) which has its null points at 66.5 and 121.5mm and I've tried this with Rega arms in the past with some success. The beauty of this protractor is that it has grid lines for both null points which allow you to try your own deviations and set up very accurately, allowing different references for different carts, but I'm unsure what the distortion figures are for its standard null points (perhaps Jas can comment?). From the measurements, it seems an ideal partner for my pending 3009.

[1200y3]

I am not sure if I found the Technics SL1200 to fit the standard alignments with standard linear offset guage (the one that uses the line to meet the arm's pivot.) I always used the white tool that came with the turntable and double checked it with a two point. I don't have an SL 1200 here, but does it fit the Accutrack? I did see it's own dedicated alignment tool in the alignment guage section. The Yamaha may be similar?