Though expensive, the Smartractor is the best. It saves a great deal of time, easy to use and has a unique alighnment called the UniDin (along with all the others). I love this alignment since you seem to get no perceptible IGD. I know it’s not inexpensive, but if you have multiple carts it saves you gobs of time.
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I agree fully with @last_lemming Nothing comes close to the Acoustical Systems Smartractor. For me, it is well worth the investment even if you only have 1 cartridge. I have typically only had 1 cartridge at a time except for the last few years when I have had 2 arms and 2 cartridges. It gets me the best result and that has made it invaluable to me. |
audiosens, If you go with the Mint be SURE to measure your pivot to spindle distance accurately. In my experience if it's off by even 1 mm of the factory spec, the Mint arc will be off and it will be impossible to align both null points simultaneously. I had incurable sibilance until I measured the P2S at 2 mm long and corrected it (previous table). Mint used to custom make their protractor to your P2S spec if the arm wasn't adjustable. That would be the way to go if need be. It's a case of "close enough" will definitely not work. It has to be spot on.Here are some Rega specific protractors and others. https://www.vinylengine.com/cartridge-alignment-protractors.shtml Their Rega Stevenson protactor lines right up with the Rega factory one that came with my RP-10. My P2S is 223 instead of 222. I have to stick with the single null point protractors because the third screw mount for the Apheta 2 cartridge is not slotted and I can't quite reach the proper overhang. I wonder if that screw is really necessary.. |
@bluewolf and @lastlemming, wholly agree on the AS SmartTractor, but having got this far you really also should invest in Richard Mak’s AnalogMagik disc and program. It makes dialing in VTA, azimuth, amtiskate and even loading a breeze and takes the trial and error and mental anguish out of the process. The impact is very audible. Apologies to the OP that this isn’t quite “reasonable price” but maybe you have an audio buddy with the tools who can come round and optimize your setup for you? |
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