How to set SRA after determining true vertical?

Ketchup, you are quite right, this is an excellent way to check azimuth. There is just one leeeetle setup problem you need to solve first:

If you just place the mirror on the platter, you'll never get a scope in there to look at the image because the platter is in the way. Here are two ways to overcome the problem:

1.) If your tonearm has the vertical bearing axis perpendicular to the headshell offset, then all you need to do is shim the mirror up on something about 3/16" thick like a piece of balsa wood or foam-core. Just high enough to let you rest the end of the scope on the platter and be able to see the stylus head-on.

2.) You could cantilever the mirror a half inch or so off the edge of the platter (taping it securely to the platter, AND taping the platter to the TT base so it can't rotate!) and this will also allow you to look at the stylus head-on.

Be very careful though! You might want to use a piece of masking tape to restrict horizontal movement of the tonearm.

Nsgarch,

Great geometry refresher, thanks! And yes, it was a compliment. As we probably all know, cutting engineers allowed a wide range of SRA's when cutting lacquers. If they'd all taken such care it would make accurate playback much simpler. Tonearm height adjustments could exactly = record thickness changes. That would be nice.

A naked-eye method for (fairly) precise SRA setting has been posted in the VA FAQ's for many years:

http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/vinyl/messages/1240.html

Jon Risch, the author, offers excellent technical explanations. After studying many different cutting lathes, he recommended that a good compromise SRA for "set and forget" rigs would be 2 degrees forward of vertical, ie, top of sylus pointed away from the tonearm pivot.

Before getting the TriPlanar I used Risch's method when setting up a new cartridge. It was an effective way to settle on a baseline arm height position. Now I'm spoiled. It's easier and more fun to twiddle while listening than to fuss with maglites and magnifiers.

Regards,
Doug

How lucky are we to have such a great venue like this.Nsgarsh,you have done it again,and the other Einsteins are also an appreciated necessity.Really!

Ohhhhhhhhhh, you guy's are making my head hurt. I knew I shoud have stayed awake in algebra class (I never even made it to geometry). I'll supply the beer if one of you will just come on over to my house and set my TT up!

Chris

Simple applied trigonometry. I just can't seem to think like an engineer any more after all these years of writing software.

Thanks again, Neil.