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Mounting hole-to-stylus variation / tolerance

Hi all,
I know this particular point has been touched on, raised, in some of the threads dealing with tone-arm-alignment in particular.
I truly think it deservers a dedicated thread since it has a more or less profound influence on various arm designs and their alignment.
It also has a profound influence in how accurate and beneficial any after market alignment tool will work for you!

We have had this far, feed back from Jonathan Carr, i.e. the variations and tolerances with regard to his product (Lyra).
We also had some rather powerful insights by Frank ..., who designs and makes arms i.e. the variations of various products he took note of.

Jonathan quoted, that his current products have a +/- 0.3mm tolerance from the 'standard' IEC...? of 3/8" or 9.52mm.

The findings of some contributors are different, possibly due to simple variations much greater than 0.3mm (Lyra's tolerance) or possibly due to subsequent movement of the 'motor' relative to the body, caused by rough handling, re-tipping, etc.

It is of most importance to get more feedback on this, due to the dependence of a close match to 9.52mm, on arms such as ALL of SME, to name but one. These rely on this to be fairly accurately aligned. If not, some pretty unacceptable misalignment follows as a result, if the stock alignment method is used.

Lastly, HOW can a 'normal' end-user measure this distance with some degree of accuracy?
I have no problem using a vernier (calliper) and measure a +/- 0.05mm variation.
I can not see that this tool will be of use in this case. Optical measurement (like tool-shops use) will be best I should think --- but who, I ask, has this at hand?

Greetings,
Axel
axelwahl
axelwahl OP
788 posts
 
Hi,
looks like Herr Schroeder (Tonarme) got it right.
I won't post his take, it'll blow the lid of some folks, nursing other opinions...
In short, don't get hang up on all these variable measurements, since you can't change them. Learn how to tweak what you have i.e. use your ear :-)

The maths is correct! But life seems to beat it all the time.

Fine by me, and what a relieve to learn it from a highly regarded Tonearm maker (and German Watchmaker by trade to boot). Something to learn here, methinks.

Axel
dertonarm
1,042 posts
 
His profession is not making or servicing watches. His real life job is showing visitors the german parlament - the Reichstag. He is a tourist guide in real life.
axelwahl OP
788 posts
 
Hi Daniel,
maybe I should have REALLY mentioned his first name, it's Frank and not Gerhard, ja bitte!

I think he IS too busy making his product(s), and of course selling it. Don't know if he has a shop at the Reichstag, though? So he would have forgone this endeavour for repairing watches, I would too.
But as I said it was his 'trained' profession, didn't I?

Greetings,
Axel
PS: A lot of people are crazy about his stuff. Having seen it at the RMAF I can see why --- and it sounds very musical too, so?
dertonarm
1,042 posts
 
Well, I for one are certainly not enthusiastic about his tonearms. They strongly remind me of the Linn Sondek. Good marketing, lots of word of mouth. I have mounted 3 cartridges in these tonearms and was never inpressed with the results. Overrated. But after all - this is the case with many of todays analog products. Too much marketing - too little enigneers input. Too often designed by enthusiastic amateur audiophiles. The economic depression of the next months will clear the field.
Syntax put it nicely in one of his post in march:
"I avoid discussion with owners of Linn, Garrard and Schroeder".
axelwahl OP
788 posts
 
Tz, tz, tz, Daniel, I see what this is here.
Now don't tell us Herr Dr. Feickert is also part of the no discussion theme?

I met HIM promoting HIS player at the RMAF, and he had little time for the SME products, he resides way above such non-scientific aberrations, oh yes.
He has a following that tries to enlarge on Herr Schroeder's, so at least my impression.

Note: Everybody has to pay his rent :-)

Axel
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