2. analog
  3. 124682-9953

Newb question regarding alignment - Should the stylus Physically touch the protractor?

Hi everyone,

Real quick question, im going to try (yet again) aligning my cartridge (Shure M97xE) on the stock head of a Denon DP-31L turntable. This go around I’m using a print out of an arc protractor, kindly emailed to me by Ken Willis who makes great stuff from reciews I’ve read.

My question is, when the instructions say to place the stylus on the arc, does it literally mean touching/resting on the arc or positioned just above?

Since the heaviest paper I have is resume paper (not much thicker than standard computer paper), I was thinking I’d glue this protractor printout onto an old vinyl I don’t need to provide a solid backbone, and with the tonearm still locked in its cradle I’d then press play so the Denon lowers the tone arm guard, and then turn off the table so the guard stays in the down position. All that, assuming the stylus should physically touching the arc line I printed. Of course I’ll have the platter taped down too so there is zero movement when I lower the stylus on it.

If someone could let me know whether or not my interpretation is correct I would really appreciate it

Thanks in advance for the help, clearly I’m new to this and I’d be lost without the advice of all the knowledgable folks on these forums :)

hockey4496
hockey4496 OP
104 posts
 
I failed to mention the arc protractor Ken Willis provided me is called the "AccuTrak". 

It seems like most quality protractors are made with smooth glass or acrylic surfaces so I was thinking I may fix a sheet of slick/glossy plastic lamination on the surface of the paper so the stylus would be more likely to slide if there's any accidental lateral movement. 

Any advice is welcome, Im about ready to give it a try now, but just want to be sure my plan is appropriate before i start 

thanks!
hockey4496 OP
104 posts
 
I'm sure it has a name that I'm not familiar with, but there is a little platform that raises up/down when pushing stop/start, respectively. But it's what keeps the tone arm raised a couple mm above the LP when in the "stop" position 
hockey4496 OP
104 posts
 
Thanks Cleeds for chiming in by the way, I appreciate it!
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
I have always rest the stylus on the protractors that I have used, MintLP and  Dr. Feickert. Neither of these is made of paper though.
I suppose that short of getting a real protractor, you could try taping some thin plastic over the paper drawing.
I wouldn't do that, but it's your cartridge, you can risk it if you see fit.
oldears
386 posts
 
Be sure to disable your skating force when aligning the cantilever.
re-enable before playing a record.
More to discover