Hi, Nandric, I wasn't addressing anyone in this thread specifically, but I do think that talking about a range of tracking errors will help to clarify (and subsequently simplify) the issue of cartridge alignment. The endless debate over the "best" alignment geometry just confuses and frustrates people trying to align to the "best" geometry and their particular tone arm and cartridge doesn't allow it.
The problem is that many (if not most) tone arm and turntable manufacturers aren't forthright about which alignment geometry they used in the design and the owner is left to find the information themselves or figure it out by trial and error. When the owner tries to learn what they need to know they run into a sea of possibilities with often conflicting recommendations. Manufacturers should be more forthright about the geometry of their products and even provide recommendations and alternatives for alignment.
Because there is no standard for cartridge mounting holes or tone arm geometry I think the audiophile community should stop debating on the best alignment and start helping to explain the range of alignment possibilities for each combination of tone arm and cartridge. Web sites like Vinyl Engine have some very useful pages of information and graphing capabilities but even then it can be intimidating to try and figure out what you need to know and how to use that information.
Lastly, I think alignment template designers and manufacturers could be more accomodating of variable alignment geometries and include the ability to align for a range of geometries. There are excellent printable arc templates (protractors) that accomodate variable tone arm and cartridge parameters and there are a few excellent alignment protractors that can be purchased retail that have variable effective length/offset angle capabilities. But most alignment protractors/templates are designed for a specific alignment, such as Lofgren's A (Baerwald), with specific null point radii that may not be easily attained because of cartridge mounting hole parameters or headshell design.
SME's sliding base and alignment template is one of the most simple and easy to use combinations around. Even then, audiophiles complicate things by insisting that specific null points be attained, e.g., 66.0mm and 120.9mm, when a particular cartridge design may not easily allow for that alignment. The resulting SME alignment may end up instead at null points of 63.9mm and 119.1mm and be a perfectly fine (if not superior) alignment. But because it isn't using the so-called "best" null points the owner believes the SME alignment is inferior and not acceptable.
Custom protractor templates are available but they can be limiting in which cartridge designs can used with the tone arm and are of no use if the tone arm/turntable is sold. By offering alignment protractors that provide for a range of alignment null points depending on the resulting effective length, pivot-to-spindle distance, and inherent offset angle of each tone arm and cartridge combination, the cartridge alignment process would be much easier and understandable for the owner.
Best regards, Tom
The problem is that many (if not most) tone arm and turntable manufacturers aren't forthright about which alignment geometry they used in the design and the owner is left to find the information themselves or figure it out by trial and error. When the owner tries to learn what they need to know they run into a sea of possibilities with often conflicting recommendations. Manufacturers should be more forthright about the geometry of their products and even provide recommendations and alternatives for alignment.
Because there is no standard for cartridge mounting holes or tone arm geometry I think the audiophile community should stop debating on the best alignment and start helping to explain the range of alignment possibilities for each combination of tone arm and cartridge. Web sites like Vinyl Engine have some very useful pages of information and graphing capabilities but even then it can be intimidating to try and figure out what you need to know and how to use that information.
Lastly, I think alignment template designers and manufacturers could be more accomodating of variable alignment geometries and include the ability to align for a range of geometries. There are excellent printable arc templates (protractors) that accomodate variable tone arm and cartridge parameters and there are a few excellent alignment protractors that can be purchased retail that have variable effective length/offset angle capabilities. But most alignment protractors/templates are designed for a specific alignment, such as Lofgren's A (Baerwald), with specific null point radii that may not be easily attained because of cartridge mounting hole parameters or headshell design.
SME's sliding base and alignment template is one of the most simple and easy to use combinations around. Even then, audiophiles complicate things by insisting that specific null points be attained, e.g., 66.0mm and 120.9mm, when a particular cartridge design may not easily allow for that alignment. The resulting SME alignment may end up instead at null points of 63.9mm and 119.1mm and be a perfectly fine (if not superior) alignment. But because it isn't using the so-called "best" null points the owner believes the SME alignment is inferior and not acceptable.
Custom protractor templates are available but they can be limiting in which cartridge designs can used with the tone arm and are of no use if the tone arm/turntable is sold. By offering alignment protractors that provide for a range of alignment null points depending on the resulting effective length, pivot-to-spindle distance, and inherent offset angle of each tone arm and cartridge combination, the cartridge alignment process would be much easier and understandable for the owner.
Best regards, Tom