How much difference if the tonearm is mounted 5mm


Closer.
Hi Experts,
It is for a Pole Star UNV-2 Tonearm. I would like to know if there is any affect in sound if I mount the arm 5mm closer than specification. It is on the VPI Aries 2.
For the Pole Star:
Distance between spindle and pivot is 212mm.
Between stylus and pivot is 228mm. Overhang 16mm.
Whole length 305mm.
Thanks,
Calvin
dangcaonguyen
Dear Dangcao: Sure that Lewm ( Hola! ) will give you a precise answer about your protractor.

In the mindtime you have to know that the Stevenson geometry alignment is the worst one of the 3 you mentioned because is the one that gives you the higher distortions/errors all over the LP recorded area but the last few indide mm. and I'm sure that other 

You can read it and see it through the link I posted and gave to you. I hope this time you really read it, is very important to understand the why's on this critical alignment issue.

http://www.vinylengine.com/tonearm_alignment_calculator_pro.php?arm1=Arm+1&l1=ps&a1lv=207&am... 


Regards and enjoy the music,
R.
Lewm,

  If you are given a spindle to pivot distance mount point of 215mm, then there must be a arm length that was used by the person who approved that 215mm position.  Measure your arm and verify that it measures what is assumed to be its length.  If it doesn't measure that length, and I have one that didn't, then that mounting hole you are about to drill (using that 215mm dimension), is going to be in the wrong place.
  My JVC UA 7045 tone arm is the arm that has convinced me to do the critical check and not just 'blindly trust' those printed templets.  
  On the templet for the JVC 7045, the spindle to pivot dimension is 130mm.  The templet shows that the head shell arm lift (which btw, attaches to the cartridge), would then be in the center of the slots.  I drilled my dummy plywood armboard as stated.  130 mm from center of spindle to pivot point.  The cartridge when mounted in the Technics head shell, when set-up using the Mint Tracker curve device sat in the most forward locating of the slots.  This is and of itself would not be a problem if I only used one cartridge and had only this one head shell.  But I own 80+ cartridges.  All mounted on various head shells.  What I discovered is that this particular Technics head shell has its slots are not only longer, but are also positioned 50mm farther to the rear than any other head shell I own.  Its most forward cartridge location position is to the back side of some of my other head shells and beyond the slots on most others.  I even have other Technics head shells who's slots do not even come close to this original head shell that came with this tone arm.  
  Now ask your self.  What is it that you want to do?  If you are using a curve checking device to set up cartridges with, then is that not what your goal is?  To set the cartridge so that it traces that curve.  
  I wanted to know why no other head shell will work with this arm except the one provided by Technics if that is, I drilled my arm board where I am being told to drill my arm board via their templet.
  What I discovered is that my arm does not measure in length what it states it to be on that templet.  It is slightly long.  How long?  By close to 5mm.  I thought about removing the head shell collar and machining the end of the arm tube to shorten it by this 5mm.  (The company I worked for has a rather large machine shop so I could have pulled in a favor and had this done for free).  But why take that route. Why chop up the arm when it was obviously the numbers on that templet were not representative of what my arm measured.  Why not just take the arms current measurements and reconfigure that spindle to pivot distance so the the hole I drilled actually is where is should be in reference to my actual arm length.  Not where I am being told to drill it.  My arm hole currently measures 135mm from spindle to pivot.  5mm more from the spindle that stated on the templet.  All my head shells, now are usable.  Even that original Technics allows the cartridgde to be mounted closer to what is depicted on the templet.   When I state ''are usable'', I am referring to setting them up correctly with the use of the Mint Tracker.  If the stylus tip deviates from that curve line anywhere on that line, whether it be near the spindle or near the records edge, then it is not set up correctly.
I have a picture taken of the original Technics head shell sitting along side a Sumiko head shell.  Give me an email address and I will gladly send it to you so that you can see for your self.  Once you see it, then picture in your mind if a cartridge was mounted in the center of the slots on the Technics, where would it be in the Sumiko which is sitting right along the side of it.  
   Now put yourself in my place at the time I was trying to figure out where in the hell to drill this hole.  At that moment in time, where did the actual error lay?  Was it the arm length?  It might be correct pertaining to the drawings being used to actually manufacture the arm.  Then Is it the drilling templet that is wrong?  Would you have just blindly gone ahead and drilled that S2P distance hole as stated by the experts who included this templet with the arm?  Well there is an error here somewhere and it certainly wasn't going to be the hole that ''I'' drilled!
Any other questions?  Just ask.  
BTW:  You have resurfaced memories of this experience that I had sincerely tried to forget!  (gran)
Regards,
Dear Dang, I have not mounted a cartridge in several months, but it seems to me that my Feickert protractor, which is one of the older versions (assuming there are newer versions, which does appear to be the case), is designed for only one geometry, which I think is Baerwald.  Perhaps yours is different.  If yours has a Stevenson option, you might try it if only to verify that your tonearm was designed with Stevenson in mind. In which case, the headshell and the cartridge body will align with each other only for the Stevenson option.  This does not mean that you must use Stevenson.  It only means that you will be twisting the cartridge body with respect to the long axis of the headshell in order to attain any other geometry, and probably also needing to move the cartridge screws to the ends of the slots in the headshell to get Lofgren or Baerwald.  If you care to do it, you could try the recommended 212mm with Stevenson parameters.  If that gives you an alignment where the cartridge lines up with the headshell and the screws mount comfortably, I think we've explained your findings.  If you set up a "Stevenson" tonearm according to Lofgren or Baerwald, the recommended P2S is going to seem too long and the screws will be out at the end of their allotted travel, or beyond, and the cartridge will be "twisted".

ds, I haven't the time right now to digest all of what you wrote, but it seems in the first instance that you are talking about not trusting the template supplied with and for the tonearm.  I fully agree that this can be problematic.  I've had bad experiences in that regard myself. 
Lwem,

  Who exactly are you to trust if you have bought a tone arm in regards to setting it up?  'dangcaoguyen', the gentleman who initiated this thread, provided the information given to him and and asked if he could move the mounting hole over 5 mm?  Then gave reasons why when mounted using the supplied set-up dimensions,  His Quote
"the cartridge could not reach the cross point on my Dr. Feickert NG Protractor (I extended the cartridge all the way out from the Pivot) it was 4mm short. Unless i have a longer head shell or i will have to mount the arm 4mm closer than spec. (5mm to be sure)".
  Sounds rather familiar to me!!!!  Once you digest my thread, it should also sound familiar to you.
  I addressed his question.  I didn't expect others to give a destitation of text book arm geometry!  He wasn't asking for a schooling in arm design theory but just a simple answer to what he discovered.  His suggestions and discoveries, mirror mine! 
Regards,
Dear Griffit: "  He wasn't asking for a schooling in arm design theory but just a simple answer to what he discovered "

I totally agree but thing's are that I always post trying that in any audio subject where I have experiences not only say: " yes or no " but trying to learn more on that subject and that other people can do it.

We all will improve our audio knowledge level if we all understand where everything comes down, where is " generated ".

I'm sure that some of the gentlemans here and viewers of the thread already learned " something " on each single post in the thread and this ( for me ) is the right target in any audio forum.

In my case your contributions here do not gave any new " light " but through this thread I learned that the Dangcao protractor is for at least 3 different geometry alignments where the Lewm one ( same manufacturer. ) is only for Baerwald.

With all respect my sugestion for you is that instead to " blame " my posts will be better if you ignore it. How about?, sounds good: right?

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.