Tonearm recommendation

fleib, thanks for the helpful response.

In fact I have used my Dennesen for the reverse process, to draw the arc to identify location for mounting an arm.

I also use a small Tensor light and hand held magnifier with the Dennesen when doing an alignment.  And I ignore the cartridge body and do all my sightings along the cantilever.  But I will check out linen magnifiers to see if one might be easier that what I use now (a small version of your standard Sherlock Holmes model).

And now that you mention it, I seem to recall the Feickert I saw did offer alignment options, but as stated, I'm happy with Baerwald.

Over the years I've owned a dB Systems protractor and those from various arm manufacturers but I really like the simplicity of the Dennesen.  And the results sound good to me and elicit complements on my system. ;^) 

Dear lewm: What I try to say is to use one: Baerwald or if we like Löfgren A/B. I don't think we can need more.
Today almost all the cartridges comes with a better suspension " mechanism " than in the past and the tonearms are more or less well damped with better damped TT, clamps and platter mats and all these makes things better than in the past. In the other side electronics and speakers improved too and makes that we can make a better cartridge/tonearm set up than in the past. There are many audio topics that improved and helps for that we needonly just kind of alignment if and only if the set up has ACCURACY/cero tolerance. Tha's it.

I use the MINTLP as an example because is one of the more accurate in the market and is dedicated for your TT/tonearm combination and for less than 150.00.  Could you ask for more or need something different?, I think not but I respect each one opinion and remember that my advise is only in the mean time that manufacturers of all today and future tonearms can give us their answer we all are waiting for in the way that we customers do not need again to look for an after market devices.

Respect the 505 we can talk private through email but as I posted not important in the main subject because is only another tonearm with some unique kind of design, maybe not a good example for my meanings.

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.

Thanks, Raul.  Please don't confuse the fact that I own a DV505 with the idea that I believe it to be "the best" of anything.  I really think most audio equipment is flawed in one way or another and that it is our job to put pieces together that work as synergistically as possible to produce whatever "sound" one is pursuing.  (In your case, that would be the lowest distortion possible, pure and simple.)  Many people don't understand that the term "synergism" means 1+1 = more than 2, by the way. When 1+1 =2, the interaction is merely "additive".  I actually chose the DV505 several years ago for use with slate plinths I made for my Lenco and for my DP80; I wanted tonearms that could be flush-mounted on top of the slate without need for an armboard or to drill the slate, which is a royal pain in the culo.  The Triplanar, Reed, Durand tonearms also fit this description but are more costly.

I seriously considered the Mint LP when I decided to buy the UNItractor.  The UNI is like the Mint in that it is different for every possible tonearm, but unlike the Mint in that it is a 2-point alignment, not an arc alignment.  However, 2 points define an arc for a given constant radius.  If you have a lot of tonearms, then the cost of the UNI rapidly becomes reasonable, as compared to buying a Mint LP for every tonearm.  The UNI includes a different template for each tonearm, accommodation for three different spindle diameters, ability to set the cartridge using a stabilized magnifier, a built on light which makes the job easier, and several other features that make exact set-up closer to possible.  But like the DV505, I am not saying it's perfect or "the best", just very very good.

fleib, because of another comment I just reread your 3-4-2016 post.  I may have misunderstood something with my first reading.

You mentioned a Dennesen accessory to locate the arm mounting hole.  I thought that was in response to my comment on locating the pivot point for the arm.  But my mention had nothing to do with locating the pivot point to drill and mount an arm.  Rather it related to setting up the Dennesen.  This can be difficult with arms which do not identify their pivot point in some way on top of the arm tube or pivot armature.  That was my reference to disappointments in use.  Fortunately that has not been an issue with most arms I've used.

Back to arm recommendations and some discussion here of the DV505. Without making any specific recommendation I might suggest that Crazy Bill, and any others looking for an arm, to consider if they have reason to prefer one of the common alignment formulas and pick an arm which conforms with that.  Case in point, which includes the DV505, I recently found this in a post on Vinyl Asylum by bkearns, "The following is a list of tonearms with recommended null radii at or near the IEC inner groove radius (60.325mm):- Audio Technica AT1009; Audio Technica AT1010; Dynavector DV 505; Hadcock Super Unilift MKIII; Infinity Black Widow GF; Keith Monks M9BA Mk3; Series 20 PA1000. In addition the Rega tonearms (perhaps), and many integrated turntables from Japan appear to conform to this system. Perhaps the popularity of Stevenson's method relates to the predominance of British engineering in turntables and tonearms."

Happy listening.