Cartridges: Complete Scam?

Dear @folkfreak : Yes, to mount any cartridge in his tonearm design. @folkfreak , this is not " rocket science ".

I own over 10 diferent protractors and as every one I spend money with and I spend money first because my ignorance levels on the whole tonearm/cartridge/TT alignment set up and second because almost all the manufacturers just were and are irresposables for say the least.

The real issue is not if you are satisfied with the protractor you use and that posted you like. The main and critical subject is that if the tonearm manufacturer makes what's is total responsability about you, me and every analog audiophiles do not need to buy any single after market protractor. It does not matters if the price is 100 or 600 or whatever.

That is the subject and we must not support any tonearm irresponsability or say: " I like my after market protractor. "

When  customers that are the ones that support the whole audio industry will say/shout to the all irresponsable manufacturers that are totally wrong?  when will be the day when we customers really be totally satisfied with an audio item where there were the necessity to buy an after market item to fulfill your needs?

Do you know when?  when we left to buy those manufacturers audio items. Is the only way, because they are seated in his comfort zone and very happy taking our money, because it's our MONEY.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.

Dear @inna : """ I thought you cartridge guys would align by ear. ............ When using alignment tools, any tools, how can you be sure that they give you the best result ? Very uncool of you. And incorrect. """

Do you have idea what we are talking here?, seems to me you have not and if you think you know what we are talking here then whom is totally incorrect is no one but you.

If you think your statement is correct please tell us how did/do you ( by ears. ) makes the cartridge/tonearm overhang and offset angle set up?, because that’s what we are talking about and what mainly protractors does.

Enligth our day ! .

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.

@rauliruegas surely then by this logic the tonearm manufacturer should also provide the following in the box with their arm
1) A fozgometer (or other azimuth setting tool)
2) A test record
3) A USB microscope (or at least an alignment block with a VTA grid)
4) An accurate tracking force gauge

Each of the above is as critical to setup as is alignment so why do you only expect the tonearm makers to provide the templates for alignment?

Most manufactures provide either the tools or the measurements or both needed for proper set up. Jelco, for instance, give you both and a nifty plastic gauge. Rega give you both, but alas, their gauge is made of paper.

Dear @folkfreak : You are rigth/correct. All those set up parameters/tools are important.

Now, what I'm refering here is in specific: overhang, P2S distance and offset angle.
This is the tonearm manufacturer own responsability. No one else.

AZ and  VTA/SRA:   normally you make it by ears. What I mean is that the tools you mentioned about can help but the final/fine tunning of those two parameters you make by ears according/following to your own room/system evaluation tests proccess.

In reference to test record I almost do not use any more even that I own no less than 20 different test records.

As you know as more and more experience and learning job we have as more easy the whole set up but those set up parameters that are handled by a tonearm protractor.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.