Will fine tune adjustments with protractor help with "brightness?"


Hello everyone-

I've had my TT setup now for 2 months. System looks like this:

Piega C10 Ltd speakers
McIntosh 402 amp
Technics SL1200GR TT
Lehmann Audio Black Cube SE II phono pre
MoFi Master tracker cart

My ears may be deceiving me, but I swear my vinyl cuts sound slightly brighter at the beginning of the album and soften a little as we near the middle. I set the cartridge by using the little white piece provided by Technics and it sounds great. I've been told by reliable sources that a good protractor, maybe even  Feickert Universal Protractor can help me get even more out of my carts. 

Would enjoy hearing your thoughts on this. Thanks! Brent

128x128knollbrent
My feeling that you’re looking for problem where should be no problem.

You’re spot on with Technics overhang gauge that comes with your turntable and if you stylus is under the mark on that white plastic Technics Overhang Gauge then the alignment is correct. You have the instruction manual how to set-up this tonearm.

Technics presentation on almost every high-end show was made with $5000 ART-1000 cartridge with the same alignment on Technics tonearm.

Do you think Technics tonearm designers can’t hear what you can hear ?

I will address this question to all others, it’s a modern high-end turntable

P.S. Technics phono cable is a low capacitance cable as much as the every good phono cable on the market. There is absolutely nothing to change with this turntable for a person who just started the journey into analog. The rest is audiophilia.


I've been using Technics tonearms and Technics turntables for professional needs for over 22 years using Technics alignment. There is nothing to worry about with GR, i believe. 
Agree on alignment methods, nothing to add there. 

Regarding alignment though, in some cases, other alignments affect each other, just something to be aware of. The center of the record is more sensitive due to the smaller radius. But really, one thing to be aware of, is the "fancier" or more intense the stylus shape, the more important it is to have an arm that is adjustable. 

But that's not what I was going to post about. I noticed on a couple other threads you have a static issue. Could it be something to do with that? It is a direct drive turntable, and the motor is right there in the middle. 

I used to use a "Zerostat" gun for the general area, and a Cardas sweep record for the cart/system. Had lots of stuff but those worked the best. Static build up DOES have an effect on treble depending on the system. 
@basement  I have adviced $60 Zerostat to Brent long time ago when he asked me. Cardas sweep record is a great tool, i use it to ultrasonically clean vintage cartridges (or to burn in).    
Milty was a great suggestion and use it regularly. Anti static brushes, ointments, salves, I've got em all. All records clean with Record Doctor, stored in anti sleeves, the whole works. Still get static once played and pulled from TT. I Milty and play the other side or store it.