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Mint LP provides Stevenson Alignment

First, I happen to own and like a Mint LP protractor, but over the course of time it has become obvious to me that no one up to now has pointed out that it is providing the Stevenson alignment.  I have even read several self appointed  experts here argue vehemently that either Lofgren or Baerwald alignments are far superior to Stevenson, but then go on to equally strongly advocate the use of the Mint LP.  If ever there were an argument that alignment is somewhat over emphasized in our hobby, this is perhaps a good example of the truth of that thought.  Recently I bought a Feickert protractor, which is very easy to use and have tried all the alignments using it.  I can hear differences, but not always, certainly not on every track of every record, and honestly they are all good.  So don't get you pants in a bunch over this trivial issue.
billstevenson
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
Don't be afraid to use Stevenson, 99% of the Japanese tonearms designed to use Stevenson alignment. 

In my opinion the best protractor is the one with at least 3 different methods, so we can choose what we like and we can always realign to another one. Dr.Feickert has all 3 methods on one protractor. This is one of the reason i think this is the best protractor to experiment with different alignments, different tonearms. Precision Pivot to Spindle ruler is a must have for any protractor. 

Personally i can't detect any disadvantages using Stevenson compard to Baerwald or Lofrgen. Actually i use different alignments for different tonearms. 




noromance's avatar
noromance
10,162 posts
 
I run a London/Decca with a paratrace stylus. Fussy enough you might imagine. However, I set it by eye and have never used a protractor or loupe because it sounds fine. I don’t mean fine as in acceptable, I mean fine as in soaring female vocals, shimmering cymbals, pan pipes, Rachmaninoff piano. All sounds great.

So would using an alignment device bring a wakeup call improvement? Have I been betraying my rig by not using these tools?
hdm
1,076 posts
 
If you don’t specify a specific alignment when ordering Yip will provide you with designer intended alignment for your specific tonearm. That could be Stevenson, Baerwald, Lofgren or proprietary (ie. Technics, Rega).

So he is 1) not supplying Stevenson only protractors and 2) will also build any protractor to order based on what the customer requests (ie. Baerwald, Lofgren for an arm that was originally intended to be used with Stevenson or another similar alignment like Technics/Rega etc.)
flatblackround's avatar
flatblackround
279 posts
 
I level the platter. Level the tonearm. Overhang as best I can estimate.  Eyeball cantilever alignment at two null points. Then be careful with tracking force.  Adjust as necessary. Seems to work.   What is a protractor?  Lol
cleeds
6,186 posts
 
millercarbon
All these alignment theories are great for mathematicians because in their imaginary world of intellectual perfections these things matter ... in the real world where we just want records to sound good playing music the reality is it just don't hardly even matter.
That there are various alignment methods, and ongoing debates over which is best, does not mean that precise alignment "just don't hardly even matter." It matters very, very much, especially if you seek low distortion and want to minimize wear on your LPs and stylus.
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