Cartridge alignment with non slotted headshell?

No it's geometry classics. In the old days in Egypt it was started as science to measure the land, now we do measure sound with it.

I guess we choose what we want. Slotted headshells if we want the versatility to achieve perfect alignment with our protractor.  I have found that unless a mirrored protractor like Smartractor or Mint LP protractor that has the hologram lines underneath the glass to line up with the top lines, it is hard to see zenith accurate anyway.

I always felt  my EMT TSD-15 in EMT headshell could sound better in the nude version with  slotted headshell. These plug and play versions (like spu) were great back in the day when not many knew how to do cartridge alignment. And they’re still great now for people that still want this convenience.

I use Dr.Feickert protractor latest version to verify my FR-7fz on FR tonearms (same with SPU on this arm), there is no damage and cantilever is straight as it should be, the stylus tip is spot on if the PS distance is correct. Very easy.

When you're using tonearm and cartridge made by the same manufacturer there is no risk, they are designed for use together. 

EMT headshell integrated must be perfect on EMT tonearm too

No matter when it was designed today or 40 years ago, if same person design tonearm and cartridge this is a perfect match and you don't have to kill time with alignments. 

I remember SPU on my ex Schick "12 tonearm and since this tonearm was designed primarily for SPU i can't remember any problem in setup, the alignment method was Baerwald, but the sound is not better than my SPU on FR-64fx with Stevenson. Actually the latest combination was much more impressive and Ikeda designed his tonearms and cartridges for use with Stevenson alignment. 

Conventional cartridges and heashells with slots are easy to align using whatever method. It's a cure if you can twist a cartridge in the headshell if the cantilever is off-centered, so you can alight by the cantilever, not by the cartridge body as a result cartridge body will be twisted left or right. 

But a perfect cartridge is the one with perfect cantilever (not off-centered cantilever) it can be turned left or right if you want to use different geometry (not the one that a tonearm designer expected). Everyone is free to use whatever method, but i always use what tonearm designer suggested first.  



  

@chakster 

Check out my next question about Ikeda it407. 

Dear @sdrsdrsdr  @bukanona : Not Ortofon, they only gaves what the people in Japan ask for the 95% of those Ortofon cartridges were sold in Japan in those times: only business. Problem was developed in Japan and that's why Stevenson made what he made it: a stupid alignment. No Stevenson was or is not a stupid gentleman, he did it only what those unknowledge level people were asking for.

Now, please tell me how can you change or make an azimuth correct set up with all those FR7 and other stupid kind of designs?

I was stupid enough to own several of those F7 including the 702. I know what I'm talking about.

Problem with SAEC is not its geometry. Who told you this or from where do you think learned it?. Totally wrong.

R.