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Ikeda IT-407 tonearm geometry

I’ve read all there is to read on this subject and never got satisfaction. It inspired me to ask this question earlier.
“Cartridge alignment with non slotted headshells”. 
The main reason I have a problem with these headshells is with my Ikeda it407 (chrome) tonearm, the cartridge must be twisted quite a bit in towards centre.  I have a vintage audio technica headshell with fixed holes and I don't even need a protractor to see that it won’t work. I don’t think stevenson alignment is this bad? I don't have a protractor with stevenson. My pivot to spindle distance is set perfect using my smartractor. I’m quite sure it is not possible to use an spu headshell in my Ikeda with the tonearm at the recommended distance without being seriously out of alignment. I’ve researched this online and I’ve spoken to Bill Demars at Beauty of Sound.  He said that the recommended pivot to spindle distance is probably wrong and some people position at a further distance. He agreed about spu in spu headshell in the ikeda arm not being ideal. I’ve never heard if anyone has asked Ikeda these questions about their arm. 


I do really like this arm, the way it sounds and the fact that is has a removable headshell, 
I’d just like to have better understanding of it? 



sdrsdrsdr
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
Technics engineers in Japan who designed SL1200G tonearm with alignment method that is very close to Stevenson (almost identical) must be very s****d then.


In my own defense I should probably add that my Reed 3P tonearm with fixed headshell uses the Baerwald geometry. As much as I’ve tried, I’ve never been able to conclude that this set up sounds superior in any way to the others.

@edgewear same here with my Reed 3p "12 with Baerwald and vintage FR and IKEDA with Stevenson
bukanona
174 posts
 
It's THD tonearm war and it have roots from nineties followed by small moving mass marketing campaign. 

sdrsdrsdr OP
196 posts
 
@chakster 

if this graph is correct, wouldn’t it give you the most distortion when your playing your small  45’s except for the very end of the song? 

https://www.analogplanet.com/content/uni-din-versus-löfgren-b-just-clarify
sdrsdrsdr OP
196 posts
 
@rauliruegas 

What pivot to spindle distance do you use for your it407? And it the cartridge rotated substantially inwards or straight in the headshell?
lewm
12,611 posts
 
In favor of not taking this business too seriously, for me, is the fact that the papers on alignment were mostly formulated and published in the late 1930s.  I think the Baerwald/Lofgren dates to 1941.  Not that the rules of geometry have changed since then, or ever, but think of what was available back then in terms of equipment.  And forget LPs or stereo reproduction.
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