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Review of the SMARTractor and SMARTstylus

I mounted an AudioTechnica VM95ML on the Sota for it's new owner using these tools for the first time.

The Acoustical Systems SMARTractor: On taking the unit out of it's box you immediately get the feeling you are dealing with a fine precision instrument. Construction quality is through the roof. It is child's play to set it up. The only kink I ran into. It was very difficult to push the locator pin (points to the vertical axis of the horizontal bearing) through the beam. I had to tap it with a small hammer. The grub screw was backed way out. The nylon plunger used to prevent marring the stainless steel was a very tight fit. 
You set the alignment by removing the pillar's locating screw then twist the pillar lining the index mark with the line labeled  with the alignment you want. I chose Lofgren B. You the place it on the platter which you should lock in place, line up the locator pin with the horizontal bearing and lock the beam in place. The Syrinx made this easy as it has a perfect dimple right over the horizontal axis. Next you place the magnifier in it's bracket and line it up with the Lofgren B grid. The grid lines are super fine and close together. They literally light up on the mirrored surface. Super easy to see.
You line up the cross hair with the targeting grid on the mirror. This puts your sight line right down the cantilever and boy does it work! The magnifier makes it darn easy for old eyes to line things up perfectly. 

Now for the SMARTstylus. This is just a piece of plexy with four sets of grid lines, vertical, horizontal and SRA, and VTA. It comes with it's own hand held magnifier. It looks well made. It is also close to worthless with an offset arm that has a permanent finger lift. Both the offset and the finger lift keep you from getting it close enough and angled correctly to the cantilever. I will try it again with the Schroder which does not have a finger lift. 

In short, the SMARTractor is a brilliant, well thought out devise manufactured to the highest standard. It is handily the most accurate, easiest to use cartridge alignment tool I have ever used. Is it worth $700? I have to say that if you love vinyl and want to be sure your cartridge is dead on, Yes absolutely. On the other hand at this time I have to say that the SMARTstylus is a waste of money. The VM95ML? Darn! It punches way above it's price point. It is handily the best sounding under $200 cartridge I have ever used. It is neutral, tracks well and is very quiet. It is as quiet as my $2000 Charisma. If you are after a MM cartridge in this price range you can not go wrong. You can be perfectly comfortable buying it blind.  

Hope this helps people,
Mike

128x128mijostyn
Post removed 
dover
2,187 posts
 
So we are playing with a P2S accuracy level of at least 0.38mm. to make the set up and with the same difference in the overhang. We have two points where we always are off because that kind of accuracy just we can’t achieve in this mechanical set up.

If you cant achieve P2S accuracy less than .38mm then you shouldn’t be opining on optimum geometry.

For example, I just installed VTA on the fly on my Naim Aro using a thumbwheel with standard M4 "coarse" thread. A full turn shifts the arm 0.7mm - in other words a 1/4 turn on the thumbwheel moves the arm 0.175mm - less than half of your claim. With a clock dial for reference I can get the adjustment down to 1/12 of 0.7mm which is 0.058mm accuracy. This is repeatable and measurable.

If I used a finer machine thread on the thumbwheel I could improve this level of accuracy to below 0.058mm.

I would suggest forget about making your own arm if you cant figure this out.




boothroyd
365 posts
 
After putting my tools away, I'll "set the cartridge for [my] preferred level of distortion ... by ear" every time.

nice work IMO: http://www.vacuumstate.com/fileupload/GuruSetUp.pdf
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rauliruegas
12,861 posts
 
Dear @mijostyn : " most people do not know what P2S means. "

As a fact and even that in this forum some of us were discussing in deep the tonearm/cartridge whole alignment set up still today exist a misunderstood in some alignment issues. It's easy to have some kind of misunderstood about.

The alignment per sé is an " open " scenario to have even personal and dedicated alignment only for our tonearms.

The foundation for the alignment calculations are 3 parameters ( inputs to the Löfgren equations. ): tonearm effective length and most inner and outer groove distances.

So we can manipulate/change one or even those 3 parameters and we " discover " our personal alignment.
Everything depends on what could be our specific targets, where we want the tracking distortions " lives " and its levels in favor of lowering some way even if we can detect it the changes.

SAT tonearm designer is what he did it changing the most inner groove distance parameter and that's why the tonearm comes with a dedicated/special protractor because null points are not the Löfgren standard.
Changes in EL works too if the headshell slots permit to do it.

Then we can choose for different parameters and choose between Löfgren A or B, each one with its own in theory trade-offs.

"" By the way, Lofgren B is the way to go:-) ""

But choosing between Löfgren A or B it's only an illusion that works only in theory/c/paper.

Example: EL 300mm. overhang difference between both alignments is only 0.38mm ( longer the B alignment. ) and if EL is 256mm. that difference goes to 0..45mm. The offset angle is the same in both kind of alignments.

So we are playing with a P2S accuracy level of at least 0.38mm. to make the set up and with the same difference in the overhang. We have two points where we always are off.

So the best we can " wait " for is to be around the alignment and with higher distortions levels that what comes through calculations and this is the true " game " we are platying and discussing.

R.


mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn OP
8,230 posts
 
@rauliruegas  But Raul, my meager brain thinks Lofgren B sounds better overall. Maybe it is just because I set it with the SmarTractor. Your not going to argue with my ears are you? That would call for an extreme emotional discharge and even some name calling.
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