Wally Tools to Offer a New Service.

mijostyn

A "new" parameter is discussed which they are calling "zenith." I have always called it "twist" ...

It’s not a new term at all. Zenith = Horizontal Tracking Angle. It's an often overlooked alignment factor and one reason I prefer mirrored alignment gauges that allow aligning the actual cantilever. 

Perhaps this will lead to cartridge manufactures providing a certification documentation of quality control  including pictures, physical and electronic measurements. 

As as an alternative, if I was buying a $5-10k plus cartridge, I would insist that it be sent to someone like WMW for an independent assessment. 

@testpilot , from the article it seems to be what they had in mind, a Wally certification process for high end cartridges. It would push the price higher but for many people this would be reassuring I suppose. I have been looking at styli for a while now and can not imagine having trouble getting a warranty replacement. When a Clearaudio cartridge lost it's stylus I just sent in a USB micrograph of a perfectly straight cantilever sans stylus and I was immediately sent a new cartridge along with a return label for the broken one. I had a new cartridge in 3 days.
A usb microscope is not that expensive and is handily the best way to set SRA. The biggest problem is making a stand that will hold the microscope in the right position to watch the action. You can not hand hold one, way too shaky. 
@cleeds, the definition I learned for zenith is the point in the sky directly over your head. I have no idea how that relates to horizontal tracking angle. Lateral tracking angle would probably be a better term but "twist"
is short and sweet even if nobody knows what I am talking about. It was the article that called the parameter "new." I was just paraphrasing. I have never seen a significantly twisted stylus bit that Transfiguration in the article is pitiful. I personally avoid cottage manufacturers and prefer sticking with the big guys even if I am missing some excellent cartridges. 

It seems to be that most Cartridges when set on a Headshell and Tonearm are not optimised, as the Cartridge is aligned using a visual of a Alignment Tool and a visual of a underside of a Cartridge Body.

It also appears that when a Stylus is set at a incorrect SRA position,
as well as,  set in a Rotated Position on a Cantilever.
The common used Cartridge Setting Up procedures are compromised.

With the evidence being presented and the methods for correction being made available, that are quite costly.
It seems to me to be that there are Cartridges more commonly being offered for purchase, that will require a unusual geometry to be put in place.
The Tonearm and Head Shell will potentially be set up with not so commonly seen geometry to overcome the production shortcomings of the Cartridge.
    
There are Multiple Cartridge Purchasers, who use their Cartridges regularly, at which could be calculated as a ball park from 
$00.50 to $4.00 per Album Played.

Using Cartridges not set up in a optimised condition, even though for many are thoroughly enjoyed, as I do with my own Cartridge.
As an alternative view, using a Cartridge that is not optimised as a set up,  can quite easily be seen to equate to a expensive outlay for a inferior service.

A Cartridge that is supplied that has a assembled parts that allow for a traditional setting up to achieve a almost optimised set up would be the ideal. 
   
As many Cantilevers and Stylus are supplied as a Pre Assembled Part.
It does seem that there will be 'Tolerance Allowances' for the
Production Processes.
This is the usual commonly used Business Model for many Corporate Businesses. .

If a Stylus is requiring Zenith Correction and is to be rotated by adjusting the Cartridge.
In a worse case, it can't be corrected, because the Cartridge when mounted on a common type Head Shell can't be rotated sufficiently to correct the Zenith,  then this will be a Assembly of Stylus / Cantilever that should not be welcomed and accepted as a part to be used by a Cartridge Producer. 
In the Case of Head Shell Mounting, the Ideal would be a Cartridge that requires the minimum rotation, if any.

Same again for the Stylus Rake Angle - SRA
If the Pre Assembled Stylus / Cantilever Assembly has a requirement to adjust a Tonearm Wand way beyond the common angle of 180 degrees to correct the VTA, then the SRA supplied should not be welcomed and accepted as a part to be used by the Cartridge Producer.

A Cartridge Producer would do their customers better, if they challenged their suppliers and demanded a improved set of tolerances
for Setting a Stylus on a Cantilever from their supplier.
This will ensure a customer can use their Tonearm set up close to its ideal geometry.

If a Cartridge Producer is Setting a Stylus in a Cantilever,
the Customer should expect a very tight tolerance for the Stylus setting,
as they would be most happy knowing their Tonearm's are set as close to the ideal geometry for usage, and the Cartridge when set in the Headshell will seat in a very close to optimised position. 
     
 

mijostyn

... the definition I learned for zenith is the point in the sky directly over your head. I have no idea how that relates to horizontal tracking angle. Lateral tracking angle would probably be a better term but "twist"is short and sweet even if nobody knows what I am talking about ...

I agree with you about the traditional definition of "zenith" and that's why I don't care for use of the term as applied to phono cartridges - it's unnecessarily confusing. The traditional literature (SME, Van den Hul) refers to what you call "twist" as "Horizontal Tracking Angle."