As lewm suggested the important issue is record wear. To minimize this it is important that the stylus be perpendicular to the record. With well made cartridges this will also optimize crosstalk. The easiest way to get the stylus perpendicular to the record is to look at it. You can increase your accuracy dramatically by putting the stylus down on a mirror the thickness of a 180 Gm record. With two lights aimed at the sides of the stylus you will see a distinct hourglass shape. If it is leaning to one side or the other adjust the azimuth until it is perfectly upright and symmetrical which is painfully easy to see, even for somebody who listens to Tekton loudspeakers. This method is more than accurate enough in regard to record wear. If the geometry of the cartridge is off it will not optimize audio performance. The solution to this dilemma is to get a better cartridge or maybe get a warranty replacement.
The one tool that really makes this easy is the SmarTractor. With the stylus down on the mirrored surface you can use it's special magnifier to give you the big picture. Brilliant if expensive tool.
The one tool that really makes this easy is the SmarTractor. With the stylus down on the mirrored surface you can use it's special magnifier to give you the big picture. Brilliant if expensive tool.