Alignment Snafu? Or?

My documentation shows a spindle to pivot distance for the Audioquest arm of 210mm.

Hello Narrod/All.
Thanks for the info so far.
The info I have downloaded, and know so far, is a claim of the AQ PT-6 through PT-9 on Vinyl Engine of an effective length of 229mm, mounting distance of 211mm, overhang 18mm. All show null points (Baerwald) at 66.0mm-121.0mm

As has been explained to me, some of these arms were indeed like you say, mounted at 210mm, and perhaps the specific reason, was that one wouldn't run out of Headshell Slots, wouldn't need the Cartridge mounted so far to the end of Slot travel, and have the Cartridge more centrally mounted in the Slots? Just a thought?

To achieve Baerwald alignment with my Turntable Basics Mirror Protractor, and ZYX Airy 3X, I'm just about at the end of the Slot's travel, but can achieve what appears to be dead on alignment with the TB Protractor.

It was like this as well with my Benz Glider, and in fact my previous Benz Glider literally fell apart last year in my hands in two pieces trying to shift it forward far enough when I used the TB Protractor. The Body seperated from the Base, and with it went the Pin Wiring, and Suspension Wire! One drop of Adhesive was all that held the two together, and after 10-11 years, maybe that Adhesive had gotten slightly weak? I didn't apply too much pressure, but was probably trying to shift the Cartridge forward where it just couldn't go due to running out of Slot on the Headshell.

Perhaps, VPI when they drilled the Plinth 12 years ago, did so every so slightly too far? Mark

Try the Stevenson geometry. It may give you more flexibility with alignment. I have VPI HW-19 and Audioquest arm and find it difficult to optimize setup with Baerwald. I haven't tried Lofgren.

Thank You Narrod, Another person has advised me exactly as you have, to perhaps trying Stevenson Geometry.

While my rig is sounding pretty darn good, I think all can sympathise, trying to squeeze every last bit of performance from my vinyl rig. My ZYX Airy 3X is still very young in age, certainly doesn't have sufficient break-in time on it yet, but sounds better, and better each time I play it.

I have been able to achieve dead on alignment with the TB protractor, and yet wonder, with these sight line protractors, and even though I've noted a 1mm error on mounting distance, is alignment still correct? I've used the outer grid to align, have aligned the stylus, and cantilever, not the body, and haven't concerned myself too much with the inner grid on the protractor.

I do get somewhat confused with protractor geometry (wasn"t the sharpest crayon in the box in match class) but gather that regardless of mounting distance, sighting with the sight line protractor "should" net me correct alignment?

If I am incorrect about this, I am hopeing somebody will correct my wrong assumptions. Thank you, Mark

Mark, I think that from your description of the issue you may just have to live with a small amount of error in the setup. In reality, we all do. The only thing we may be fortunate enough to do is limit that error more in one setup than some other setups. But it has been published in several places that an error of less than .5 mm is almost a necessity to get the most from a particular arm/cartridge. This doesn't mean that you won't still enjoy what you hear. Perhaps this is something to keep in mind if you ever go looking for a table upgrade.