Mintlp

the setup was done by the dealer when I bought the table..

The Dealer is no-fault , I saw many setting cartridges with the templates inside the TTs or arms and swear the set-up was perfect.
I trust them .. the problem is the impossibility to get the perfection with those templates.

VPI uses a proprietary, single null-point-jig to align the carts on the JMW series arms. I say 'proprietary' since HW has seemed unwilling to release any specifics on how it came to be, though I believe it's meant to skew the inevitable tracking compromise towards lower distortion on the inner grooves.

My experience has been that an arc protractor will provide more satisfying results, but at any rate, you need to learn how to mount a cartridge, for at least two reasons:

*Unless you have a dealer who will come to your home, and mount and adjust the cart on the turntable where it will be permanently situated, and said dealer has a long and revered reputation for doing exacting work, you're (much) better off doing it yourself.

*You shouldn't be going a year without checking your cart adjustment

Thanks again. I had no idea that I needed to check my cartridge alignment annually. Makes sense but I just had never given it any thought.

Well I have ordered mine. with all this talk it should be a fun time.

Hello Hevac1,

As Tvad probably remenbers I was one of the more sceptical about the MintLP Best Tractor used on my Technics SL1210 MKII and we had a long debate here about this relatively new glass template.
Well .. now I'm a MintLP addict :-) and not only I bought the one for the Technics but I also bought one for my Michell Tecnoarm and both worked "Simply Magical" on the SL and on the TW Acustic Raven One .. I guess two very different arms.. don't you agree?