Dear Dgob: +++++ " The owner's manual asserts that on a Sony tonearm overhang error of +/- 3mm (!) is not a problem for it's "practical use" " +++++
++++ " It is a thinking shared by Glanz and Nagaoka ... " +++++
I think I did not made clear my take down there:
the cartridge integrated headshell designs had its " euphoria " ( marketing more than any other real meaning. ) at the end of the 70's early 80's.
I was " infected " by that market euphoria and even that I owned the stand alone model I bought it the " new and better " integrated one ( I still own a FR one. ) and for many years I live thinking that the integrated ones was the best road to go.
Why accepted that marketing " hype "? IMHO for the same reasons that some of the manufacturers had when they started with those designs: ignorance, in my case " full ignorance " and maybe in some cartridge manufacturers: part ignorance, part marketing$$$$ and part don't be aware of the critical importance in any cartridge alignment/set up.
Please tell me any one of you when was the first time/year that you be aware of the importance and the why's of: Baerwald, Stevenson, Löfgren, etc., when you was really aware of the importance to match the cartridge to the right tonearm/headshell, when you was really aware of the importance of VTA/SRA/VTF/AZ/Overhang and accuracy in all those parameters, when was the very first time that you read a cartridge/tonearm review where the reviewer made it emphasis on all those critical cartridge/tonearm alignment/set up, when was the very first time that you read from any single cartridge designer about, when you heard for the first time that an audio dealer/distributor talked in that way?????when???????
IMHO today any one of us are truly aware of all those subjects in a way that no one in those old times been and many times not because they as " professionals " don't know about but because they did not gives the importance level it has.
Take that Sony statement: " +,- 3mm. " this means that 6mm on overhang makes no difference but we all know it makes a whole and huge difference for the better or bad.
Why am I still with the FR integrated design?, because sounds good but even that I can't be sticky with a cartridge where I can't improve its performance due to set up cartridge limitations when exist ( in my case I own. ) almost endless cartridge alternatives that outperform my FR, the Glanz, the Yamaha or AT integrated ones.
I always support and supported that the best way to improve any audio system and any audio cartridge signal is. TO LOSE AND ADD THE LESS. A wrong cartridge set up permit that I " lose and add " not the less but the " more ".
My target my main target is to have the lower distortions( any kind. ) in my audio system and the cartridge integrated headshell designs IMHO can't help me to achieve that main target. Remember that to " lose and add the less " accuracy is a critical factor to achieve it. This was and is our Essential target when designed.
Fortunately I have an " adventure audio attitude " that permit me till today learn each single day and that permit me discovery new roads and new alternatives in favor of music.
I understand you about but I already left behind that audio stage of my audio life. Almost everyone pass through the same audio stages trhough our audio life, well I already passed there as I'm sure you will pass it sooner or latter.
In the other side each one of us like different kind of audio system distortions and things are that I like different distortions you like.
Regards and enjoy the music,
R.
