A Copernican View of the Turntable System

Lewm: I hope that armor plating doesn't shield you from the truth, because here's some coming at you.

I aligned my cart with a Mint protractor around a week ago. Your post and my previous concerns prompted me to check alignment just now. It's dead on. I used a 10x loupe. I must say I'm slightly surprised by this, but in my mind this is pretty conclusive as to the stability of the Copernican system.

The Dynavector DV-505 (and its later 507 version) has alway enticed me because of its distinctly architectonic appearance?
I have never though, read a really thorough review of its performance vis-a-vis other tonearms?
It would be good to hear your impressions?

Hi Henry – I will be posting tonearm and drive impressions on my system page. BTW - I thought that was a very interesting comparison of the Raven 3 motor BD versus JVC DD you did on your system page.

I did a/b the DV505 with the ET 2.5 on pods already using the sp10 which I believe the dv505 was designed for. The dv505 was not using the same cartridge as the ET which had the empire 4000 diii gold on it. So I will hold off on what I heard. I am waiting for another empire cartridge from a member here but the delivery got botched up so I am still waiting for it. Thought I would have it in time for when I got back from vacation.

So - for the “older thinkers” out there I mounted my second ET the smaller brother version 2.0 on the Lenco along with the Dv505.

Lenco 75 Dv505 Et 2

They will both be using Empire 4000 diii Gold. If it does good against the 2.5’s little brother will try it against the ET 2.5 again. Mechanics, magnets, strings and funny hanging stuff up against a frictionless air bearing linear tracker.

Lew - do you have the Dynavector stylus / spindle alignment gauge?

Cheers Chris

Dear DT, It's relevant to this thread only in that it points out the critical nature of tonearm alignment for those who wish to use outboard arm pods that are free to move about in relation to the tt spindle. (I will now don my armor plating.)

I totally agree Lew that where the stylus "hits the road" is the most important thing for tonearm alignment. And after reading the last half dozen posts here about pivot arm stylus "driving problems" it really doesn't get any easier than this. IMO "I rest my case" as Nikola would say ?

Stylus on the Road :>)

Hi Chris,
Glad to see that you have mastered the A'gon 'Link' bracketing system :^)
Not very easy at first?
Cheers
Henry

Dear Lewm, while tonearm alignment in general is the most critical mechanic-related topic in the whole audio periphery, it is even more critical in the "outboard arm pod".
We like to think that if we do not "touch" the arm pod nor the tt by accident, the distance between the pivot and the spindle will stay constant if the arm pod has any decent mass.
Unfortunately this is not the case.
The "eigen"/resonance frequency of the two different masses in relation to each other will inevitably cause a movement between the tt and the "free" arm pod.
Or mechanical world isn't as quite and stable as it seems to the mere eye.
It is a bit like the nice example with old church windows.
Glass is a liquid not a solid. It just appears to be solid, because it is moving so slowly, that we can't see it.
The movements of arm pod (separate and not fixed to the solid ground) in relation to the turntable is ever so subtle ( at least in our awareness ..), but there is almost constant movement in microscopic dimensions.
Now the polished area of the stylus itself, as well as the most subtle modulations in the groove are already in the scale of 1/1000 of a millimeter.

You stepping on the ground while walking, a car passing by your house, the slamming of a door, a truck passing 3 blocks away from you - all this and much more is causing movement of your "free" arm pod relative to the turntable and as such a movement of the pivot in relation to the spindle.

Nothing apparent to ou eyes at first glance of course.

In addition, there is the chain of mechanical "detonations" by the tracking process of your stylus in the groove. It puts energy into tonearm, arm pod and turntable - all causing movement.
The energy of the tracking process is causing resonance and stimulating movement.
All this is subtle and you most likely won't notice anything.
With an electron microscope you would even see and could measure the movement. Not linear nor in a particular direction.
A "free" arm pod is what it is: - free ..... to move.
Forced by nature.
Cheers,
D.