A Copernican View of the Turntable System

Syntax, I presume that digital level also reads 0.0, 0.0 while it rests on the platter.

I would like to know a way to measure how truly vertical the arm shaft is. Any variation in this would be pretty bad for the stylus as it moves along an LP. A uni pivot bearing would not be as problematic as a gimbal arm.

Thanks for that photo of the Micro armboard Syntax.
For many years I have been sceptical of the Micro Seiki method of attaching their cantilevered armboards like this as it relies purely on a friction fixing which structurally is not the best method for a cantilever.
Now however I understand that by doing it this way.......one is able to adjust the absolute 'level' of each armboard which is not possible with a fixing method like that used for the Ravens

This once again reinforces how much expertise and knowledge has been lost since the golden days of dedicated analogue companies?

Halcro -
The easy way for you to fix the issue is to get 3 holes cut and threaded for machine screws ( grub style ) around the outside of the centre bolt in the arm board as wide as possible ( maybe just inside the edge of the tower.
Get some machine grub screws and get your engineer to put a fine radius tip on each.
That way you can level the armboard with the 3 tiptoes and just use the centre bolt to lock it down. You could go to a nylon centre bolt to get a 3 point mechanical diode if you like.
You can also check if the vertical bearings are parallel to the platter and adjust if necessary for errors in the arm with this system.

That's a clever idea Dover.
Thanks :-)

Dear Halcrop: Not big deal. A design mistake in the Raven means only that but I think that's not the rule. I just checked ( because your post ) my two AS that use three arm boards each one cantilevered type atached at the down plate of the plinth: all six arm boards are leveled with the platter and plinth and the motor too.

The Lewm statement about in theory is absolute right, things are is that our ears can't perceive any " error/distortions " with our stand alone arm board/towers. Such is life.

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.