Uni-Protractor Set tonearm alignment

Dear Pgtaylor, the SME V's alignment is indeed a very special problem. The Schroeder is different and offers the user a wider range of options.
But back to the SME V, which was when introduced anticipated like no other tonearm ever before or ever after.
The SME V is unique in the sense that it's offset and effective length (at least it’s designers thought so and intended it to be that way...) are fixed and pre-determined. Problem is, that SME Ltd. took for granted that each and every cartridge manufacturer would strictly follow IEC standards regarding stylus-mounting slots distance. Which of course they did not.
Now there is the legendary SME slide base to allow sliding the whole tonearm back and forth. That way the arm kind of "moves to the wanted alignment spot".
In theory....
The fact that the fixed offset angle of the fixed headshell isn't really a feature which eases things in any way did not really appeal to the SME engineers in their strive for setting the technical frontier in tonearm design.
Now can one align the SME V precisely with ANY cartridge mounted ?
Yes.
As long as the protractor reacts to a change in P2S as well as to a change in effective length automatically.
The UNI-Pro individual templates do offer for a given tonearm (and there is a individual UNI-Pro template for the SME V of course) an optimized spot of alignment - the corresponding effective length and ( in the case of the SME V ) the P2S are direct results of the alignment and are automatically generated.
Without any calculation required by the user.
In the case of the SME V (which really is a very special issue) there is however way less options for variations in alignment/calculation curves.
The SME V is a super strict 9"/Baerwald IEC-standard tonearm.
You can't really align him a Loefgren or Stevenson curve with good results.
I hope this answers your question, but you are welcome to get in touch directly in case you have further questions regarding your SME V.
Cheers,
D.

Dear Thom_mackris, indeed, this is rather the fine print in tonearm alignment is may already be well beyond what a good portion of the analog department want to muse or think about.
I just wanted an instrument which provides the best possible universal alignment results with super simple handling and comfortable feeling.
I will continue to design a few devices which will nicely work with and are based upon the UNI-Pro.
A super precise and truly new P2S-measuring tool will be introduced end this month. This will come together with an easy goniometer to determine offset-angle fast, easy and precise.
I am considering this rather an add-on of interest only for a few dedicated audiophiles who really want to study the subject.
Furthermore - also end this month - there will be a special USB-microscope w/strong cold light to be used with the UNI-Pro and which can be exchanged with the magnifier and uses the same cut-out frame on the UNI-Pro's main frame as the magnifier.
This will allow magnification 20x to 200x (similar to the Dino-lite) and will come with all features, adjustable and with software for Linux, Windows and Mac.
Plug and play within 10 minutes.
Allows view of the stylus on the spot on your screen with actual measuring tool and photo option.
This will allow the most enlarged and "recordable" look and will further ease as precise alignment as possible ever to the ones among us who are a bit troubled by eyesight showing our advanced age...;-) ....
Cheers,
D.

"In the case of the SME V (which really is a very special issue) there is however way less options for variations in alignment/calculation curves.
The SME V is a super strict 9"/Baerwald IEC-standard tonearm. "

Is all of this about the V also true of the 309 even though it is a removable headshell?

Anybody know where there is a good comparison of the V vs the IV vs the 309? I am not clear on the differences (other than the 309's removable headshell and the V has dynamic VTF?) and nothing I see on the SME site spells out the differences/advantages of the more expensive versions.

Thanks for any enlightenment you folks can give,
Robert

Thanks a lot, Dertonarm & Thom Mackris
It seems to me that what one really needs to align the SME V is: (i) some device for measuring the actual effective length once you have mounted the cartridge of your choice (this device needs to be very accurate), (ii) some device to allow you to set exactly the right P2S distance (again, this needs to be very accurate), and (iii) a grid that allows you to check cantilever alignment at one of the Baerwald-IEC null points.
If you have all these, then results should be perfect!!!
Best wishes,

Dear Geoch,

back to the roots:

Here you see a record with a last track
cut absolutely to the limit

here is a very modern LP with much more space & a lot of tracks
different cut, different cutting machines

You see, an Alignment with a Nullpoint which is at the beginning of the record and another one in the middle can't be the best one for the first record....
and here is also the reason for different Geometries in Arm Design.

Listen with ...