Tonearm alignment question

It may be, though there are many other possible causes.

With regard to S2P and cartridge alignment, my broadest experience is with a TriPlanar VII tonearm using:

1. a universal protractor that allows tolerably accurate Baerwald cartridge alignment even if S2P is off; and

2. a "Mint" arc protractor custom made for the tonearm; it only works if S2P is accurate and it allows extremely precise Baerwald alignment (orders of magnitude finer than the TTB).

The sound when aligned with the Mint is much less distorted and the vast majority of Mint owners report the same thing, with any tonearm, so there is something to it.

I gather there's some reason your tonearm isn't/can't be mounted at the design distance?

This distance tonearm mounting error can and will be corrected when time permits. For the interim, I have adjusted the cartridge in the headshell to compensate for the error as Brf suggested. Unfortunately, I'm still experiencing mistracking with this adjustment. I guess I will not really know the answer until the tonearm is back at it's proper mounting distance.

Thanks for the useful info Dougdeacon. Sounds like the Mint Arc Protractor is a worthy investment, and one that I will consider. I'm currently using the Graham Phantom custom alignment tool provided with the tonearm and a Turntable Basics alignment tool as a check.

I would recommend correcting the tonearm S2P distance sooner rather than later. You may be causing groove damage with an improperly aligned cartridge.

I have a MINT protractor. HIghly recommended. Definitely the best $100 I've spent on my analog chain. Doug's ME stylus cleaner is right up there too as far as value and effectiveness go.

Taylor,

Nice tonearm! The Phantom is at least the equal of my TriPlanar (arguably better). It will reward the best setup you can do.

I hope you have the the newly redesigned Graham tool that adjusts for the height of the cartridge. The original tool didn't, which severely impaired its accuracy. The new one's an improvement but it still can't match the results obtainable with a fine arc protractor.

I own two TTB protractors and they don't even match each other. Even if they did, they're blunt instruments vs. the micro-surgical precision of the Mint.

Get the MintLP for your table Graham arm configuration. I can tell you from experience that the Graham jig has some error in it and cannot get anywhere near the alignment accuracy of the Mint LP arc protractor.