Dear Halcro: The VE calculator has not the Stevenson alignment that's the one I use to find out the correct overhang/offset angle with that 233mm StoP distance. The VE is forsing/compelling the calculations to achieve 12mm on overhang and that's why you have over 300% higher distortions over Stevenson alignment that's is the one of the three standards with higher overall distortions.
++++ " how do you decide the limit of what distortions are allowable for the rest of us....." +++++
I don't decide nothing I only post my opinion with some facts around.
Sometimes you are angry with me when I said several times that you are hearing and likes high distortions because your cartridge quality performance reviews reflect that you are hearing higher distortions than other persons. That tonearm set up confirm it as many other things and Halcro I never imagine you choosed that higher distortion set up, even that in some ways I had some kind of reason in that distortion overall subject on what you are hearing and I assume you like because is what you are hearing. Tha's all.
What you did is almost as to make a tonearm/cartridge set up at random by " feeling " and with out need of a protractor. I think we use any decent or " stupid " low price ( as Dover said. ) protractor for at least be near of a " perfect " set up in static way. We all know that on playback almost anything tend to change.
Anyway, today I learn something. I hope other gentlemans too.
Regards and enjoy the music,
R.