Best Catridge Alignment for Technics S-Arm

[Saket]

Hello folks,

Will be sitting to re-assemble my TT back; the final & again a crucial stage. Now since it was dismantled completely and more importantly the tone arm, now it will require a proper alignment. Also the headshell will be changed, hence this will further push the need of alignment.

Kindly suggest me the best protractor or any other method that I can use to align the cartridge. Also, do let me know how do I check the VTA and other parameters; if any like the stylus alignment?

The turntable uses the Technics S-shaped arm with original black Technics headshell.

 

[sachu888]

Stevenson works best for Technics arms.I have had good results with Stevenson and Stupid protractors available at vinylengine.

Regards,
Sachin

 

[jls001]

For VTA adjustment, here's how to make and use a quick and dirty DIY VTA "meter":

1) open MS Excel
2) Select Column A, right click with your cursor above the letter A (above row 1) --> Column Width --> enter 128
3) Select Rows 1 to 20, and with multiple selection, right click with your cursor above the row numbers (any of the selected row will do) --> Row height --> make it 7.5
4) Select these 20 rows --> give the 1 col x 20 row table border on all sides
5) Print it
6) Cut the printed area, and glue it carefully to thicker paper. You now have a series of horizontal lines which can be placed behind the tonearm, on top of the record surface.
7) Carefully and gently place arm on record surface, so that the stylus rests on the record surface. Do not play record. See if bottom of tonearm arm tube is parallel to the lines on your printed paper.
8) Raise or lower the arm mounting as required till the arm tube becomes parallel to the lines.

 

[jls001]

This page is a must read: Phono CARTRIDGE Mounting, TONEARM Alignment TOOL, TURNTABLE Set-Up, VTA, LTA, Adjustment of BIAS Compensation.

 

[Saket]

Stevenson works best for Technics arms.I have had good results with Stevenson and Stupid protractors available at vinylengine.

Regards,
Sachin

Thanks Sachin. The website seems to be down since morning. Will get that and hopefully the method used must be available at youtube.

For VTA adjustment, here's how to make and use a quick and dirty DIY VTA "meter":

Hey jls,

That's a cool DIY. Easy & quick. Will check that experiment.
Thanks,
Saket

 

[sachu888]

This should be useful too Setting Cartridge alignment using a Two Point Protractor - bkearns - Vinyl Asylum

Regards,
Sachin

 

[kuruvilajacob]

Technics has their own cartridge alignment tool provided with new TTs. I had seen it with the SL 1210 I had got in box packing some years ago. It may be possible to buy it online

 

[Saket]

Yes sir, Technics had its own tool, but thought of accomplishing the purpose by using some DIY or free protractors online

 

[jls001]

A definitive article on turntable setup is by Keith Howard: Arc Angles: Optimizing Tonearm Geometry | Stereophile.com

The article gets dense and technical at times. As per this article, the correct over hang for a cartridge is 16.43 mm.

The author's website is: Welcome to Audiosignal

 

[Saket]

Also, as I read, the correct distance between the stylus tip and the rubber washer on the headshell is 52mm for the technics.

 

[murali_n]

Also, as I read, the correct distance between the stylus tip and the rubber washer on the headshell is 52mm for the technics.

Hi,

It is 51.50 mm if I am not wrong

N.Murali