![sme tonearm alignment protractor sme tonearm alignment protractor](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/DdwAAOSwiItftXd0/s-l400.jpg)
Then play your favourite record! If your cartridge wasn’t aligned, you’ll hear the difference immediately and it will also help with stabilising the arm, which means no skipping. This might take a few tries at first but it will be worth it! Once aligned, tighten the mounting hardware until snug. Make any necessary adjustments, then recheck the alignment against both the outer and inner dots/grids. If they don’t, recheck that the stylus overhang has been set correctly, that the headshell is properly attached to the tonearm, and that the stylus is properly attached to the cartridge. They should align to the inner dot/grid without further adjustment. Once you’ve aligned the cartridge to the outer dot/grid, move the tonearm to the inner dot/grid to double-check that the cartridge and stylus align there as well. When done, the cartridge may not necessarily end up being parallel to the headshell. Note that you may need to twist the cartridge slightly in the headshell (when looking down on it from above) to achieve the best alignment to the grid. Provided the stylus tip has been attached properly during manufacturing, the tip will be tangent to the record groove when the cantilever is aligned to the grid. If the cantilever is not easily seen, align the sides of the cartridge body to the lines on the grid instead. Next, align the stylus cantilever to the lines on the grid. This will set the correct stylus overhang.
![sme tonearm alignment protractor sme tonearm alignment protractor](https://www.analogueseduction.net/user/products/large/DSCF5946.jpg)
With the mounting hardware loose enough to allow forward and backward movement of the cartridge in the headshell, position the cartridge to allow the stylus tip to rest on the protractor’s outer dot (the dot farthest from the center spindle). The protractor on our website is suitable for both of these turntables.
![sme tonearm alignment protractor sme tonearm alignment protractor](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/NLUAAOSw8XRftS9j/s-l300.jpg)
For the AT-LP1240-USB Turntable, the effective length is 230 mm. For the AT-LP120-USB turntable, the effective length is 230.5 mm. If you choose to use a different protractor, it is important to select one that is suitable for the effective length of the tonearm on your turntable. Like all two-point protractors, ours has an outer dot/grid and an inner dot/grid. In this case, we are assuming that the cantilever is centred and straight as it relates to the sides of the cartridge. If the stylus cantilever is not easily seen, align the sides of the cartridge body to the lines on the grid instead. The two-point protractor has a dot for the stylus tip to rest on and a grid to which the stylus cantilever (the tube that extends from the cartridge body and has the stylus attached to it) aligns. The LP5 comes with a printed protractor for convenience.
Sme tonearm alignment protractor download#
You can download and print a two-point protractor from our website – just be sure to print the protractor to actual size. A two-point cartridge alignment protractor can help achieve this tangency. These two points are known as null points (points where there is no tracking error). With a pivoted tonearm, it is possible to achieve perfect tangency at only two points as the tonearm travels in an arc across the record. To ensure the most accurate reproduction of the recording, low noise and least amount of wear on the record and stylus, it is important that the stylus is aligned in such a way that its tip remains as tangent to the record groove as possible as it travels across the record. Note that on a turntable that includes a premounted cartridge/stylus the overhang has typically been preset at the factory. Common stylus overhang distances are 15 mm (as is the case for our AT-LP1240-USB Turntable) and 16 mm (for our AT-LP120-USB turntable), but other lengths exist as well. A simple way to set overhang is to use an overhang gauge that has markings in millimetres (mm).
Sme tonearm alignment protractor how to#
Note: Before aligning your cartridge, make sure your turntable is set up properly and the tracking force is adjusted – How to set up your turntable.Īt the very least, the specified stylus overhang (the distance the stylus tip extends beyond the centre spindle when the headshell is positioned directly above the spindle) should be set. There are various tools available for achieving this alignment. Proper alignment of your turntable stylus ensures the most accurate reproduction of the recording and stops it from wearing down prematurely.