Vinyl protractor

Some of the protractors posted on the Vinyl Vinyl protractor are specific, some of them are generic. Some of them are Baerwald type, one is Loefgren and two are Stevenson. Simply, the equation you need to solve to find optimal alignment is undetermined: there are too many unknown parameters, vinyl protractor. Baerwald, Loefgren and Stevenson apply different objective constraints to the problem to allow a solution:.

In this article, I will guide you through the simple process of downloading and printing a cartridge alignment protractor pdf for your turntable. I will also provide clear instructions on how to use this tool for precise cartridge alignment. While exploring the web, you may have encountered various free turntable cartridge alignment tools, such as those available on vinylengine. I have personally tested several of these tools, with some delivering outstanding results and others being less effective. The primary challenge is ensuring you select the right one for your specific tonearm. Additionally, different alignment methods like one point, two points, and arc protractors are available.

Vinyl protractor

When you are listening to your vinyl records, any audiophile will notice when their cartridge alignment is out of whack. The sound quality will decrease during playback allowing you to hear a muffled or muddy sound as the tonearm moves the stylus along the inner grooves of the vinyl. When this misalignment begins to occur, the hi-fi sound that you love will quickly diminish. However, there is an alignment tool, called a turntable protractor, used to adjust the tracking force and the alignment of the turntable phono cartridge. Why do you need a cartridge alignment protractor for your turntable? Doing this will stabilize the tonearm and help keep it from skipping during playback. Not adjusting the stylus alignment degrades the sound that you hear over time. If the tracking errors remain, the stylus tip will begin to wear unevenly, creating more distortion during playback. However, there are also downloadable templates that you can find online and use. All you will need to do with a printable turntable protractor is make sure that it is the correct size as the reference scale. If the paper that you print on is slightly off the scale of the effective length of the protractor, then the alignment could be inaccurate. There are cartridge-specific protractors that work to align specific types of cartridges. There are also universal phono cartridge alignment protractors that will work for any type of cartridge mounting. Regardless of the one that you use, the process for each is basically done the same way.

Some of the protractors posted on the Vinyl Engine are specific, some of them are generic. Identical to the Baerwald protractor above but designed using Stevenson null points which gives alignment closer vinyl protractor Regas and is useful when the headshell slots don't give enough room to align your chosen cartridge using the Baerwald design, vinyl protractor.

We have truly universal two-point tools such as the Stupid Protractor, and tonearm specific types for Audiocraft, Helius, Heybrook, Linn, Rega and Thorens, all with easy to follow instructions detailing how to align a cartridge. To determine which protractor is suitable for your tonearm please read Seb's Protractor User Guide and please check scale carefully after printing and resize if necessary. Tonearm Database Mounting dimensions and alignment data for most turntables and tonearms - the original and best! Overhang Shift Calculator Assess the effects of changing stylus overhang while keeping the original angle of the cartridge in the headshell. Simple, accurate and widely compatible. If you aren't sure which type to use and want a free alternative to the common shop bought designs, download this one.

We have truly universal two-point tools such as the Stupid Protractor, and tonearm specific types for Audiocraft, Helius, Heybrook, Linn, Rega and Thorens, all with easy to follow instructions detailing how to align a cartridge. To determine which protractor is suitable for your tonearm please read Seb's Protractor User Guide and please check scale carefully after printing and resize if necessary. Tonearm Database Mounting dimensions and alignment data for most turntables and tonearms - the original and best! Overhang Shift Calculator Assess the effects of changing stylus overhang while keeping the original angle of the cartridge in the headshell. Simple, accurate and widely compatible.

Vinyl protractor

Below are some downloadable PDF arc protractors, used to align a cartridge to various standard null radii. Be sure to choose a protractor that matches your arm or turntable, as the accuracy of these protractors relies on the pivot to spindle distance being correct. There are 2 popular alignment families, known as Baerwald or Lofgren A and Stevenson. The 2 alignment geometries are calculated to minimise tracking error and distortion. Lofgren A or Baerwald alignment spreads the distortion across the surface of the record, resulting in the lowest average distortion figures.

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It would require an effective length of Alternatively you would get slightly lower maximum and average tracing distortion by using the Baerwald Stupid Protractor, but you will end up with If you want a protractor made based on inner and outer groove radius you must supply us the pivot to spindle distance and the inner and outer groove radius of course, specify the above parameters on checkout If you are confused or have any question, write to us, we'll help you. The phono cartridge forms a resonant filter with the input of the phono preamp. The Rega Stevenson protractor may be used by people who would like to align their cartridge the Rega way without using the protractor provided by Rega. Regardless of the one that you use, the process for each is basically done the same way. To be honest I'd be tempted to use an overhang gauge and stick with the standard overhang. An alignment protractor is a tool for aligning the stylus and cantilever of a turntable cartride as precisely as possible to two null points. They don't have a 'sound' as such so if it sounds bad either something else is amiss or you need to double check how you're using the protractor? Using a protractor will allow you to visibly line up your headshell, and listening to your vinyl will help you get the settings even closer. If you want a protractor made based on inner and outer groove radius you must supply us the pivot to spindle distance and the inner and outer groove radius. Which kind of turntable protractor is the best tool for cartridge alignment?

This website offers free phono cartridge alignment protractors and other tools for turntable setup. Generate free custom alignment templates with our arc protractor , 2-point protractor and sightline protractor generators. The cartridge loading and and compliance caclulators will help you choose the right phono cartridge for your preamp and turntable.

If you have the arm mounted as per original spec If your turntable is equipped with a non-standard tonearm, you can measure the tonearm pivot-to-spindle distance manually with care. Alternatively you could use Conrad Hoffman's Arc protractor generator see the thread in the cartridge forum to print out an arc protractor specifically for your arm length - these are quicker to use than a traditional two-point type, but if you go this route be sure to read the instructions carefully. You could use the two-point 'Stupid' Baerwald protractor but I'm guessing there would be little to no benefit in this case as the alignments and distortion plots are so close? Regardless of the one that you use, the process for each is basically done the same way. Alternatively you would get slightly lower maximum and average tracing distortion by using the Baerwald Stupid Protractor, but you will end up with Some of them are Baerwald type, one is Loefgren and two are Stevenson. Hmm, not that easy. On the market, there is such a big choice of new and vintage equipment, most are on factory specifications, but many are custom built. If the stylus follows the arc, if the cartridge body is aligned with a set of lines, if your mounting distance is the one specified by the protractor, then, the cartridge body must be aligned with the second set of lines. Conclusion: null point pairs measured from the centre of the record are different because of the added constraints:. Once the protractor is in place, it will lay on the platter just like a record so that you can easily measure and align the cartridge body. Privacy Policy Legal notice. Overhang is the amount the stylus tip overhangs the centre of the spindle once aligned - standard this is 15mm, but using a Baerwald protractor you will end up with Read the instructions for the Technics Arc protractor above for the correct procedure.