Alignment tool for SME V + Shelter

That's the point! With an arc-style protractor made for the table/arm combo, there is no need to measure P2S. If you hit the arc, you have the dimensions set. So just finish up with the cart alignment.

That is a lot of "accurates" attributed to the DB, which at best gives a close approximation of what will playback vinyl. :-)

You can easily hear the difference between 1/2 mm off and being even less, off.

Yes, accurate. To be correct I should comment on the basis of precision. Here is where I find the DB to come up short.
Thanks.

It is merely the difference between an arc-style protractor vs. the others that rely on a multi-step process. With an arc-style that is made for a specific effective length and P2S, there is no need to do the extra steps like checking overhang. These extra steps do introduce more error and the effects of those errors do add up. It is faster, and IME, much more accurate and I'm very grateful to those who introduced me to this type of protractor, and more importantly the Best Protractor. As many others have posted around here, Yip simply builds more precision into the Best Protractor.

The results that can be achieved with an arc-style, let alone the Mint, are much easier to realize and repeat. It is simply a better tool. Just compare the steps and movements you must make with the DB. Clunky is the word that comes to mind.

Table/arm. P2s and effective length are not dependent on the cartridge used.

Setting P2S is the responsibility of whoever mounted your arm, quite possibly the 'table manufacturer. So, yes, I can see the need to measure this ONCE when having a protractor made up because you can't really trust that the arm is mounted exactly right.

But then again, this is the beauty of articulating arm boards. You don't have one on your table? Sorry. ;-)

We've, well those who have been paying attention, covered all of this several times before. A search here will turn up past discussions on this. Bye.

Hello again. I realized that with the SME slide mount you can set effective length easily. I suggest people draw themselves a picture so that the relationships between these distances become clear.

Also, I suggest researching arc-style protractors. It is not necessary to check p2s every time you check cartridge alignment because the arc is drawn at the correct effective length and the arc is registered properly by the spindle hole.

Another advantage is that with this type of protractor everything is fixed in place, platter, protractor, etc., so there is no moving of the protractor (ala DB) while you are trying to hit a gnat's ass with the stylus.

The implication that certain arms/tools can provide 'tighter' setup tolerances is just baloney as I see it.

Well, I like baloney. Especially fried. So I guess that the rather large population of A'goners who have achieved better results using both the Wally and MintLP are just delusional?

Nsgarch, I hope you get the chance to try an arc-protractor and even better, a MintLp protractor. A good look and it is easy to see why there are much better tools available. Whatever works for you. :-)

I was hoping that wasn't what you meant, and yeah, I do know better. ;-)

I think of it this way. I can use my framing hammer to do finish trim work, but I can get much better results with a finish hammer.

But I really do like fried baloney! :-)