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Anxiety help needed. New instal of Hana ML

Good morning everyone. Last evening I finally got around to installing my brand new Hana ML. I installed it on my MOFI Ultra deck using the Dr. F protractor. All went well despite my coffee fueled sausage fingers. I really took my time to get the alignment right, checking and re-checking. I left the stylus guard on while installing onto the head shell and wiring. Took it off obviously to use the protractor.

I hooked up the TT to my Parasound JC3 jr. and fired things up for a quick listen. I was completely blown away to say the least. Put on John Lee Hooker "The Healer" and it knocked my jaw clean off.

What gave me some restless sleep? The fact that the cantilever just looks like it’s ever so slightly oriented to the left as you view the front of the cart. I mean maybe a couple red hairs.. I didn’t notice any sound difference left or right, no increase or decrease, no hint of distortion either.

Please tell me to just take my Lexapro and drink my coffee and relax. That’s all I’m asking.

Thank you,

Dumb Doug

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Showing 2 responses by mulveling

mulveling's avatar
mulveling
1,774 posts
 

I have an Ortofon Cadenza Bronze that’s visibly skewed, certainly by more than a couple hairs. Align for the cantilever, and it sounds great. I know because I had another one with perfectly straight cantilever. If it starts drifting a lot then you’ve got a problem, but as its stands enjoy the fact you’ve got a great sounding cart. If the channel balance L/R is perfect, that’s the important thing!

mulveling's avatar
mulveling
1,774 posts
 

Looks about perfect to me. Use your ears as your guide, at this point. The flat crimped part on these aluminum cantilevers may sometimes be a bit contorted, and might make things look a bit off kilter, even if the stylus is pretty well aligned. You can’t judge by the crimp. Boron cantilevers retain their shape through the mounting area, and perhaps make it easier to focus on the stylus itself.

I was really anxious too when I started the vinyl hobby too. Form good habits now (safety and awareness around turntable, good cleaning regimen), make them 2nd nature, and also learn to relax about "what could be wrong". If it sounds good, it is good. 

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