Cart not parallel after Mint LP alignment?

Why the MintLP seems to us better when it is not?, IMHO because when we use it what we do we do with more accuracy,

I don't think that anyone who uses a Mint LP protractor has every claimed it to do anything more than this. This is pretty much what I replied to Hesson11 back on 4/22.

Assuming a protractor is properly drawn, an arc is an arc is an arc. The Mint is simply made to more precise tolerances. That's it. Nothing more.

Can someone do just as well with any other protractor? Absolutely. Those of us who chose to use the Mint do so because it is easier to be precise, and to repeat that precision such as it is.

Hi VP,

I've been watching this thread and would like to offer that I have been waiting for this moment when you might catch on that there is more to this vinyl thing than just following the crowd or picking up the latest doo-whacky. ;-) I don't mean to sound like I'm putting you down, but your first post wreaked of someone who jumped without understanding.

Not to worry! I've been there myself, which is why I can appreciate your learning experience.

I think a man has just begun learned to fish for himself.

Loud applause would be called for here!

Bob, with the Mint LP, it isn't so much a question of which alignment geometry is better, Baerwald, Stevenson, Lofgren. It is the fact that the Mint facilitates a more precise cartridge alignment.

OOOOOO! You just lost your accolades, VP. Back to school for you. ;-) I won't waste any of my time with ye. Bye.

Please take Raul's advice if all you are going to do is come back and tell the vast majority of us we must be daft, or can't hear, or have no experience, etc, etc!

IMHO there is no black magic or moon rocket " secret " in tonearm/cartridge accurate set up like some people think.

I am still trying to find where anyone ever said anything like that.

Raul,

Well, if people are carried away with hyperbole then that is their problem. No one that I know has ever said anything but how the Mint is simply a better tool because of the precision, not because there is some new math theory. I don't find that, but then I'm not looking for it. Absolutely, no magic. The Mint is just a simple, arc style protractor made to a more precise specification.

You love that word, distortion. Sure, hitting the absolute perfect alignment is in reality impossible. The precision of the Mint is all about minimizing distortion. So I guess if I think a minute I can find a connection between the results I, (and many, many others), get with using the Mint as simply choosing one form of distortion over another.

I was absolutely sincere when I posted that I hope people will contact you, or someone, or do their own research about what I think is basic cartridge alignment before coming here with threads on how/why their cart is twisted in the headshell. If the OP had done that, we wouldn't be getting this attitude of how it must be all of us who are just bleating sheep with no ears or minds of our own.

I'm really sorry you feel like I'm "after" you in some way. I don't follow you, or your threads, or your posts. From time to time we cross paths. If you feel like I'm after you, then perhaps it is you who needs to grow some thicker skin.

Feeling is mutual, Raul.

VP, you can find all kinds of basic information on the web about the different alignment geometries. No need to go through the math, necessarily. Just the basic overview of each would have explained why your cartridge may be twisted by aligning to a different geometry than the arm was designed for. Others tried to point this out to you.

There is no snake oil here. No exaggerations on findings, and I do know that you are not the first to report not being able to improve your cart's alignment by using the Mint. It could be that your previous alignment was good enough, it could be that there is a problem in your system with resolution. Just a suggestion. I can't really say because I've not heard your system.

I have listened to music with Raul and I know that my hearing is at least as good as his. According to Raul, for instance, I already have both hands tied behind my back because I prefer the "distortion" of "equalizer" tubes to SS. Raul does have a lot of experience and can offer much advice to those who want it.

The Mint is a very good tool that many of us would not be without because we have all found benefit in our systems by using a more precise protractor. Was it huge? No. Probably along the lines of a cable upgrade, but the reduction in error in alignment is palpable no matter what protractor one uses. The "magic" comes from more of the music getting through due to reduced tracking error.

Obviously, we are all free to setup our systems in any way we chose. But however we chose, this does not invalidate what results others may get from completely different methods.