2. analog
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Cartridge alignment, WallyTractor, SmartTractor, oscilloscope and Analogmaigk.

I am building my new system in my second home in the US which I use only when I go to the US to work, and I will not have the benefit of having my partner and analog guru with me when I set up my table there. 

To be clear she much rather have a new cartridge, tonearm, table or phono amp than nice jewelry, shoes or dresses, and 2 of the best hifi stores in the area are always asking for her opinion and sometimes to set up tables. 
Until now, all I had to do was to put my record on the table of her choice, and enjoy the music. 

 During our dinner with her, we were discussing,  what should I be doing and what tools to bring with me. I am an a mathematician  and work with electrical engineers so I understand numbers so I like the idea of an oscilloscope and Analogmagik and I have done quite a few setups with the WallyTractor before I met her, but she swears by the SmartTractor and claims that the SmartTractor is more accurate, simpler and flexible.

My question then is, what is your opinion on the 2 protractors?
Please do  not add another different one, I am not going to buy another one. :) 

In her opinion the  UNI  alignment is superior to the new record in the Wally, and since pivot to spindle is never identical, the SmartTractor does a better job as it actually takes into account for those imperfections/discrepancies in the spindle to pivot distances, while the Wally does not. 

If I am going to face the firing squad, I want to have some good different concepts.

I apologize for my English, until a few months ago I never discussed Hifi in English. 


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Showing 2 responses by mijostyn

mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,243 posts
 
I bought the SmarTractor. It is a more finely made device than the others with an excellent magnifier.  It gives you all the major alignments and once you are used to it is a breeze to use.

I politely disagree with your guru. I use Lofgren B and here is the logic. It gives you the least average tracking error from the edge of the record down to 75 mm. Perhaps one in ten records continues in closer than 75 mm. People will say "but, that is where the crescendos are."  How many records do we play that actually have crescendos in closer than 75 mm.
I will venture to say very few. Get a 6" millimeter rule and measure every record you play for a month and tally the score. 

Both Marc Gomez and Michael Fremer I believe are also now using Lofgren B.  

To be perfectly honest I can not hear a difference between Lofgren A or B and have not tried Uni Din at all.
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,243 posts
 

Once the Smartractor is adjusted for the alignment you want and there are 5 alignments, each one with it's own gauge, it is a breeze to adjust overhang and offset angle. The SmarTractor is the best to use because of the very fine gradations with the optical clarity of it's mirrored surface. It is so much easier to see what you are doing I did not have to use the magnifier even though it works a treat. It also accurately measures P2S distance. I used it to mark the spot for drilling the tonearm board. I have no complaints with it. I was not crazy about the price but after using it I have to say it is worth it. It is a precision device. 

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