Cartridge position on headshell . . .

I am not clear you do have the overhang set correctly.  Why do you say you HAD TO MOVE THE CARTRIDGE FORWARD to allow space for the connections??

In terms of frontward or backward movement in the headshell, there is only one correct position - the one that gives the correct overhand.  If you set that correctly then the cartridge ends up where it ends up.  If there isn't space for the connections then you're stuffed - get a shorter cartridge or an arm with a longer headshell.

@mwh777   Agree.  Can't understand why some arm manufacturers don't design heashells that fit cartridges.  I remember the Ittok/Asak.  Asak was just about the shortest carteidge I have ever seen and the headshell matched it.  I guess Linn didn't want people buying someone else's cart.  Anyhow I sold my Linn about 35 years ago and bought a Zeta that fits most carts.

Looking at images of your tonearm and your description of the lack of space between the back of the cartridge and the wiring leads reminds me of the big headache with most Linn tonearms. Small head shell. Some cartridges are just too big to fit on small head shells. Maybe that's what you are up against.

If the stylus is at different location, in relation to the headshell, that the previous cartridge that would indicate that one of the cartridges was not placed correctly or maybe even both.

How about the cartridges are different sizes? Rather obviously the stylus will require the cart to be mounted slightly differently if the cartridge body and stylus placement differ!

This is one of the advantages of the better SME arms, only two holes for the cartridge bolts, and the whole arm slides back and forth to allow overhang adjustment. It is a lot easier that way.

Overhang is about the easiest measured and least important thing.
If it was so important, then why would Bayerwald, and the other alignments have millimetres of difference?

VTF is important too.

There is also SRA/VTA, Azimuth and Zenith.
Zenith seems particularly difficult.

to start you need to know 3 things about your arm and cartridge

1. overhang (specs about the arm)

2. two null points (specs about the arm)

3. cartridge tracking force (specs about the cartridge).

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scroll down in this discussion, I just posted about cartridge alignment, and the tools needed to do that.

Overhang will determine the placement of the cartridge in the head shell - you get what you get

I thought I had overhang correct when using a paper protractor.   It just didn't sound right to me and I bought the MoFi Geodisc and my cartridge sounds way better.  I was clearly off trying to set overhang by eye 

My Dennesen Soundtractor tells me that my Alphason Arm wants my Hana cartridge to sit a bit forward of the head shell, with a bit of bare cartridge top being visible. It was the same way when I had a Lyra Delos. Tracking and fidelity have never been less than excellent, either. In other words, don't worry. Be happy.

If the stylus is at different location, in relation to the headshell, that the previous cartridge that would indicate that one of the cartridges was not placed correctly or maybe even both.

Yes, had used the alignment device and set this up properly.

Its just not having this particular setup playout this way before, started wondering if any issue with having the overhang even if I obtain proper alignment.

You need an overhang/cartridge alignment protractor that aligns the cartridge for proper overhang. It connects to your spindle, and move the cart back or forward so the cart is aligned with the protractor grid at two given points marked on the protractor, not skewed from the grid. To achieve this, you also do not want the cartridge skewed at the head shell mount either. Moving the cart back or forward will get the alignment correct at those two points. If they are not, your cartridge will be out of alignment. 

You might find one locally, or as example, can get one from Hudson HIFI, or similar.

There are much more complex protractors, but I would at least get a basic one for about $10 to get started. 

terra3

... this is the first cartridge I've had that had to be placed so that it under hangs slightly forward of the edge of the front of the headshell.  Reason isn't weight balance, but rather the limited space available at the rear of the cartridge for the tonearm cables to connect ...

You're referring to overhang, which should be set using a phono alignment gauge. Have you done that?