Off center stylus - Does this affect sonics ??????

I don't even want to think about this. If you mean that the stylus cantilever is not parallel to the sides of the cartridge body, how do you align the cartridge? Did you install at a slight angle so that the cantilever, but not the body of the cartridge, is parallel to the little lines on whatever protractor you use?

To the extent that the offcenteredness affects the alignment of the stylus relative to the record you are playing, yes it will affect sonics, and maybe damage your records.

YW. It seems you did the right thing under the circumstances, but cantilevers are usually tapered, so it must be very difficult to align. But there's more. Without seeing it in person I would be a little worried about it leaning a little one way or the other and about a potential affect on compliance and the tracking and tracing performance of the cartridge in general. The cartridge is not designed to be put into use in that condition, so I'd follow Sean's advice and take it back. If they are unwilling to take it back, do they have a serious test lp to use with an oscilliscope?

Paul