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Review of the SMARTractor and SMARTstylus

I mounted an AudioTechnica VM95ML on the Sota for it's new owner using these tools for the first time.

The Acoustical Systems SMARTractor: On taking the unit out of it's box you immediately get the feeling you are dealing with a fine precision instrument. Construction quality is through the roof. It is child's play to set it up. The only kink I ran into. It was very difficult to push the locator pin (points to the vertical axis of the horizontal bearing) through the beam. I had to tap it with a small hammer. The grub screw was backed way out. The nylon plunger used to prevent marring the stainless steel was a very tight fit. 
You set the alignment by removing the pillar's locating screw then twist the pillar lining the index mark with the line labeled  with the alignment you want. I chose Lofgren B. You the place it on the platter which you should lock in place, line up the locator pin with the horizontal bearing and lock the beam in place. The Syrinx made this easy as it has a perfect dimple right over the horizontal axis. Next you place the magnifier in it's bracket and line it up with the Lofgren B grid. The grid lines are super fine and close together. They literally light up on the mirrored surface. Super easy to see.
You line up the cross hair with the targeting grid on the mirror. This puts your sight line right down the cantilever and boy does it work! The magnifier makes it darn easy for old eyes to line things up perfectly. 

Now for the SMARTstylus. This is just a piece of plexy with four sets of grid lines, vertical, horizontal and SRA, and VTA. It comes with it's own hand held magnifier. It looks well made. It is also close to worthless with an offset arm that has a permanent finger lift. Both the offset and the finger lift keep you from getting it close enough and angled correctly to the cantilever. I will try it again with the Schroder which does not have a finger lift. 

In short, the SMARTractor is a brilliant, well thought out devise manufactured to the highest standard. It is handily the most accurate, easiest to use cartridge alignment tool I have ever used. Is it worth $700? I have to say that if you love vinyl and want to be sure your cartridge is dead on, Yes absolutely. On the other hand at this time I have to say that the SMARTstylus is a waste of money. The VM95ML? Darn! It punches way above it's price point. It is handily the best sounding under $200 cartridge I have ever used. It is neutral, tracks well and is very quiet. It is as quiet as my $2000 Charisma. If you are after a MM cartridge in this price range you can not go wrong. You can be perfectly comfortable buying it blind.  

Hope this helps people,
Mike

mijostyn

Showing 10 responses by mijostyn

mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn OP
8,570 posts
 
Only my older classical records venture into the territory where Lofgren B starts seriously losing out to A. I'll have to play some of those older records to see if I can here it. Throughout the middle of the record B is superior. A is superior over the outer 1/3rd but this is where groove speeds are highest and the distortion lowest. Over the entire side I get the impression that B is better but I can not say at this time that it is not psychological. 
I do things that at least have a plausible reason for working. Some things make obvious improvements there is no arguing with. The last such change in my system was getting the JC 1's. I got the magic of my long gone Krell KMA 100's and more. The lesson being you just do not put any old amp on ESLs. Go with the proven performers. If I think I hear an improvement but I'm not totally sure than I always discount it as psychological. If whatever has a plausible benefit than I am happy with it. An example would be shielded power cords. If whatever has marketing that is obviously contrived and a form that does not follow any function what so ever I am perfectly fine putting it in the scam category and telling others what I think of it. Such is the Hallograph. Watch, they will not be around long. Then the same clowns will come up with something else. This is exactly what the pharmaceutical industry does. 
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn OP
8,570 posts
 
@rauliruegas  But Raul, my meager brain thinks Lofgren B sounds better overall. Maybe it is just because I set it with the SmarTractor. Your not going to argue with my ears are you? That would call for an extreme emotional discharge and even some name calling.
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn OP
8,570 posts
 
Good, Are we buddies again?

I think both of you have a lot to add to the conversation let not lose hair over it. 

Think, most people do not know what P2S means. They do not mount their tonearms. They just follow the directions and jigs given to them with the turntable if they ever try to change the cartridge themselves. 
The SmarTractor would probably give them a headache.

By the way, Lofgren B is the way to go:-)
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn OP
8,570 posts
 
@rauliruegas , Your last statement is almost right on. If you have a neutral balance arm VTF will not change over warps like VTA. Best solution is a vacuum table. 

If you mount the cartridge bad enough  you will only have one null point over the playing surface of the record. The other null point may be over the label or off the rim of the record. I think this is what Lewm meant. But, I am not sure if you can get both null points off the record. I'll have to think about that.

The change in VTA between a normal record and a 200 gm record is a fraction of a degree. If you increase the VTA by just an inaudible smidge on a 130 gm record you will cover all eventualities. You are right. It is nothing to get anal about (coming from the mouth of the guy that just bought a SmarTractor). 
One thing about the SmarTractor, it is a pretty thing to examine. Fastidious detail. 
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn OP
8,570 posts
 
You certainly do hear it if the cartridge is off as you not only increase tracking angle error but you also can change skating forces. To hear it you need a system that images well.
For yuks just mount a cartridge way off, say forward and twisted 5 degrees. Listen to this to hear the effect then compare it to the cartridge set up correctly. That effect occurs in degrees. Dynamic range drops and the high end looses it's luster. The image becomes a little blurry. 
The real question is can you hear the difference between a cartridge that is right on and a linear tracker? It would be fun to set up a Schroder LT and make that comparison. 
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn OP
8,570 posts
 
If I were to do it I would ask for a $600 deposit and would refund $525 when the device is returned without damage. You pay for return shipping.
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn OP
8,570 posts
 
nrenter, funny you should mention that! My thought exactly. The box the SmarTractor comes in is quite sturdy. Dealers could rent it to customers easily with a deposit to cover loss or damage. I was thinking about doing just that. But, the problem is for people far away shipping charges plus the rental fee would still come to a sizable expense. If people are located near by and can come and pick it up that would be reasonable.
Otherwise, dealers should have it to set up customer's turntables to their favorite alignment. 
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn OP
8,570 posts
 
@lewm , Hey lewm would you like to comment on cleeds statement above?
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn OP
8,570 posts
 
@millercarbon, You surprise me! King of the cable elevators does not care about tracking error? What about azimuth? Not important?
I set up someone else's $170 cartridge with my $700 alignment jig. I would think that a noble thing to do, no? As for SRA, that is best set up with a USB microscope at 92 degrees which with the new styli like the Gyger S, The replicant 100 and Soundsmith's OCL is very easy to see. 
You are entitled to mess around with your ears. I will mess around with my tools thank you.
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn OP
8,570 posts
 
@chayro There is a little trick you can use on many arms. Take a fine point sharpi and place the tip on the point where you think the axis is. While holding it there move the tonearm over the spindle. If you are right on the mark you will have just a dot left. If you are off the Sharpi will draw a semicircle which will point to where the axis is. Now repeat the process till you are left with just a dot. 
Fortunately for me the Schroder arm has a dimple to aim at. 
In studying the various alignments it does not take much to be way off in either overhang or offset angle. Getting it right using a cardboard over hang gauge is a matter of luck and the weather. The DB Systems Protractor gets you a little closer but the SMARTractor gets you reliably as close as you can get. Eventually I am going to record files of the various alignments and one purposely way out to see what the sonic differences are.  
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