Set Overhang on arm w/adjustable tracking angle

Garibaldi,

You may not have set up many cartridges but you came to a good place. There are many experienced vinyl-philes here. I've set up several arms with single-point mounting schemes like your Satisfy. It's actually easier than a two-slot headshell once you get the hang of it, but it does need some practice.

I don't think I can set the overhang unless the Lofgren alignment is achieved, but I can't set the Lofgren alignment until the overhang is measured... Is this a case where I just have to adjust both alignment and overhang until I measure 14mm overhang and the correct Lofgren alignment?

That's exactly right. Overhang and zenith angle (what you're calling "tracking angle") are interdependent. Changing one alters the other and vice-versa, so we adjust them iteratively:

1. Adjust one parameter
2. Check both parameters after each adjustment
3. Adjust whichever one is more out of whack
4. Repeat steps 2-3 as many times as necessary; you'll find yourself making progressively smaller adjustments as you zero in toward ideal alignment

(Yes, it's possible to tweak one parameter while simultaneously counter-tweaking the other to compensate... this may come with practice.)

IMPORTANT - what tools are you using? Trying to align a cartridge without a suitable alignment protractor is nearly impossible.

The easiest-to-use and most accurate protractors are called "arc protractors". They include a printed or scribed arc that the stylus should follow as the arm swings across the record. They also include several alignment grids spaced along the arc. Once overhang is right (i.e., the stylus is accurately tracing the arc), set the stylus on the grid, view from the front and twist until the cantilever is square to the grid. Voila!

Free downloadable/printable arc protractors for many tonearms are posted at vinylengine.com. For a higher quality result, you can purchase a first class protractor from MintLP.com. Many here (including me) use Mint protractors with excellent results on a wide variety of tonearms. If you had a good arc protractor, all your questions would be answered. :-)

Hope this was helpful...

Peter,

Good thought. If one is lucky enough to have a cartridge whose stylus falls directly beneath the axis of rotation of the tonearm's mounting plate, rotating the cartridge would not affect overhang/eff. length. Unfortunately (as I'm sure you know), there's no standard for cantilever length, so having this happen is a matter of luck.

Fully agree on the advantages of the Mint for zenith alignment. No protractor I've used comes close in this regard (a Wally might, but I've not used that one).

John,

Sadly, a tonearm designer has no way to predict where a stylus will fall relative to the mounting hole(s). Cantilever lengths vary from one cartridge to another.

GP,

Sorry to hear of your mishap... ouch!

FWIW, the protractor Clearaudio supplied pretty much guarantees imprecise results. It's very difficult to ascertain whether you're sighting along the correct axes when centering the armwand or when squaring the cantilever. Move your head even a tiny amount and everything changes. Additionally, with just one null point you can't even double check your alignment at another point on the record. They probably chose it for its apparent simplicity to avoid intimidating customers, but better tools are available if you're fussed about such things.

You'd probably hear audible improvements with a better protractor, but whether you do or not... enjoy the music!