Uni-Protractor Set tonearm alignment

Syntax,
I presume you prefer yours stirred and not shaken. Great photos as always.

Robob,
Perhaps you should start a specific thread about the different SME arms or do a search in the archives. There is lots of information regarding these arms. You could also email Sumiko, the US importer.

I don't know enough about alignment geometry to understand or even question which geometry is best for my particular arm/LP type. I will follow the recommendations of those who know more than I do and listen to the results.

For me, the two aspects of Dertonarm's Uni-Pro which are the most exciting are the extreme precision with which the instrument is designed and then manufactured and the apparent ease with which the user can see these tiny parameters.

My MintLP gave me much better results than my supplied SME cardboard protractor, but it is difficult to use and certainly not universal. If I change my arm or cartridge, I will need to order another one.

I don't want to cut into potential sales of the Uni-Pro, but it seems to me that this would be an excellent tool to share among two or three audiophiles who live near each other. I've considered a similar arrangement with something like the expensive Furutech Demag unit or even a strobe speed check disk. I find that I'm sharing/collaborating with a couple of fun audio buddies more and more these days. We all learn in the process and perhaps save a bit of money to buy more LPs.

John,
Could you please expand on your comment regarding the SME V arm? I have one of these and currently use the two-point MintLP protractor. What is faulty about Dertonarm's statements about the SME geometry? Thanks.

Thank you for the clear explanation John. I did supply Yip at Mint with the stylus to mounting hole (MH2S) distance which he used to make the (unique to my arm/cartridge combo) arc-type protractor. The stylus aligns precisely (by 10X loupe standards) at all points of the arc. At the two null points, I adjusted very, very slightly the rotation of the cartridge in the headshell to align with the guide lines at those points. I presume that my MintLP Tractor follows Baerwald/LofgrenA IEC nulls, though I did not know enough to confirm this with Yip when I ordered it. I may email him. Thanks.

Dertonarm,

I apologize but I think I may have missed something in your thread. Is the P2S for measuring the pivot-to-spindle distance or the pivot-to-stylus distance (overhang)? Could your device be used to measure either?

I am considering a separate dedicated arm pod for mounting an additional arm. I would think that your UNI-P2S, if pivot-to-spindle, would be indispensable for this purpose.

Keep up the good work. I'm beginning to wonder what other devices you have up your sleeve. All this for improving analog playback just as I read from Raul (in another analog thread) that he thinks the best digital can now compete and even surpass good analog. (Sorry if that is a bit controversial to introduce in this thread) I think it is all about tiny improvements in accuracy adding up to real sonic gains in either medium.

Raul,
Could you please elaborate on this? I don't understand what you are trying to do by moving the cartridge forward or backward. Are you asking us to listen for different amounts of distortion from a cartridge that is no longer aligned properly? Thanks.

Thanks Raul. I think I understand now. Unfortunately, it takes a fair amount of effort and time to move my TT to properly realign the cartridge after doing such an experiment. I'm presently satisfied with the sound, so I'd rather not mess with it now. I may try it at some later time. I'm sure I could learn something as you suggest.