Cartridge position on headshell . . .
Hi there
Such a simplistic query after decades in this endeavor, but not long back I replaced a Clearaudio cartridge on my VPI Scoutmaster (early 2000's vintage . . . . JMW-9 tonearm). I've run Clearaudio pretty much from day one.
I put a Hanna SL cartridge on this tonearm. Fairly light cartridge so weights added to headshell and even with that counterweight isn't too far back from full forward.
But my question has to do with the position of the cartridge beneath the headshell. Perhaps just because I so rarely upgrade its simply a non-issue, but 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.
Overthinking this, or is some mod needed here for optimum setup?
The cartridge sounds fine to my ears; certainly what I was expecting from what I had heard of its performance to date with others. But its a nagging question I finally decided to post.
Thanks in advance for any and all on this . . .
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. |
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. |
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.
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