Cartridge Alignment Help

Angry Possum

Angry Possum

Well-Known Member
I need some advice on how to adjust a cartridge properly. It seems Im having an issue with my Stanton 500. The first track of any album sounds rough and distorted. Then it seems to play better after first track etc. How do I align it properly. What means does one use for aligning? Some sort of guide etc etc.?
 
Register to hide this ad
There are many guides, gauges and templates. It would help to know what turntable you have in order to help suggest a method.
 
Your SL1200 Mk 2 manual says the proper overhang is achieved with a 52mm distance between the stylus tip and the headshell plug. See figure 5-2 on page 1 of the manual (at least, that's where it's at in the manual available at Vinyl Engine). I would be surprised if any special tools would be needed to get good sound since I got good performance from a Stanton 500 V.3 in a Stanton STR8-80 turntable, whose underhung arm has much more tracking angle error across the record than your SL1200 should provide even if alignment is not quite spot-on.

If I recall correctly, you got a 500 body pre-mounted on a head shell and with the N500 stylus. I liked mine tracking at 3.25 grams. I don't really think it should matter, but if you've got the 2 gram weight screwed into the head shell, you might try removing that to see how it sounds without the extra mass.

Personally, I use a MFSL Geo-Disc. It's designed to provide Baerwald alignment, but I've liked the results even when used on turntables that were not designed with that alignment scheme in mind (such as a Well Tempered Record Player and a Rega RP3).
 
in a pinch just google printable cart alignment tool, or go to vinyl engine, but you need to print one, or send to a friend with a printer,
 
It's at the edge of the record that warps are most severe. If mistracking is a problem here, then most likely the arm mass is too high to follow the warp, and/or the tracking force is insufficient to keep the stylus firmly planted. As suggested already, remove the headshell weight if it is installed, and/or make certain the tracking force is in the high end of the range for the stylus.
 
As mentioned earlier, the Technics-specified alignment is Stevenson, which is 52mm from the felt washer to the tip of the diamond. Easy to measure with a metric ruler, no templates needed (although Technics produces a little plastic alignment tool which IMO is a bit more fussy than a ruler or calipers). Square up the cartridge in the headshell, measure 52mm and you're done.
 
I maintained the turntables at a radio station for years. We had the 1200 mkII's with Stanton 500's. The Technics alignment tool is invaluable to have, makes it easy. KABUSA had them the last time I looked and I've seen them on Ebay. Set the tracking at 2 grams and make sure the anti-skate is properly set as well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom