New Cartridge difficult to align because of over-hang (Audio Technica at90)

ClayTune

ClayTune

Well-Known Member
Hey guys,

I just installed a new Cartridge onto my head-shell, the Audio-technica AT90.

However, it's difficult to align with the protractor because of two things.

On the top of the needle it has a steep overhang that makes it very difficult to gauge where it is on the protractor and secondly, the needle part at the bottom has a white belly, which makes it so hard to spot where it is on the protractor.

I was wondering if I could confidently use the top of the overhang square as a matching point for the null points on the protractor?

Thanks.
 
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Align to the body, not to the cantilever. You might try putting a small piece of double stick tape on the front of the cartridge. Stick a mechanical pencil lead to the tape, then align that to the grid of the template by looking straight down. You should be able to tell if the stylus is on the mark with a bright light and magnifier, looking from both front and side.
 
Lots and lots of light overhead to eliminate shadows. Then use a magnifier to see the stylus tip in the dot.

Take all the time you need and be patient. Once you get you will be happy.

Good luck!
 
Hi guys,

Thank you for your replies.

What angle should I be judging proper alignment by, when matched to the protractor? Is there an image illustrating the angle I should be looking at when it comes to this type of Cart?

By the way I do have a magnifying glass and of course the mirror protractor.

The main issue I am having is the white belly of the cart bottom is getting blended into the white lines on the mirror protractor. The only success I may have is looking at its reflection in the protractor, but that would be a far from perfect method due to the angle I must view it by.

I'll show you guys a pic later of what I am dealing with.
 
Well, if you're talking about the AT90 cartridge then your table is p-mount. No alignment is supposed to be necessary. Obtain a test record to check things out....
 
illini said:
Well, if you're talking about the AT90 cartridge then your table is p-mount. No alignment is supposed to be necessary. Obtain a test record to check things out....
Click to expand...
I think he has it in a P mount to 1/2" adapter on a standard headshell.
 
illini said:
Well, if you're talking about the AT90 cartridge then your table is p-mount. No alignment is supposed to be necessary. Obtain a test record to check things out....
Click to expand...

I have a test record, one of those Shure trackability records but I am unclear what the various levels of the tests are about and how to correspondingly make the adjustments when noticing something is 'off' on the test records.

The record contains only the tests and no clear instructions.
 
The test record won't help you much with alignment. Get an alignment template with a decently visible grid, use the pencil lead trick and call it a day.
 
ConradH said:
The test record won't help you much with alignment. Get an alignment template with a decently visible grid, use the pencil lead trick and call it a day.
Click to expand...

1-What is the primary usage for a test record? To test anti-skate? To test counter weight? To test vertical alignment? To test, what exactly?

2-What is the Pencil head trick?

Thanks.
 
ClayTune said:
It is already on the adapter and head-shell.
Can you clarify why you think so very little of the adapters?
Click to expand...

For starters, a P-mount cartridge isn't designed for a 1/2" mount arm and headshell, it's designed for a P-mount arm. P-mount arms and cartridges were an attempt at standardization at the tail end of the golden age of vinyl, so that you could just plug any P-mount cartridge into any P-mount arm and wham, there you go...no adjustment of tracking force, no alignment, none of that, easy peasy. However, when you take a P-mount cartridge and plug it into an adapter for a 1/2" arm, it's likely going to be adversely affecting the tracking angle (unless you have an adjustable height arm) *and* it's going to be difficult to align because the distance from the stylus to the mounting holes on the adapter is such that you may run out of 'room' in the screw slots of the headshell. And, the adapter adds mass that wasn't intended for the cartridge's design. And, it's a cheaply made, low-quality molding. And, you don't really save any money over an entry level 1/2" standard mount cartridge, so why do it?

It's 'ok' for a temporary, "I have this and I might as well use this for now" scenario, but for any sort of serious attempt --which it sounds like you're trying to make -- it will fall short. You'd be better off with the chinese $11 AT cart, seriously.
 
ClayTune said:
1-What is the primary usage for a test record? To test anti-skate? To test counter weight? To test vertical alignment? To test, what exactly?

2-What is the Pencil head trick?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

The test records are mostly for frequency response, tracking ability and anti-skate. IMO, they are of little use to you at this stage of the game and in all honesty I wouldn't subject an expensive test record like an STR-100 to a Numark table and mid level cartridge. A Shure Audio Obstacle Course record not so much, as they made a huge number and they're easily available. I use that record for one single purpose- listening for the onset of mistracking with headphones to see if the anti-skate is set correctly. Note that mistracking damages the record; you you have to know what you're listening for and proceed with caution.

I described the pencil lead trick above. The idea is if you can find a flat surface on the front of the cartridge, you can stick a mechanical pencil lead to it with double stick tape, giving yourself a nice straight reference line to compare to the alignment grid on most templates. No idea how they make mechanical pencil leads so straight, but they're surprisingly good.

A mirror protractor/template is usually used to align the cantilever, not the cartridge body, and many people consider this the best way to do it. I don't agree and there are actually several error sources with that method. When you're starting out, and until you understand the pitfalls, it's often best to align the cartridge body to the template grid, not the cantilever.
 
Update:

It's sounding quite decent, BUT I am picking up some static on some records for some reason, even if they are cleaned and I use the anti-static cleaning fluid.

My guess is that it's because it's a higher output cartridge than my previous one. Nevertheless, static not preferred.

Despite my guess of what's causing the static output, please add suggestions and solutions.

I'm also wondering what the needle upgrade is for this cartridge?
 
oh, another question that just popped into my head.

If this cartridge is suppose to be weighted at 1.5 to 2.5 grams, should I add less counter weight pressure because of the added weight of the L shaped Adapter?
 
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Just tried playing with the height adjustment of the tone arm, does nothing for the affected records static production.

These records produced no static with the groove tool needle/cartridge and are now producing ample static with this AT90 cartridge that I attached to the Numark headshell with the L shaped adapter.

However, new records do not seem to be producing any static sounds, or relatively new ones anyway.

The records affected appear to be in excellent condition but produce the static sound mentioned.

These are older records.
 
Update:

The newer records are producing static also, it's just not as loud as the older ones.

I had to turn off a room fan to hear it.
 
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