Proper cartridge alignment Nagaoka MP-110

[entreat11]

I would still compare the position to a protractor. I have yet to find a overhang adjusted cartridge agree with protractor settings. Outer null point is close, but inner is off.

Yes i will, when I have time I will try the "Stevenson Alignment Protractor" method and see how that works out.

 

[ConradH]

Has somebody's dog been chewing on that overhang gage? It looks like it's been around a bit. I'm biased, but you might like my free template generator. http://www.conradhoffman.com/TemplateGen.zip
Less messing about then the 2-point types. Just read the read-me file.

 

[Blue Shadow]

Has somebody's dog been chewing on that overhang gage?

I thought the same thing.

With cartridge alignment one needs to understand a few things.
1) There are a few different alignment standards out there, they do different things as far as the tracking error they provide. This can be learned at vinylengine. Basically, a pivoted arm can only trace an arc across the record surface but the record is cut along a straight line, edge to spindle. This means the arc will intersect the radius at points (2 maximum) where there will be NO tracking error. The difference between the arc and the line is the tracking error at all other locations.
2) Manufacturer alignment is usually not mentioned as to what method they are using. Good but not great
3) The three standard alignments are Stevenson which put a single zero tracking error at the end of the record and the error gets bigger and bigger toward the easier to play outer grooves. Baerwald and Lofgren provide 2 error free points and one of them minimizes the error across the record...meaning the inner error max is the same as the middle error max which is the same as the outer error maximum. With two points of zero error those can be close together or further apart based on stylus positioning but as they get close the error at the outside edges gets greater.

It is up to the user of pivoted tonearms to decide what to use and grab the proper alignment tools to make that happen.

A 1 millimeter difference in the location of the needle is critical to sound quality.

 

[Lavane]

Hello!

Hope everyone is staying safe and enjoying their stereos durning this time!

I had a question I wanted to find out the best way to align the Nagaoka MP-110 cartridge. I am using a technics 1200MK2 with the cart and stylus mounted on a technics head-shell.

I used the the technics hanger tool when i mounted the cartridge. I have had the cartridge over a month and i feel like the performance has gotten worse lately. I feel like I am having a lot of distortion as it gets middle to end of the record, some records are worse than others.

When I mounted this I didn't have any of the fancy tools other than the technics hanger, I pretty much eyeballed everything. I tried to play with tone arm height and vary the weight between 1.5 and almost 3, also played a bit with the antiskate.

Any ideas as to what it could be? When I put another needle on like an Ortofon Night Club bannanna stylus i feel like I am getting much better sound.

Anyways sorry for the long rant.

Throw some ideas at me that I can check for.

Thank you
Michael

I have an AT LP-1240 with a MP-110. The deal is a Hanpin 1200 knock off.
I used the Technics gauge and a two point protractor. But I just wasn't happy with how it sounded. I was lucky enough to find a Geodisc on the cheap. But even at full price they are worth it.
It uses the Baerwald alignment instead of the Stevenson. It was easier and faster to setup than using the two point Stevenson. It also sounds better to me. The cartridge will look crooked in the head shell using Baerwald. But that doesn't bother me.

 

[entreat11]

Has somebody's dog been chewing on that overhang gage? It looks like it's been around a bit. I'm biased, but you might like my free template generator. http://www.conradhoffman.com/TemplateGen.zip
Less messing about then the 2-point types. Just read the read-me file.

About 16 years ago i purchased two technics 1200M5G turntables from original owner and that overhang was included and to be honest i think i only got that one. Also not sure if it was like that when i got it, i never paid attention but knew i had this when i went to mount the Nagaoka cart.

Thanks for the type on the template I will look at that as well, I am hoping monday i will go into the office to some things and then I can print it out and bring it home.

 

[entreat11]

not sure if i understand how to do this correctly but here is what i came up with. This was done using the stevenson method.

 

[triode]

Cant see the stlyus so cant say for sure but I'd like to offer some tips based on my experience -

• The spindle hole doesn't seem to be cut accurately. The hole has to be dead center.
• Make sure the pivot to spindle line is pointing exactly to the pivot. This can be particularly hard to acheive.
• Never ever move the paper while the stylus is on it and believe me it will move. It can break or at least damage your stylus.
• Always keep your amp on even if at low volume. The sounds of the stylus touching the paper will guide you how rough its on the stylus and if it scrapes or drags. Without this you have no clue what your stylus is going through.
• Use the magnifier feature on your mobile phone to zoom in and see where exactly the stylus is resting on the grid/record.
• If you are going through the trouble anyway, dump the Stevenson alignment. Do a Baerwald (Loefgren A).

 

[Kimsrk]

not sure if i understand how to do this correctly but here is what i came up with. This was done using the stevenson method.

These pictures are at kind of strange angles so it's hard to tell. Some look good and some look off, but it could be because of the camera.


I use the same protractor. Did you measure to make sure the scale is correct? I would also try to fix the spindle hole. It is close, but definitely not centered. Here are some pics of what mine looks like I'm pretty sure it's as perfect as it can be

Start with no anti skate and 0.5 VTF.
Adjust length (in and out of the headshell) until it rests perfectly on the outer part of the arc and the inner without moving the protractor.
Outer:

Inner:

Then pick one grid to align to. It should look pretty close to this:




On a side note this is what mine looks like with 1.8g of VTF and I don't know why (notice the lean...)it's been an issue with 5 different styluses. To me, it seems like there is a bad batch of these being sold....idk


Spindle cutout


Curious if you notice any IGD or sibilance with your cart, because i definitely do and I'm about to give up on it because of it. Is not terrible, per se, and some albums are worse than others but it is annoying.

 

[entreat11]

These pictures are at kind of strange angles so it's hard to tell. Some look good and some look off, but it could be because of the camera.


I use the same protractor. Did you measure to make sure the scale is correct? I would also try to fix the spindle hole. It is close, but definitely not centered. Here are some pics of what mine looks like I'm pretty sure it's as perfect as it can be

Start with no anti skate and 0.5 VTF.
Adjust length (in and out of the headshell) until it rests perfectly on the outer part of the arc and the inner without moving the protractor.
Outer:
View attachment 2000142
Inner:
View attachment 2000143
Then pick one grid to align to. It should look pretty close to this:
View attachment 2000147
View attachment 2000148
View attachment 2000149

On a side note this is what mine looks like with 1.8g of VTF and I don't know why (notice the lean...)it's been an issue with 5 different styluses. To me, it seems like there is a bad batch of these being sold....idk

View attachment 2000151
Spindle cutout
View attachment 2000152

Curious if you notice any IGD or sibilance with your cart, because i definitely do and I'm about to give up on it because of it. Is not terrible, per se, and some albums are worse than others but it is annoying.

Thanks for the response and the detailed pics.

I tried to do this early on and I got it as good as I could get it and gave up after a while, I felt that if I kept messing with it I would damage the stylus or make it worse. But to be honest it sounds good. I do not get any inner grove distortion that I know of, but there is one record I constantly notice it on, "Roxy Music Avalon EG, polydor pressing". I am not sure about the sibilance i have not noticed that either that I can say.

I might try to give this another shot based off the pictures you provided though.

 

[Kimsrk]

Thanks for the response and the detailed pics.

I tried to do this early on and I got it as good as I could get it and gave up after a while, I felt that if I kept messing with it I would damage the stylus or make it worse. But to be honest it sounds good. I do not get any inner grove distortion that I know of, but there is one record I constantly notice it on, "Roxy Music Avalon EG, polydor pressing". I am not sure about the sibilance i have not noticed that either that I can say.

I might try to give this another shot based off the pictures you provided though.

Yeah, honestly though I think people sweat alignment a little too much. It matters for sure, but I've used overhang gauges while eyeballing how square it was on the headshell and it didn't sound much different to me. Maybe if I sat down with headphones I'd hear it. But getting it perfect gives me a peace of mind.

 

[entreat11]

Yeah, honestly though I think people sweat alignment a little too much. It matters for sure, but I've used overhang gauges while eyeballing how square it was on the headshell and it didn't sound much different to me. Maybe if I sat down with headphones I'd hear it. But getting it perfect gives me a peace of mind.

I could hear a little difference here and there and definitely when it was mounted worse, but after a while it just did not seem to make that big of a difference to keep messing with it. Yes you are most likely correct and will notice it more in headphones. but anyways basing off your pics it seems like you are 99.9% correct on the alignment. WHich headshell did you use? I do notice yours is pushed out further than mine.

 

[Thunderbox]

Hello!

Hope everyone is staying safe and enjoying their stereos durning this time!

I had a question I wanted to find out the best way to align the Nagaoka MP-110 cartridge. I am using a technics 1200MK2 with the cart and stylus mounted on a technics head-shell.

I used the the technics hanger tool when i mounted the cartridge. I have had the cartridge over a month and i feel like the performance has gotten worse lately. I feel like I am having a lot of distortion as it gets middle to end of the record, some records are worse than others.

When I mounted this I didn't have any of the fancy tools other than the technics hanger, I pretty much eyeballed everything. I tried to play with tone arm height and vary the weight between 1.5 and almost 3, also played a bit with the antiskate.

Any ideas as to what it could be? When I put another needle on like an Ortofon Night Club bannanna stylus i feel like I am getting much better sound.

Anyways sorry for the long rant.

Throw some ideas at me that I can check for.

Thank you
Michael

Clean your stylus.