Technics SL-1200 mk2 tonearm alignment

[Vanatoi]

Hello everyone!

I installed a new cartridge, its height is 16 mm.
The Manual say: "If the height of the carriage is 16 mm, the scale reading on the tonearm height adjustment ring is 1".
If I do as written in the Manual, the position of the cartridge is not parallel to the record at all!
To make the cartridge parallel to the record, I need to set the tonearm height adjustment ring to the "0" position and add two more slipmats on top - one 1.5 mm and one 1 mm.
But after that I don't even have free space for the Clamp.

What am I doing wrong?

Thanks for any advice
Evgeny

 

[j_loop]

The instructions are for the original Technics headshell so that will throw off the math a bit. Also is that a spacer between the cart and head shell?

 

[malden]

You want the tonearm to be parallel to the record surface

 

[Aud10file]

Looks like a spacer.

 

[JP]

The instructions are for the original Technics headshell

And with only the original platter mat, which is certainly not the case here.

 

[Vanatoi]

Thanks for your support and help, I'll try with original Technics headshell.

 

[borchee]

2,5mm height difference at 230mm effective lenght gives 0,62° of difference - you're fine with the current headshell and without the additional mats! Shim the cartridge, if you feel the need.

Edit: Corrected the height difference.

 

[Mr Boochie]

I use one of these to check the vertical and horizontal (azimuth) tonearm alignment.

Adjust the counterbalance while using the bubble tool --- so the tracking weight is still what you will use. In other words, you must compensate for the weight of the bubble tool.

A smaller bubble tool is probably better.

Bubble Spirit Level.

 

[cafe latte]

Hello everyone!

I installed a new cartridge, its height is 16 mm.
The Manual say: "If the height of the carriage is 16 mm, the scale reading on the tonearm height adjustment ring is 1".
If I do as written in the Manual, the position of the cartridge is not parallel to the record at all!
To make the cartridge parallel to the record, I need to set the tonearm height adjustment ring to the "0" position and add two more slipmats on top - one 1.5 mm and one 1 mm.
But after that I don't even have free space for the Clamp.

What am I doing wrong?

Thanks for any advice
Evgeny

What stylus profile?
If if is elliptical or conical vertical tracking angle makes very little difference as the contact patch changes little with angle.
With more exotic cuts it matters more but even then don't obsess about a MM or two as it takes a huge 6mm up at the rear to change 2 degrees so moving a MM or two you are only changing by fractions of a degree and this is relying that the stylus is mounted correctly for level which most are not anyway.
In tests I did it took till around 10mm up off level before I could measure a difference so don't stress.
Chris

 

[borchee]

...it takes a huge 6mm up at the rear to change 2 degrees...

It's actually only 1,49° with 230mm effective lenght. But yeah, no sweat.

What's the accuracy you aim for at retipping?

 

[radiokom]

What stylus profile?
If if is elliptical or conical vertical tracking angle makes very little difference as the contact patch changes little with angle.
With more exotic cuts it matters more but even then don't obsess about a MM or two as it takes a huge 6mm up at the rear to change 2 degrees so moving a MM or two you are only changing by fractions of a degree and this is relying that the stylus is mounted correctly for level which most are not anyway.
In tests I did it took till around 10mm up off level before I could measure a difference so don't stress.
Chris

Agree about conical and elliptical, but, for example, with VDH 1 and Ortofon Replicant there is a big difference, even few mm matters, at least it is audible. Tonearm high I adjust on particular record inner groove, switched to mono by best response of high frequency.