Hello all.. After reading numerous threads on protractors and stylus jigs, I'm still a little lost as far as aligning my cartridge goes. I have a Geo-Disc (Baerwald), the vinyl engine Baerwald "stupid" protractor and a Shure SFG-2 force gauge and an Ortofon OM10 cartridge/stylus.

Will the Geo-Disc work okay on this turntable? When I use it I seem to get a lot of inner-groove distortion, but it is dead-on according to the stupid protractor, so I don't think I'm lining it up wrong (even used the string-sight trick). I read that Dual over-hang is 5/16" from the front of the headshell, so I've measured the best I could from the front of the cartridge-carrier to the stylus tip. This method seems to produce the best sound across the disc, but there is still pretty obvious distortion. I aligned the cartridge parallel to the headshell the best I could. Something about this technique just doesn't seem accurate enough, am I doing something wrong?

I'm worried I might be ruining my lp's :sigh:.

A proper protractor will result in inner groove distortion on long records...20 minutes a side. I think the idea is to minimize distortion everywhere else! Try increasing your tracking force 1/2 gram first, to test for mistracking.

G'day mate, overhang adjustment is fiddly business anytime sadly but please have a read of this article and hopefully it will help. http://www.mds975.co.uk/Content/vinyl07.html It really is quite straightforward once you get the 'knack' of it!

The Duals use a propriety headshell arrangement which does complicate things a little but the same basic principles apply. Regards, Felix aka catman.

Hello all.. After reading numerous threads on protractors and stylus jigs, I'm still a little lost as far as aligning my cartridge goes. I have a Geo-Disc (Baerwald), the vinyl engine Baerwald "stupid" protractor and a Shure SFG-2 force gauge and an Ortofon OM10 cartridge/stylus.

Will the Geo-Disc work okay on this turntable? When I use it I seem to get a lot of inner-groove distortion, but it is dead-on according to the stupid protractor, so I don't think I'm lining it up wrong (even used the string-sight trick). I read that Dual over-hang is 5/16" from the front of the headshell, so I've measured the best I could from the front of the cartridge-carrier to the stylus tip. This method seems to produce the best sound across the disc, but there is still pretty obvious distortion. I aligned the cartridge parallel to the headshell the best I could. Something about this technique just doesn't seem accurate enough, am I doing something wrong?

I'm worried I might be ruining my lp's :sigh:.

Try using the Stevenson protractor. It's inner null point is closer to the spindle, therefore minimizing inner groove distortion, and may be fine for the rest of the record.

Thanks for the help guys. I'm first going to try fine-tuning the tracking force. I've wanted to try the Stevenson points, is there any particular online protractor for stevenson that you'd recommend?

And thanks Catman, I actually read that article this afternoon and it was very informative. I was under the impression that Dual had their own null points and that they might be the best ones to use, but since I don't have the alignment gauge that they supplied, I'm looking to get as close as possible, or at least the best sound possible (of course :music:).

My friend at school has a DB Systems protractor, although I think that's still Baerwald.

I've never had a distortion problem with any of the numerous Duals I've had the pleasure to own. Aligning the cartridge is a bit of a pain but doable. I usually use a "Stevenson" protractor but other formulae protractors are satisfactory.

Are you sure the distortion isn't caused by a worn or damaged stylus or cantilever? Is the cartridge otherwise aligned correctly? How are the tonearm bearings? Too tight or too loose bearings can cause mistracking and its related distortions. Have you tried a different cartridge to determine if you hear the same level of the distortion?

Unfortunately I don't have another cartridge here to check. From what I recall, the Ortofon has very little life on it, but I guess there is still the chance of it being shot. It does however play the first half of the record flawlessly. The tone arm has been off before, I guess it could be possible that the bearings were tightened a little too snug.

I was considering putting a Shure M97XE on it, maybe that cartridge would be more suitable anyway. I hear Shure and Dual had a synergy of sorts.

I think the OM10's VTF range is like 1.25 to 1.75 so maybe try the Stevonson alignment and a bit higher VTF. If that doesnt do it then maybe a new cartridge is in your cards:D

So I realized that I in fact do have another cartridge here. I brought home with me an Audio Technica AT8008 with a brand new stylus. I put it on and aligned it via the stevenson system, and it sounds great from what I can tell.

My question now is this.. I have gotten the cartridge to a point where it is equally off at both null points. Given time, is it physically possible to get it exactly parallel at both points, or is this as good as it gets?

The cartridge is angled pretty good in the headshell.. and due to the p-mount adapter's dimensions, I can't use the baerwald system anyway (interconnects get in the way of cartridge movement). I do realize that alignment is even more critical now, since the at8008 is a line contact model.

G'day mate, a protractor for Stephenson alignment can be downloaded here from this page:
http://www.vinylengine.com/cartridge-alignment-protractors.shtml
I hope this helps. Regards, Felix aka catman.

Yeah, thats the protractor I'm using.

Will both grids eventually line up perfectly if I mess with it long enough?

Yes, if you're careful it will work out fine. Remember to look at the cartridge from directly in front to avoid parallax error, and ensure correct positioning of the stylus at the reference point and take extreme care!

It is a fiddly process but it gets easier with time! The correct 'centreing' is all important! Refer to the article if you need to. Regards, Felix aka catman.

Alright, after using the stevenson protractor, I got my AT8008 aligned the best I could. Minimal distortion, good sound staging and all. Now that I'm back at school I purchased my friend's Shure M97XE and we installed it on the Dual with his DB Systems protractor. It sounds flawless.

The AT cartridge was difficult to align due to the fact that it's a P-mount design and you have to squeeze the half-inch adaptor into that cartridge carrier. Either way I found a Technics table that I'll put the AT on.

Thanks for the guidance!