Vinyl protractor

Some of the protractors posted on the Vinyl Engine are specific, some of them are generic.

In this article, I will guide you through the simple process of downloading and printing a cartridge alignment protractor pdf for your turntable. I will also provide clear instructions on how to use this tool for precise cartridge alignment. While exploring the web, you may have encountered various free turntable cartridge alignment tools, such as those available on vinylengine. I have personally tested several of these tools, with some delivering outstanding results and others being less effective. The primary challenge is ensuring you select the right one for your specific tonearm. Additionally, different alignment methods like one point, two points, and arc protractors are available. In this article, I will introduce you to the best arc protractor generator I have come across, which is ideal for turntables equipped with a pivot tonearm.

Vinyl protractor

When you are listening to your vinyl records, any audiophile will notice when their cartridge alignment is out of whack. The sound quality will decrease during playback allowing you to hear a muffled or muddy sound as the tonearm moves the stylus along the inner grooves of the vinyl. When this misalignment begins to occur, the hi-fi sound that you love will quickly diminish. However, there is an alignment tool, called a turntable protractor, used to adjust the tracking force and the alignment of the turntable phono cartridge. Why do you need a cartridge alignment protractor for your turntable? Doing this will stabilize the tonearm and help keep it from skipping during playback. Not adjusting the stylus alignment degrades the sound that you hear over time. If the tracking errors remain, the stylus tip will begin to wear unevenly, creating more distortion during playback. However, there are also downloadable templates that you can find online and use. All you will need to do with a printable turntable protractor is make sure that it is the correct size as the reference scale.

It is a mistake that is commonly made.

We have truly universal two-point tools such as the Stupid Protractor, and tonearm specific types for Audiocraft, Helius, Heybrook, Linn, Rega and Thorens, all with easy to follow instructions detailing how to align a cartridge. To determine which protractor is suitable for your tonearm please read Seb's Protractor User Guide and please check scale carefully after printing and resize if necessary. Tonearm Database Mounting dimensions and alignment data for most turntables and tonearms - the original and best! Overhang Shift Calculator Assess the effects of changing stylus overhang while keeping the original angle of the cartridge in the headshell. Simple, accurate and widely compatible.

We have truly universal two-point tools such as the Stupid Protractor, and tonearm specific types for Audiocraft, Helius, Heybrook, Linn, Rega and Thorens, all with easy to follow instructions detailing how to align a cartridge. To determine which protractor is suitable for your tonearm please read Seb's Protractor User Guide and please check scale carefully after printing and resize if necessary. Tonearm Database Mounting dimensions and alignment data for most turntables and tonearms - the original and best! Overhang Shift Calculator Assess the effects of changing stylus overhang while keeping the original angle of the cartridge in the headshell. Simple, accurate and widely compatible.

Vinyl protractor

Below are some downloadable PDF arc protractors, used to align a cartridge to various standard null radii. Be sure to choose a protractor that matches your arm or turntable, as the accuracy of these protractors relies on the pivot to spindle distance being correct. There are 2 popular alignment families, known as Baerwald or Lofgren A and Stevenson. The 2 alignment geometries are calculated to minimise tracking error and distortion. Lofgren A or Baerwald alignment spreads the distortion across the surface of the record, resulting in the lowest average distortion figures. Stevenson alignments are optimised for zero tracking distortion in the lead out groove of the record at the expense of slightly higher distortion everywhere else.

Fotodiox softbox

Adding up the pivot to spindle distance also called mounting distance and overhang will give you the effective length. The protractor is made of high-quality black perspex, laser cut and engraved measure mm x 93mm and is thick 3mm, like a gram vinyl record. It sets the offset angle as well. In this article, I will introduce you to the best arc protractor generator I have come across, which is ideal for turntables equipped with a pivot tonearm. Alternatively you could download the Chpratz Protractor above but it is only accurate to 1mm so you would be looking for alignment at the 69 and mm lines. Simple, accurate and widely compatible. The stuff protractor describes a way to align the cantilever using a mirror you must be able to drill a mirror and to engrave it with lines. They can simply be printed out with a home printer. Hi, There seems to be some confusion about how to use these protractors? Gently lower the stylus at various points, but never slide it across the paper. Print our downloadable turntable protractor to get started. Is It

This website offers free phono cartridge alignment protractors and other tools for turntable setup. Generate free custom alignment templates with our arc protractor , 2-point protractor and sightline protractor generators.

Hi, Aligning accurately to alternative geometries will result in a change in the maximum level of tracking distortion and the pattern of distortion across the playing surface. Privacy Policy Legal notice. Its angle can be different than on a spinning record. Designed to allow users to align their cartridge at any two null points between 60 and mm. The actual alignment geometry depends on the dimensions and shape of the tonearm. With a pivoted tonearm and the phono cartridge mounted at an offset angle, there are usually two null points at which the stylus is perfectly tangent to the grooves on the record surface. If you have the arm mounted as per original spec If the pivot to spindle distance is known, using an arc protractor is highly recommended. Overhang is the amount the stylus tip overhangs the centre of the spindle once aligned - standard this is 15mm, but using a Baerwald protractor you will end up with All that we need from you is: If you want a protractor made on the standard geometry of your tonearm then we just need brand and model. Once the protractor is in place, it will lay on the platter just like a record so that you can easily measure and align the cartridge body. Any of the universal protractors Baerwald, Stevenson, Loefgren B are suitable. Precise alignment minimizes distortion. First, ensure that your anti-skating mechanism is either disabled or set to zero. Seb Phew, so many protractors in the set-up tools section!!!