Hi,

Something I would like to get some clarity on (2 things really), given the opportunity that I went through cartridge alignment recently. I understand well why/how to do cartridge alignment however execution is difficult in 2 respects:
1) I have no issue with offset however I find it nearly impossible to be able to align the cantilever with a protractor (in terms of angle). I have a short cantilever cartridge (Dynavector) and I really have no way to understand whether it is parallel to the protractor lines.
2) Given the above I turn the cartridge around and try to make sure that it is at least parallel to the cartridge. Another problem arises however as my cantilever is slightly angled (see photo) and in that case I’m just wondering whether I need to try to get the cantilever to be parallel to the headshell or the cartridge parallel to the headshell. At this stage I have the cartridge perfectly aligned with the headshell and everything sound right shall I try to get the cantilever instead?



Generally I understand that we’re trying to get the stylus aligned so everything else is really an approximation.

Thanks for your thoughts and sorry for the blurry photo.  

Hi belbo - I have had this problem myself a few times (on pivoted tonearms).

Misaligned cantilever I've come to believe is caused by incorrect adjustment of Antiskating over a long period of time. Now, ASkating is notoriously tricky to get 'correct', because it is at best an approximation - skating forces vary with groove modulation (ie music type, dynamics, record groove-cut), stylus profile, etc.

Sometimes also, the tonearm ASkating calibration might not be too precise (esp. if there is no variation for different stylus profiles (spherical, elliptical, 'line contact').

Too much ASkating will pull the tonearm-cartridge inward (& the stylus outward). Too little ASkating, the opposite.

The Q of whether to align with cantilever or cartridge (generator)?
I used to try to align with the cantilever. However when the record is moving, probably the cantilever straightens out anyway (especially higher compliance suspensions), so maybe it's best to align the cartridge body?

If it sounds OK, I would stick with cartridge body alignment & increase ASkating a bit, if the stylus is angled inward. (Then visually check if the stylus aligns properly when moving in the groove.)

We'd be interested in your findings.

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

Align to the cartridge body. Antiskating would be best set up with a test record with high-level, low frequency modulation, so you can hear if the distortion of mistracking is in one, both or the other channel.
If the cantilever is misaligned to the body with correct antiskating set, the suspension might have become worn.

AMR-iFi R&D

Thanks @owen & colinf for your answers. Understand and will maintain alignment with the cartridge, I'm still curious however how you practically manage to align the cantilever, especially when it's a short one. Using the publicly available protractors the stylus sits on the crosshair and then the cantilever is barely visible let along be able to align it to a straight line when it's 1.9mm long. Are you using anything special (I've read about mirror protractors etc)? thanks again!

Any thoughts Owen and colinf?

Very difficult with short cantilevers like those Dynavectors, especially as a cantilever is usually angled , not vertical.
Some people suggest using a mirror, but I can sometimes use good lighting together with the reflective surface of the record + magnifier, to make a judgement.

Sometimes, if your headshell has holes, you can pre-mark a line on the top of the cartridge (and/or on the front & rear of the cartridge) which indicates the angle of the cantilever. Then use these visible lines to align with a lined protractor after it is mounted the cartridge.

This latter scheme is useful with non-rectangular shaped cartridge bodies.

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

What Owen said! 😀
I had a Dynavector 17d3 years ago and had the same problem. I just aligned to the cartridge body with the Mobile Fidelity Geodisc.

AMR-iFi R&D

You can get this guy to make protracter for you that you can use to align your cantilever.

I have had him make me 3 different protracters for me and they have all been very good.

+++ for open body cartridges with exposed cantilevers

Sept 10, 2020 19:56:54 GMT 12 colinf said:

What Owen said! 😀
I had a Dynavector 17d3 years ago and had the same problem. I just aligned to the cartridge body with the Mobile Fidelity Geodisc.

Thank you Colin: what is the advantage of the Mobile Fidelity Geodisk? It’s essentially a protractor isn’t it? What’s better vs the publicly available ones/why is it better for a short cantilever? (I’m using Stevenson btw but I wouldn’t have an issue with Baerwald as well).

Hi Belbo, I had the 17d3 in the early 90s and the Geodisc is what we used at work, so I bought one for home. I didn’t consider too much the different alignments back then. I don’t think it’s necessary to be exclusive in using a particular protractor. Choose your alignment and run with it! The sound of the tonearm was more dominant for me. Proper alignment meant the soundstage would change and become more open when just right, especially VTA, but the sound’s harmonic structure was down to the cartridge and tonearm quality, also a little to do with tracking force.
I believe Dynavector wanted to push the frequency response right out above 50kHz, approaching 100kHz and for that only a short, low mass, hard cantilever would do. The short size meant the cantilever resonance was at a much higher frequency than a normal cartridge, so the suspension’s damping could be made minimal for excellent transient response from the low mass. There were some tradeoffs for having such a short cantilever though, the angular tracking distortion is a little higher and it was a little more prone to severely warped records. But I do still miss the unfettered airy top end of the little 17d3.

AMR-iFi R&D

what model DV is that ?
not seen a black/red one before.

if you are using stevenson, try baerwald/lofgren.

stevenson aims to reduce end of side distortion where b/l try to minimise distortion evenly across the entire side.

Sept 10, 2020 20:32:18 GMT 12 Mike A said:

You can get this guy to make protracter for you that you can use to align your cantilever.

I have had him make me 3 different protractors for me and they have all been very good.

Those MINT protractors do look excellent, if you want to align the cantilever - eyesight & visual difficulties can be the biggest hurdles when aligning cartridges.

I'm inspired to conjure up something similar to trial for my linear tracker.

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

I have a 17d tucked away somewhere but with a broken cantilever. Anyone any info on whether it can be repaired?

Theres an old thread or two about that one peter0c. Perhaps one of the moderators can point you in the right direction.

@peteroc darklantern.proboards.com/thread/1776/cartridge-repairs

^ you beat me to it

if you want a new DV it might be worthwhile contacting your local dealer and ask if they have any trade-in schemes.

I think its about 2/3 the price of new (but could be wrong!).

Sept 14, 2020 11:09:22 GMT 12 michaelw said:

what model DV is that ?
not seen a black/red one before.

if you are using stevenson, try baerwald/lofgren.

stevenson aims to reduce end of side distortion where b/l try to minimise distortion evenly across the entire side.

19A MKII

nice contrast to the usual silver and gold karats.