What Alignment Protractors Do You Use?

[Steve Lefkowicz]

With only one arm/table combination for the past 30+ years, I've had great use out of a Wally Tractor. But since it is specific to a single arm/table geometry, I might want to pick up a second universal protractor. What do you all use? How would you describe its pros and cons?

Wally Tractor - Pro - works easily, quickly and accurately. Cons - specific to one table/arm geometry, expensive at $149.

I also use the Wally VTA gauge, which is really nice and fast if your goal is to set the arm parallel to the record. also $149

[jonathanb]

I use the Feickert universal protractor. It's quick to set up, it's easy to use, it's accurate for any arm and multiple geometries. The downside is that it costs ~$259.

[Cousinbilly]

Some of the arms I've bought come with protractor's.

Once set up, now the fun begins.

Let's see if I can convey this next part: The diamond tip was polished by a person or machine. Is it perfect?. That diamond was now installed on a cantilever. Do they install every diamond perfectly, zero derivation?. Once the cantilever/diamond is installed onto the body, by hand, is it perfectly aligned?

Protractors are only a starting point. Fine tuning starts on track 2 or 3 of an album. Never fine tune with the first track of an album. Think of the first null point. Double check near the second null point.

Azimuth, azimuth, azimuth. If this is off, your on your own.

If my neurosis isn't bad enough. The cutting head of the master lathe was installed by hand. Most of my albums sound amazing, some have tracking error distortion?. Where's my medication?

[Steve Lefkowicz]

I use the Feickert universal protractor. It's quick to set up, it's easy to use, it's accurate for any arm and multiple geometries. The downside is that it costs ~$259.

Looks like the Pro-ject protractor is a simplified, low cost ($149) version of the Feickert. Wonder they compare in actual use.

[kcin]

I've got most of them. The current Feikert is just ok IMO. The landing notation on the gauge is it the size of a SUV.. it is not that accurate- really. The old Feikert was better with finer notations. Both are easy to use

The scribed MINT is excellent but maddening to use it is difficult to see even with good light and magnification, It is prescriptive to a given arm table only

The very best is the Acoustical Systems Tractor. It is incredibly easy to use and see with laser imprinted divot for the stylus and precise alignment choices. There are two versions , one made for professional installation constructed of aluminum- I believe & one made for the layman made out of plastic and aluminum.

I have the layman model but if you thought $149 was expensive you won't like either of the Acoustical Systems solutions. You get what you pay for in this instance. I get repeatable results in minutes not hours of frustration with other gauges.

The difference is with the Acoustical Systems product I don't feel like sticking a pin through my eye when I am done . It is so easy and precise and quick I'm ditching all the others I have.

[jonathanb]

The Pro-ject protractor is designed specifically for Pro-ject turntables and, from what I've read, is rather difficult for use with other turntables. There is no mm scale on the Pro-ject protractor nor is there the ability to choose Lofgren, Baerwald or Sorensen curves when setting up your cartridge. The Feickert protractor is to me a much better value even if it costs ~$110 more.

[Steve Lefkowicz]

Has anyone tried the Wally Universal Protractor?

[1morerecord2clean]

I use the Wally U Steve. Works the same way your single use Wally works. What I really need is a younger pair of eyes.👀

[Joe Pittman]

Most all of the templates are butkus unless you know what you are doing and understand the geometry and mathematics involved. I have the original Feickert which is good. I use the Roksan template which is excellent with the Artemiz arm. And I have a couple others.



Since I do turntable set-up and optimization for my customers, I make my own custom templates. See this link for my typical Rega 222mm spindle-to-pivot geometry as an example. As you can see, the angular difference between Baerwald, Lofgren and Stevenson null points are extremely small. Depending on the size of the cantilever, your eyesight and precision and unit-to-unit variation of cartridge manufacture, I think you are lucky to be within 2 degrees of the ideal alignment even with the best templates.

I think the arc that the stylus travels is more important than cantilever alignment. The arc incorporates the overhang dimension which is directly related to the angular error as the arm tracks from the outside to inside of the LP, and thus gives you the lowest average noise (most important at the inner grooves). Get the stylus to accurately track the curve and you are in the zone.

Templates get you close, however, listening by ear is the best especially for hyper line contact styli. Time and effort can reward you with best sound.

[squasher]

Has anyone tried the Wally Universal Protractor?

I have the Wally Universal protractor and also have one of his dedicated arc protractors made specifically for my arm.

It's good but I MUCH prefer the MintLP protractor. I find the arc on the Mint to be much easier to see and appears to be a more precise, finer line to boot. As a result, I have much more confidence setting up a cartridge using it than the Wally protractors.


All of these tools are hard to use and require good lighting. The secret, I've found, is to get the proper magnification. Just enough but not too much magnification....

[dcc]

I start with the SME template and then I do the finetuning with the Accoustical System Smartractor that I barrow from my brick and mortar dealer. My dealer usually pays me a visit to check that I did the right thing.

[RoadDawgWest]

I've got most of them. The current Feikert is just ok IMO. The landing notation on the gauge is it the size of a SUV.. it is not that accurate- really. The old Feikert was better with finer notations. Both are easy to use

The scribed MINT is excellent but maddening to use it is difficult to see even with good light and magnification, It is prescriptive to a given arm table only

The very best is the Acoustical Systems Tractor. It is incredibly easy to use and see with laser imprinted divot for the stylus and precise alignment choices. There are two versions , one made for professional installation constructed of aluminum- I believe & one made for the layman made out of plastic and aluminum.

I have the layman model but if you thought $149 was expensive you won't like either of the Acoustical Systems solutions. You get what you pay for in this instance. I get repeatable results in minutes not hours of frustration with other gauges.

The difference is with the Acoustical Systems product I don't feel like sticking a pin through my eye when I am done . It is so easy and precise and quick I'm ditching all the others I have.

I've had the DB System Alignment Protractor, Wally Tractor, both of the Feickert protractors, and the Acoustical Systems. I wish the Acoustical Systems alignment protractor was available when I started this journey. More than likely would have only purchased one, and not spent for the others. I could not agree more about how "easy and precise and quick" it is for setting up cartridges, and pivot to spindle distances.

[kcin]

I've had the DB System Alignment Protractor, Wally Tractor, both of the Feickert protractors, and the Acoustical Systems. I wish the Acoustical Systems alignment protractor was available when I started this journey. More than likely would have only purchased one, and not spent for the others. I could not agree more about how "easy and precise and quick" it is for setting up cartridges, and pivot to spindle distances.

I have all those and more too. When you use the Acoustical Systems Smart Tractor you know you could gotten back about 10 years of your life.

[kcin]

Most all of the templates are butkus unless you know what you are doing and understand the geometry and mathematics involved. I have the original Feickert which is good. I use the Roksan template which is excellent with the Artemiz arm. And I have a couple others.



Since I do turntable set-up and optimization for my customers, I make my own custom templates. See this link for my typical Rega 222mm spindle-to-pivot geometry as an example. As you can see, the angular difference between Baerwald, Lofgren and Stevenson null points are extremely small. Depending on the size of the cantilever, your eyesight and precision and unit-to-unit variation of cartridge manufacture, I think you are lucky to be within 2 degrees of the ideal alignment even with the best templates.

I think the arc that the stylus travels is more important than cantilever alignment. The arc incorporates the overhang dimension which is directly related to the angular error as the arm tracks from the outside to inside of the LP, and thus gives you the lowest average noise (most important at the inner grooves). Get the stylus to accurately track the curve and you are in the zone.

Templates get you close, however, listening by ear is the best especially for hyper line contact styli. Time and effort can reward you with best sound.

Well, I can agree that there is optimization to be done after the protractor for certain and that you need to know how to use the given protractor.

You absolutely don't have to know the mathematics involved or geometry . The protractor does it for you.

You just have to follow the instructions and make the choice and get the prescribed results from the protractor. The choice for geometry can be personal there are advantages and disadvantages to each. Music genre and personal preference may come into play here.

[Steve Lefkowicz]

Has anyone tried the Wally Universal Protractor?

A better magnifier is beneficial. A folding lupe for photographers is good. Something like this, as you can set it down sideways for a good view

https://www.amazon.com/Carson-LinenTest-6-5x20mm-Magnifier-LT-20/dp/B002EANJRK/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487010193&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=folding+photography+lupe

[chris h]

Hi Steve,
I checked your link There are a # of that style magnifiers to choose from even one with an led light. Not sure if that model was available when you bought yours? What model do you have? Also when you set the two null points you rotate the template on the platter not the platter? I see in your photo that you have some wedges in place to keep your platter stationary. I have seen in some videos the platter rotated to do this part of the setup Thanks

[user510]

I draw my own in cad then print to heavy grade paper, then cut, then put to use.
When possible I will make use of Baerwald null points at 66mm and 120.89mm. Draw arc to match the effective length of the particular tonearm. In most ways it is a paper version of a Wally Traktor.


One cautionary note: when printing your own paper protractors, beware that laser printers heat the paper and toner up to a temperature that, when the paper cools, results in some shrinkage. Using a laser printer, I typically see shrinkage on the order of .015" per 1-1/2 inches. Therefore my preferred printer will be an ink jet where the heat involved does not shrink paper.

I think what I am doing in a way honors the overall design of the Wally Traktor, while making it available to myself for the cost of materials and my time and effort. Typically I will stick with Baerwald / Lofgren "A" and, when necessary, Stevenson which are determined by the null point locations. Drawing the geometry is basic 2D layout that involves ; null points, pivot to spindle distance and effective length.

-Steve

[Kingrex]

When I print to paper I use photographic paper. Since I am measuring the scale after printing, shrinkage does not matter. I just make sure the scale is correct with a very good ruler before using the template. I have a Smarttractor, but I still like paper. I have noticed my needle falling into the hole of the Smarttractor will sometimes deflect the cantilever without enough force to move that actual arm. Paper does not do that. Having said that, the Smarttractor is irreplaceable when it comes to getting the P2S correct.