07-02-09: Fond_but_not_in_love
Ortofon 2M Blue
By length, do you mean mounting distance? What exactly is mounting
distance; how do I measure it?
The full specs for the
Technics SL12x0 turntables are available
href=http://www.panasonic.com/consumer_electronics/technics_dj/prod_sp
ecs_sl1200mk2.asp>here.
I've scoured for equivalent specs for the PL120, including the downloadable
owner's manual, but AT has nothing to say about effective length or
overhang.
On the Technics, effective length is 230 mm; overhang is 15mm. Effective
length is the distance from the tonearm's pivot point to the stylus when
properly aligned. For overhang: Swivel the tonearm to the spindle; overhang
is the distance between the center of the spindle and where the stylus should
be when properly aligned.
Therefore, on a Technics, the distance from the tonearm pivot to spindle
center is 215mm, and the overhang is an additional 15mm for a total
effective length of 230mm.
Measure your tonearm from its pivot point to the center of the spindle. If it is
215mm, you should get an excellent alignment from the Technics protractor.
And really, it's a subjective thing anyway. To align a cartridge, you have to
get the overhang to where the stylus hits the groove at a 90 deg. angle at
two points, called null points. Different alignment methods go for the null
points at different places along the record.
The thing about the Technics alignment is that it favors (so I've read) a more
accurate alignment toward the inner part of the record to minimize one of the
LP's more noticeable weaknesses--inner groove distortion. There should be
less of that with the Technics alignment. It works for me.
Oh, and since the Ortofon Blue is an elliptical stylus (great matchup, btw), the
alignment is going to be more forgiving than something like a Fritz-Geiger.
Either alignment should work OK. The downloadable protractors are free.
Try'em both and see if you notice any difference. I favor the Technics.
