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Correct alignment for Fidelity Research 64fx/SPU?

Hello,

I've recently paired SPU Spirit with FR64fx (& additional counterweight).

FR64fx is mounted at 230mm pivot to spindle distance on my Garrard 301.

I currently experience a light distortion and mistracking. As I tried the SPU before on almost ad hoc mounted 3012 and that sounded technically correct (though not as convincing as with FR64fx in terms of emotional performance), I'm pretty convinced I will need to realign the tonearm.

I would appreciate any info related to an experience of 64/SPU users here, which would differ from a usual 230m PTS alignment. Also, I keep on reading that Stevenson alignment would be preferred, is there any explanation why so?

Basically I need to make a good decision as I have no armboard - whatever decision I make I will need to get a new top board with a new hole for a new alignment.

Many thanks!
anubisgrau
edgewear
543 posts
 
The alignment of FR64 arms with integrated headshell cartridges is pretty straight forward. Ikeda designed the arm to accomodate his FR7 cartridges with integrated headshell allowing 51mm stylus to arm collar distance. When you observe the specified 230mm spindle to pivot distance of the FR64 you get perfect alignment with the Stevenson geometry. This set up has the convenience to also operate SPU's without having to change the S2P distance. This suggests that the stylus to arm collar distance on SPU is also supposed to be 51mm. Perhaps Ortofon has changed this recently, but my SPU's have 51mm and fit the FR64 perfectly. No tracking errors.

totem395
390 posts
 
 To add to some original comments made regarding 
the SME 3012 and its suitability or not, the specific reference
was to the R version and differs from the standard 3012 model
quite a bit.

The R series was modelled after the first series 1, 3012 circa 1955
which differed in both mass and materials used for the arm tube. 

Comparing any 3012 to other than the original rare series 1 or 
the JDM R version is apples and oranges.


 

lewm
12,466 posts
 
While we're at it, since you brought this 6-year-old thread to the fore.  Jeff1225 said (in 2014) that he had "zero tracking error" using his Mint Protractor with his FR or Ikeda tonearm.  THAT is a feat, indeed, unless he turned his pivoted tonearm into a linear tracker and then had the high skill level and luck necessary to set it up perfectly.  The point being that all of this business with aligning a pivoted tonearm is about compromise or preference. All algorithms admit tracking error; it's only a question of where on the LP surface and how much.
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 
The problem by integrated headshells is that one can't move the
stylus to ''optimal position'' as is the case by ''ordinary headshells''.
Even the FR -7 kinds have different cantilever length which imply
different stylus to pivot distance . So the only way to get correct
geometry is to move the arm in its base to correct distance in
the sense of stylus to pivot distance. 
Ag insider logo xs@2x
rauliruegas
12,796 posts
 
Dear @edgewear:  ""  you get perfect alignment with the Stevenson geometry. This set up has the convenience to also operate SPU's without having to change the S2P distance. ...... but my SPU's have 51mm and fit the FR64 perfectly. No tracking errors....""

No tracking error? seriously? because Stevenson alignment is the worst kind of alignment due to its very high tracking error all over the LP surface but at the last 3mm. Is the worst of all kind of alignments.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.



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