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What is you tonearm’s Maximum Distortion?

I’ve been playing around with different cartridge mounting, as a Grace arm the plinth of my Lenco cannot be mounted at the recommended pivot-to-spindle distance of 222mm (closest it can get is 225mm).


My best figures in theory seem to be:
Max. Tracking Error: 3.51 degrees
Max. Distortion: 1.21 %
Average RMS Distortion: 0.73 %

This is with: P-t-s 225mm; overhang 11mm; offset angle 19 degrees.

What are your figures for your setup?

fusian
intactaudio
293 posts
 

@optimize   in order to enter your desired overhang and offset you need to tick the "custom" option or the program will calculate for the 'standard' alignment ticked.

Also the number you enter into the initial arm length will autofill to the remaining three so make sure the same P2S / EL dot is ticked for all 4.  

For your calculation enter 233.7 in Arm 1 Arm Length and tick the effective length dot for all 4 arms.  Then Click the Arm 1 custom dot and enter your desired overhang and offset angles and the results will compare 'your alignment' to the big three.

dave

optimize
164 posts
 
Parameter Custom Lofgren A Lofgren B Stevenson
pivot to spindle (mm) 216.5 215.96 215.45 218.02
effective length (mm) 233.7 233.7 233.7 233.7
overhang (mm) 17.2 17.74 18.25 15.68
offset angle ° 22.95 23.57 23.57 22.35
linear offset (mm) 91.14 93.44 93.44 88.87
inner groove (mm) 60.33 60.33 60.33 60.33
outer groove (mm) 146.05 146.05 146.05 146.05
inner null point (mm) 67.42 66 70.29 60.33
outer null point (mm) 114.86 120.89 116.6 117.42
maximum error ° 2.25 1.85 2.06 2.24
maximum distortion % 0.77 0.64 1.03 0.77
average rms distortion % 0.38 0.42 0.37

0.5

 

Thanks @intactaudio !

Here is my numbers seams they are pretty good compared to the other's. Using the Löfgren B that is the best on the average for a whole LP. 

I did my custom protractor several years ago and it seems to be OK and the numbers I took from that custom protractor.

So I did this also to check its old calculations. 👍🥳 

Ag insider logo xs@2x
rauliruegas
12,774 posts
 

@intactaudio : It’s only a parameter manipulation and that is the SAT tonearms alignment. At the end is not rocket science. Btw, Did you already test that kind of alignment?, I do and you can be " surprised " by. 

As Mark SAT designer says and makes sense:  " The null points for the SAT arms are located at 80 and 126mm. Ultimately, this was a choice of enjoying a consistently higher level of fidelity for 95% of the time over having less angular error on 5% of the tracks. "

Exist rules but to each one of us can be broken in favor of quality performance with MUSIC.

That alignmnet by SAT is wrong? no it’s only different and when tested each one of us can decide about. What you think or what I think is only that " think " as is non-important in the whole alignment game: it’s each one game not yours not mine.

 

R.

intactaudio
293 posts
 

@rauliruegas 

It’s only a parameter manipulation

Only a parameter manipulation??? If the parameter manipulation is kept hidden then there is another term for it.

dave

 

 

lewm
12,448 posts
 

If the numbers in the table published here by optimize are correct, two things pop out at me. First, the distortion figures are below 0.5% or equal to 0.5% in all cases. Given all the other distortions inherent to vinyl reproduction, does anyone here think he can hear the difference between 0.5% and 0.3% distortion? second, there is a dissociation between the magnitude of the tracking angle, error, or at least the maximum magnitude of the tracking angle error and distortion. Isn’t that interesting?

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