So off the top of my head, and I hope to be corrected if wrong, it would seem to me that if you correct for zenith by simply twisting the cartridge in the headshell, that does not affect or alter effective length. But if you take advantage of what I think you have there, a headshell that can be twisted so as to change the offset angle, then THAT will change effective length. That would change the alignment, but if you have an advanced protractor, like the SMARTractor and maybe some others, you can correct for any error you have introduced by following the mounting algorithm. What you would end up with is perhaps not going to be exactly Baerwald/Lofgren or Stevenson, but some very closely similar alignment that gets you the two null points across the surface of the LP. So, either way, you can make it work. I would choose just twist the cartridge.
cartridge mounting
SO, my Reed 2G tonearm was mounted and set up originally professionally. I have an extra headshell which I have mounted a new cartridge on...the headshells allow the cartridge some feedom of position, changine the effective distance for teh tomearm mount to the stylus, as welll as ZENITH....I understand the importance of zenith, but how about the effective lentgh?
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You need to get the specific answers for your tonearm for overhang and the two null points a. Overhang (stylus distance past the spindle) (measure/match your existing overhang distance if you cannot find the specified distance) b. Two Null Points Best Compromise c. Azimuth (straight when viewed from the front, using a mirror which reflects any deviation from straight in the opposite direction, so it’s fairly easy to see) d. VTA (arm height) may need adjusting IF the alternate headshell/cartridge combined mounted height (when installed) is different from your current combo. e. tracking force f. anti-skate force note: you need content with clearly defined L/C/R imaging to refine your anti-skate by ear, see my suggestion below. ................................ CARTRIDGE ALIGNMENT (inexpensive tools and simple revealing methods) I confirmed this once again with Steve and Ray Leung at VAS recently: Makers, rebuilders, re-tippers frequently note that the majority of cartridges/styluses they work on are worn mostly on one side (improper azimuth and/or either too little or too much anti-skate). Those are sent in by us, knowledgeable and experienced audiophiles, sending expensive cartridges that have been played on audiophile equipment, set up by experts on precision tonearms. Not amateurs, US! So: After everything else, it is about anti-skate. Inward Skate is a natural force, unavoidable, and anti-skate is needed to properly ‘oppose’ it. This is one of the reasons I prefer light tracking cartridges. Despite denials that anti-skate makes much difference, it is vital to get it right! I used dials for many years, and discovered none were giving proper calibrations. I now use separate tools and finally my ears, resulting in the stylus essentially floating free to react to information on either side of the groove. Not just sound/imaging: It is important to avoid wear on the inward edge of the stylus and LP’s groove, for long stylus life, reducing wear of grooves, avoiding ‘bending/twisting’ the cantilever, and when right we do get proper imaging of the content. Excessive outer force transfers the problem to the other edge.
https://www.amazon.com/Triangle-precision-universal-household-mounting/dp/B09VBWWVDW/ref=sr_1_8?crid=TL2RCTVFGS1S&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7-QuBjdTkYztPIB2oY6k6Kt-fPCugCSMUsP1LtkO37NB4L7m3Fs44xnt3rQtc6vt4ZpbcMEbgzjQOY6RnIf1EToz7xOo8P2HmU9Nl4_iNTVgUYd9gw1fjFBz8Jss8ZALrIeGBqA3S_rGiTr674bVlr6sc_Rr8jAxg4kanyk8Lj_bY3z-ExMDRG2Cp6JvU7XSMBxdUzwqVtUECKrSuLbDnD47H8FzgiO8leI1Rn-I4JVKMHCMAFWnSA0g0j94elKPzbzc4voqCFrb7nESmUkrIoiq2fZU0Od6M2d274s1xec.Xzp0SVUYO5-cvU9nn4LUevN1YLx_dYGNU4N4oH6orwg&dib_tag=se&keywords=precision%2Bbubble%2Blevel%2Btriangle&qid=1760135036&sprefix=precision%2Bbubble%2Blevel%2Btriangle%2Caps%2C89&sr=8-8&th=1
d. Mirror to Set Azimuth.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CLLZYBVK?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friday_Night_in_San_Francisco
ADJUSTMENTS
anti-skate to zero; desired tracking force applied. Adjust arm height so arm is parallel to the LP/platter when stylus is lowered into the groove and the cantilever’s suspension is loaded by the tracking force.
Set overhang, very lightly tighten; twist cartridge sideways as needed for best compromise of both null point positions.
Place rectangular mirror on the platter, lower arm, view reflection from front. Any deviation will be reflected in the opposite direction making it easy to see/get right.
If arm is level when playing, and it sounds great, only perfectionists will make VTA refinements,
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nice arm SPECIFICATIONS
I do not find the two null points specs, which length is your arm? It may not matter, presumably your dealer set it correctly, and null points come in 3 main varieties The three advertized alignments and their null points are: Baerwald 66 and 120.9 http://www.dvautier.com/nullpoint/null.htm
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