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Anyone used a USB microscope to align cartridge?

I am both short and long sighted and its getting harder for me to visually align stylus especially using the MintLP protractors which require a 10x LUPE to be done right. I have seen USB Microscope camera's on eBay etc and some of them go for about $30 while others can run to about $400. All of these USB mmicroscope camera's claim magnification from 10x-200x and beyond. Was wondering if anyone has tried using these to align cartridges and what models you would recommend. The cheaper ones seem too cheap to be true and the more expensive ones should be fine but these offer magnification from 50x or higher and I am thinking this is too high for the prupose of cartridge alignement. Any comments or inputs would be appreciated.
ddriveman
ddriveman OP
171 posts
 
Glai,

Thanks for you resposne. I will check out the Dynalite. Yes, its not only my eyes that I am struggling with but also my neck and back.
audioblazer's avatar
audioblazer
325 posts
 
Can I suggest that you try specwell monocular 10 x20 or 14 x 20 ( 14x magnification ) , close up lens 20mm aperture , tripod mount and a camera stand for less than GBP 200 from optimalowvision dot co dot uk. Setting up catridge using mintlp used to be time consuming and a pain . With specwell short focal length monocular , it's much easy to set up catridge and more accurate and within a much shorter time
audiofeil
4,011 posts
 
All you really need is a penlite halogen flashlight and a hand held magnifying glass.

Might cost $10 total.

KISS

IMO
stanwal's avatar
stanwal
3,147 posts
 
The thing I really like about the Graham arm is that you align the cartridge by mounting it in the arm tube, then putting the tube on its back and placing the alignment gauge over the cartridge. So you are looking DOWN at the stylus THROUGH the alignment gauge.It is like viewing a standard protractor from underneath. Despite my admitted defects of vision I was able to get an alignment that was checked first by my tech friend with a microscope and then by another friend who has a Fozgometer or whatever, that new fancy gadget. Both of them thought it was as close as practical; i.e., any further effort would probably make it worse. So if your eyes have seen better days and you are considering a new arm then this is a virtue of the Graham to remember. I am not connected to them except as a user.
hifihvn
943 posts
 
Magnifying 100 times plus(microscopes) are good for looking at a stylus for wear.The more light you have on it,the easier it is to see,no matter what your vision is.The Fozgometer may give a headache in some cases as seen in this this thread. Link.[http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1291669919]
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