Uni-Protractor Set tonearm alignment

I do recall the original stated price was slated till... March. Afterward would rise $100. I do recognize the value/quality of this tool. I'm a watchmaker who has/uses/appreciates many examples of fine european tooling.

Dear Daniel,
I understand, just making a jest on the price. To deviate from an accepted norm really need a lot of courage.

I'll make sure my order will be included in the 2nd batch.
I know you've sold many Davinci in the past. My tonearm is 12" Grandezza and my lps collection are mostly 70s to 90s rock and new wave, and current reissues. What templates should I get?

Rgds,

Have been following this thread daily since it started and have ordered mine.
Received confirmation of my UNI-Protractor, #38.
Can't wait.

Dear Mesael,

I do have calculated and designed a special UNI-template for the DaVinci 12". Aside from that, I would recommend Baerwald DIN and IEC as well as Löfgren DIN. That would cover about everything that can come across your way in terms of tonearms and pressings.

The UNI-Protractor's 2nd production run is already down to only 12 units left till sold out again.

Tonight I will introduce the UNI-scope here on Audiogon.
A superior option to magnify the cartridge's stylus on template by 20 - 200x with a special USB-microscope + macro-cold light + PC/MAC-view, photo storage and measurement option.
Including plug'n'play software for PC-Windows, MAC OS-X and Linux.
Furthermore ideal to judge wear or possible damage of stylus.

The UNI-P2S w/goniometer - an ultra precise mounting distance measurement instrument w/digital display and 1/100 mm accuracy will be introduced later this week.

Both are Audiogon exclusives and intended to further amplify the versatility and precision of the UNI-Pro.

Cheers,
D.

I made a few comparisons with a very close to perfect Alignment and a perfect Alignment.

When we multiply a regular Tonearm by Factor 100, the Arm is about 27.34yd (25m) in Length, the Cartridge System is about 1.09 yd (1m) in Hight with a Length of the cantilever in the area of 0.55 yd (0.5m) and finally the Diamond specs:
Its contact area is only 0.020 in. (0,5mm) !
Same is for the Mass in comparison.
A simple example to show what analog reproduction really is ...

Of course, all of you know that it is important to be spot on, but what is the difference in real life?
Well, I used a RCA LSC 2313 for it, a nice record from the golden Age ( no compression, no correction in the mix...) a record from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
Track side 2, La Gioconda: Dance of the hours
(I am sure, some of you own it, was remastered from Classic Records, really good job)

The very close to perfect alignment

I didn't made it totally wrong (that everyone will say."Of course, this is so wrong, it has to sound awful..."
Just a few hairs next to it....

Honestly, I think, most have this Situation. Not because you can't do it better, the problem is in general the limited view below cartridge Body, or "the last move" before fixing the screws....
It is not so bad in listening, when you can't compare it with the following alignment, I bet everything I own, nobody will notice it.
It is NOT distorted, it is NOT smeared, it is NOT horrible...
It is ok, the can't count the rows in the orchestra, but you know what is going on there. You don't "see" the distances from one musician to the next when they play, but you hear different instruments.
I think, you know what I mean.

Now to the perfect alignment

I can hear from the first second a different kind of Soundstage. It is deeper, no limit and it is in a way that the Listener is more or less in a position from one of the recording microphone above the orchestra.
Next, the musical flow is different. There are much more tiny nuances. These tiny nuances (or micro detail) is an addition to the main information, but this different.
You see the rows in the orchestra (from above), you have an imagination from the musicians to each other. The tones of their instruments have a time shift. It is more like a holographic "Picture".

This is not depending on the price of a cartridge. It simply shows that everyone can get more from his Set up when he is able to do it right.
And it is possible to rare a cartridge, because these differences from identical cartridge are comparable to sell and buy something new (".. I had this, have that now and it is MUCH better": This can be pure luck, probably the new one was adjusted a bit better by accident...)

There are some differences from the Recordings of course, this Set up is made for those which have the full dynamic swing in the last 3 tracks (where other Arms will produce a lot of distortions when not done right)

Btw. these pics were made with a FR-64s, a separate distance from Point to Spindle (231,5mm) with a Dennesen Protraktor (very rare, very good)
Later I made a controlling with a Phantom II and the own Graham alignment

Graham Phantom II

Here you see the reason why it is possible to listen with the Graham Arms the most demanding records without a compression, distortion or something similar, it is a serious product. Good Geometry & proper calculated.

I hope, these few lines will help the one or the other to understand, analog reproduction is mechanical and some care will give you a better result without spending a fortune.

Happy Listening