Sme 30/2

[Bruce B]

Oh well, so much for getting as far as I've gotten.

Here is the email from Yip:

Many thanks for the email.

Regarding SME tonearms I need to know the MHST distance of the
cartridge. Details please read here:

http://www.mintlp.com/best/sme tonearms.htm

just dismount the cartridge, place it carefully on a table. Then place
a tranparent ruler to the front, take a digital picture at the closet
possible distance [ie macro view]. The photo will tell you what it is.
Not difficult at all and my webpage should have a lot of examples, all
done by my users.

For your interest, please take a look at this link as well:

http://www.ortofon.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=323&Itemid=360

Feel very free to ask me questions,

Regards,

Yip


So now I have to take the damn thing back off now. I would certainly think he would have a list of common cartridge measurements. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr......

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Oh well, so much for getting as far as I've gotten.

Here is the email from Yip:

Many thanks for the email.

Regarding SME tonearms I need to know the MHST distance of the
cartridge. Details please read here:

http://www.mintlp.com/best/sme tonearms.htm

just dismount the cartridge, place it carefully on a table. Then place
a tranparent ruler to the front, take a digital picture at the closet
possible distance [ie macro view]. The photo will tell you what it is.
Not difficult at all and my webpage should have a lot of examples, all
done by my users.

For your interest, please take a look at this link as well:

http://www.ortofon.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=323&Itemid=360

Feel very free to ask me questions,

Regards,

Yip


So now I have to take the damn thing back off now. I would certainly think he would have a list of common cartridge measurements. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr......

Bruce,

try contacting your dealer or distributor for your cartridge, they may have that measurment for your cartridge. it's not likely you are the first owner to need that.

 

[Bruce B]

Bruce,

try contacting your dealer or distributor for your cartridge, they may have that measurment for your cartridge. it's not likely you are the first owner to need that.

Thanks Mike.... just sent an email to Jaime. Hopefully he can help me with this.

 

[PeterA]

Cartridges can each have a slightly different MHST, even if they are the same model. I used a digital caliper that I found on Ebay for $15. The MHST distance for my AirTight Supreme is 9.27mm. VTF will alter this distance slightly. Best to measure with the cartridge mounted in the arm and the stylus on a flat surface at the correct VTF. Good magnification and lighting can help.

I did discover that Yip did not have the correct offset angle for the SME V-12 arm, so I supplied him with that angle, the MHST distance for my cartridge and the SME V-12 pivot to mounting hole distance (300.8mm). Then one can do the math to determine what the actual effective length is (pivot to stylus tip distance). This can vary by a few mm so precise dimensions are critical.

You'll find that the MINT is very accurate if Yip is supplied with the correct dimensions.

 

[Bruce B]

The instructions do say to have the cartridge upside down for measurement using a clear ruler. I'm not taking any chances with a $15k cartridge.

 

[audioarcher]

Cartridges can each have a slightly different MHST, even if they are the same model. I used a digital caliper that I found on Ebay for $15. The MHST distance for my AirTight Supreme is 9.27mm. VTF will alter this distance slightly. Best to measure with the cartridge mounted in the arm and the stylus on a flat surface at the correct VTF. Good magnification and lighting can help.

I did discover that Yip did not have the correct offset angle for the SME V-12 arm, so I supplied him with that angle, the MHST distance for my cartridge and the SME V-12 pivot to mounting hole distance (300.8mm). Then one can do the math to determine what the actual effective length is (pivot to stylus tip distance). This can vary by a few mm so precise dimensions are critical.

You'll find that the MINT is very accurate if Yip is supplied with the correct dimensions.

Wondering if you measure from the center of the mounting bolt hole or the front edge? My guess would be the center.

 

[Bruce B]

Wondering if you measure from the center of the mounting bolt hole or the front edge? My guess would be the center.

The pictures look like from the center of the mounting hole

 

[audioarcher]

The pictures look like from the center of the mounting hole

Yeah. I should have looked at the pics in the link first. This is all good info to know for future reference.

 

[audioarcher]

If you do not want to measure it with the stylus loaded then you could figure it out afterward. Just place the clear ruler on the platter and drop the stylus (mounted in the arm) by the mm marker on the ruler. Then note how far the stylus moves forward after settling on the ruler. Add this distance to the MHTS distance measured without loading of the stylus. IME it will be about .5 to 1 mm depending on the compliance of the cartridge.

 

[Bruce B]

That was quick.... just got word back the MHST is 9.5mm

 

[Mike Lavigne]

That was quick.... just got word back the MHST is 9.5mm

excellent.

 

[microstrip]

If you want to know what is effect in maximum distortion and average rms distortion of overhang adjustments just introduce the values of your arm in the online calculator at vinylengine.com http://www.vinylengine.com/overhang_shift_calculator.php .

The SME V values can be found at http://www.sme.ltd.uk/content/Series-V-1330.shtml

The differences between the SME 9" and 12" can be seen in the graph shown in http://www.sme.ltd.uk/content/Series-M212R-1536.shtml

 

[microstrip]

The instructions do say to have the cartridge upside down for measurement using a clear ruler. I'm not taking any chances with a $15k cartridge.

The good point of using the SME standard process is that you check for the accuracy of the cartridge angle offset (the most critical aspect of the adjustment) taking a photo and measuring it from the photo. IMHO methods that rely mainly on visual observation are too unreliable.

 

[Bruce B]

Just got the Mint LP Tractor today. Anyone up for some cartridge alignment tonight? LOL

 

[jazdoc]

Be glad to come over after work on Thursday.

 

[Bruce B]

Be glad to come over after work on Thursday.

If you can stand the mess, you're more than welcome!!

 

[Bruce B]

Thanks to jazzdoc, the SME is ready for the F1 circuit! We went through the LP Mint setup and then the VTA ritual with some albums he brought over. Had a really great time. Many thanks and a hope to have more guests over for a listen as soon as the cartridge settles in. Only have a few hours on it and it's everything people say it is.

 

[jazdoc]

Had a great time Bruce! Your system is sweet. My first opportunity to hear a Koetsu stonebody....pretty amazing! Congrats and enjoy!

 

[audioarcher]

Good to hear! About time you got it sorted out. Would love to hear it when you get some time on it.

 

[Bruce B]

and the best thing, I hooked it up to the main system and just cranked it. since it's in the other room, no feedback! Who needs a Herzan???