The AT printable protractor PDF would be exactly the same. There is a 50-50 chance, or better, that the premounted version will be spot on as it comes. You can check it on the AT or other protractor. If it needs any adjustment, that will be E-Z. Just pull the trigger, when you can, you'll love it and know it is one of the best carts under the four and five figure price range and superbly holds it own anyway.
Late reply, but I found out my JVC QL-Y5F turntable capacitance for the tonearm wires and interconnects are a total of 105pF, according to an archived review from the July 1981 issue of High Fidelity magazine. JVC QL-Y5F turntable (review, Jul. 1981)
both were aligned with the same method and checking process. The mp200 sounds not as good once it hits the inner grooves for my 80s jp records where they use very bit of surface area. Overall the vm95ml is a better buy for me since some of my fav tracks are at the end of each side.
I recently bought an AT VM95ML to mount on my Rega P3. I’ve never mounted a cart before. What would the best resource (protractor and possibly instructions) to do so? I saw suggestions of using a protractor from Electric Warrior’s website
Hi! I would use the aligment paper/cardboard that came with your P3, supposing they still provide it with the tonarm (mine came with a Rega RB 300). That's easy to hit the point. After that you can still experiment with Stevenson or others. Bye Andrea
Rega makes a protractor. I'd suggest learning with an arc protractor, which is going to give you the most accuracy. The ML stylus is a rewarding but not a forgiving stylus in terms of alignment, so you have a task. You'll also find you need some good magnification. Surprisingly, the size of the magnification glass makes a big difference in that you want to be able to get down near the surface of the platter. Good lighting that can be directed is also essential—so you'll also assemble a set of tools that work for you. Remember to disengage the anti-skate and rough in the VTF before you start. It's intuitive once you understand the basics. Overhang is the first thing to get right—so the stylus tip sits on the arc at any point along the arc. I'd suggest blocking out a little time and taking some breaks as you'll feel pressure to think it's good enough. It's an essential skill to learn, but if you don't feel up to it, getting a properly aligned cartridge body with a replaceable stylus can work pretty well. Good luck!
In addition, be very gentle with the cartridge leads. You can print out the protractors from Vinyl engine. They have a couple for the Rega.
Don't sweat it, I've experimented with loads of alignments over the years and never really heard a difference. Parallel in the centre of the slots won't be far away.
I checked and rechecked the alligment of my 95ML on my Rega Planar 2 using the protractor that came with the P2. Measured and rechecked: The cartridge and thus needle is just of the center from the head of the arm. A little to the right of the center of the arm. Any other members have this as well? By ear everything sounds like it should.
My vm95ml/H came with an overhang of about 49mm from the washer (Technics jig). Needed to be adjusted.
I ordered my VM95ML on the AT shell and had to adjust it to Technics' specs. The gauge makes it easy. I've got a VM540ML coming later this week which I purchased on the shell and it too will need to be adjusted to fit properly on my GR.
The card I got with my Rega 3 (2016) only has one alignment point, which makes it pretty much useless for non-Rega carts unless you get the overhang right by fluke. I used the Vinylengine arc protractor and it worked well, but as others have said I'd recommend setting aside some time, getting good light and putting the cat out. Also, when using the arc the general advice seems to be to start at the outside then check against the inside. I would recommend the other way around as you can see the error much more clearly going in this direction. Apart from that, this is not the rocket science brain surgery mash-up that it's often made out to be. Take your time, get it right, you'll be fine
Hi! Hm, interesting, I really never thought about it, but that makes sense. I used the Rega aligment cardboard with three different non Rega carts and always got a nice result. But maybe they are now using another one. Mine has a hole for the spindle and three lines with one dot (x) where you have to drop the needle exactly on. Also the cartdridge seems to sit pretty close in the middle of the Rega tonarm-head. Bye Andrea
Thing about alignment and it is even more important with a finer stylus is that you are not aligning the cartridge body. You are aligning the cantilever and the stylus. If someone tells you close enough is good enough, don't buy used records from them.
Great! And, finally, when you get the 540ML/H, could you put it on the Technics tool and take a picture of it as it comes. Then a picture after you adjust it. (And post the pics.) The question has come up a few quintrillion times here, and before this thread, nobody remembered, like me, whether I adjusted it or not.
Thanks for all the suggestions regarding mounting on p3 - I’ll need to work on that, probably over the weekend.
AT publications state the cart is set in headshell to a 52.5mm distance from stylus to headshell tail. I checked it and found it to be indeed set to 52.5mm.
