© Pro-ject Audio Systems · Pro-Ject Align it PRO· Revision 2022.10.07
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Assembly
Slide the beam into the groove in the base and set it to the correct length according to your tonearm. Make sure
that the beam length fixing screw is loosened far enough to allow the beam to insert easily, and then fix the screw
in the selected length.
Using the tool
Loosen the rod's fixing screw and move the rod up. Place the tool on the record spindle. Turning the platter
moves the end of the rod until it covers the tonearm's upper bearing. Make sure the rod sits exactly in the
center of the tonearm bearing. Then move the rod down to fix the position of the tool. This ensures the position
and angle of the protractor are 100% correct. Depending on the type of tonearm bearing you can use either
the pointed or the circular end of the rod, sitting on the tonearm bearing. On some Pro-Ject tonearm bearings
(CC or CC EVO tonearms, or X1, X2, X8,
…
and many more) there is a bearing adjustment screw on the top
center of the bearing. This screw will fit exactly in the circular end of the rod. Make sure to set the length so
the rod sits neatly on that screw. Make sure that the base is flat on the platter.
Adjusting azimuth
Lower the cartridge down on the mirror (3) and adjust the azimuth on your tonearm (Consult your turntable
manual if necessary). If the bottom body of the cartridge and its reflection are completely parallel to each
other, the azimuth, or horizontal alignment, is correct.
Cartridge alignment: Tangency and Overhang
An aligned cartridge is essential to ensure the most accurate reproduction of the recording, low noise, and the
least amount of wear on the record and stylus. Lower the tonearm, so that the stylus tip sits in the center of the
cartridge tangency adjustment (2). Slightly loosen the headshell screws and adjust the cartridge so that it sits
on the center point and is parallel to all the guide lines around it.
With the Align it PRO you are able to set the overhang and tangency in one easy step, just using the inner null-
point (2) as printed on the base.
Align it PRO uses the inner null-point of the Baerwald curve (16,21mm overhang).
This is because the exact position of the base is defined by the beam. With traditional protractors where you
have inner and outer null-point, it takes longer to set up the cartridge to the correct overhang, as you need to
go back between outer and inner null-point until the positioning is correct at both. If you just use one null-
point, but not the other, the result will be very, very inaccurate! The Align in PRO is designed to make this
process much faster, with its fixed position!