6
Double check the adjustments made above. The cartridge needs to be both
centered and "square" between the grid lines and have the stylus resting on the
dot.
The alignment gauge does not have a hole or dimple to hold the stylus. While the
printed dot makes it harder to keep the stylus in place, this method was chosen to
avoid the possibility of damaging the stylus cantilever or the diamond tip as the
cartridge is positioned.
Place the arm back in its rest.
Without letting the cartridge move, tighten the screws holding the cartridge to the
arm head. Make it tight, but don't over do it and strip the threads or distort the
cartridge body.
D. TRACKING FORCE:
Moving the counterweight forward and back adjusts tracking force.
A Shure Stylus Force Gauge is supplied with your unit. Follow the gauge
instructions and set the tracking force to the
cartridge manufacturer’s
highest recommendation plus
1/10 of a gram more.
We always
recommend going to the high side when it comes to tracking force. High
frequency vibrations can make a light tracking cartridge do more damage to the
grooves than running a cartridge at a heavy setting.
Remember to raise or lower the arm until it is parallel to the platter when sitting
on the stylus force gauge (any gauge).
Set the tracking force with the arm
parallel to the platter
, remove the gauge, place a record on the platter, put
the cartridge on the record and make the arm parallel to the record. This is your
zero point; write the number down for later reference. You can raise or lower
the arm from this point but you need a zero point to return to at certain times.
E. AZIMUTH:
Next, the lateral balance or azimuth must be set. Because the phono cartridge is
offset, there is an unbalancing force that tilts the arm to one side. For the cartridge
to properly track the record groove, the stylus must be ninety degrees to the record
surface. Move the counterweight so a slight tracking force is applied and the stylus
just sits on the record surface.
By rotating the counterweight you can tip the arm in either direction. Set the
counterweight so the cartridge sits as shown below. Do not move the
counterweight front and back while doing this, just side to side. If the arm is tipped
towards the left side rotate the counterweight so the bottom mass moves towards
the right. This will level the arm.
