I just used the Rega Stevenson Arc Protractor... - Stephen Murphy

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I just used the Rega Stevenson Arc Protractor...

Posted by Stephen Murphy (A) on August 26, 2005 at 18:45:10

I have an RB300 arm and I have only used the supplied Rega template to align my carts on it. The hardest part of using that method is getting the headshell lined up with the lines on the card. Of course if it is out one way or the other, your overhang will be set wrong. The last time I pulled it out and used it, I must have had a real good seeing day, because I determined my setup was wrong and had to move my cart 1/16" or so. Since then, my cart has sounded better than it ever has. Just superb.

After reading about the Stevenson Arc Protractor available from VinylEngine.com, I thought I would check it out. Since it uses the same alignment goal as the Rega supplied protractor, I was interested to see how close I was to their ideal. The hardest part of this protractor is printing it out so it measures correctly. I ended up using three different printers before I got a copy that measured correctly. Since the paper is flimsy, I got an old record and some spray adhesive, and glued it right to the record. Very easy to handle now. I put it on and lined up the stylus on the outer edge C' marking on the arc. I fixed the platter with a piece of sponge so it wouldn't move. I then moved the stylus over to the C marking at the end of the record. Lo and behold, it landed right in the middle of the X. On the grid section, the cantelever lines up just right down the line. There is nothing I could even change a little bit.

I have come to the conclusion that both protractors will get you to the same spot. The Stevenson Arc Protractor however, is about 10 X easier to use and leaves little room for guesswork. If I were setting up a cart from scratch, I think I could get it done in less that 15 minutes without that nagging feeling that maybe it could be better.

Thanks to slate1 and garth for bringing this up as of late. Its a winner, like they said!

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Topic - I just used the Rega Stevenson Arc Protractor... - Stephen Murphy 18:45:10 08/26/05 (15)

I tried the Rega Baerwald Protractor -- and I liked it!!! - Heli_Dog 22:59:44 08/27/05 (1)

Re: I tried the Rega Baerwald Protractor -- and I liked it!!! - Stephen Murphy 09:22:05 08/28/05 (0)

Perhaps it would be interesting and informative to compare the different alignments graphicallyâ€¦ - John Elison 19:42:25 08/27/05 (2)

wow - hukkfinn 22:16:55 08/27/05 (1)

it's a good illustration - KT88 15:56:21 08/30/05 (0)

I also tried it and... - jsm 16:22:51 08/27/05 (0)

Excuse my ignorance, but where do the Denessen and Clearaudio protractors fit in as far as methodologies? nt - Ray-o-Stat 07:28:29 08/27/05 (1)

The Denessen uses ... - garth 08:22:41 08/27/05 (0)

out of interest - avian 21:11:14 08/26/05 (3)

I get MUCH better performance with Stevenson - slate1 10:39:17 08/27/05 (1)

MUCH better? - garth 14:12:32 08/27/05 (0)

Re: out of interest - Stephen Murphy 21:40:16 08/26/05 (0)

That's odd...... - Jazzyguy 20:39:43 08/26/05 (2)

Re: That's odd...... - Stephen Murphy 21:23:20 08/26/05 (1)

I agree - Jazzyguy 06:50:16 08/27/05 (0)

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