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Review: Accutrack protractor and big thanks to Kwillis and Tubesforever

68.225.10.25

Tubesforever won an accutrak protractor as a door prize at Ribfest. Since he already had several he asked Ken Willis to give it to me. I don't know what I've done to deserve such friendly attention from Tubesy, but he sure has been a big help and a good friend. Thanks a bunch to Ken as well. He contacted me while I was dealing with an email server problem as well as a REALLY busy time at work. He spent more effort tracking me down than I would have spent tracking down a lousy ebay seller. His paying customers are in excellent hands if his non-paying customers like me get such outstanding attention.

Anyway, to the review:

I haven't really paid much attention to protractor conversations because I already owned a turntable basics as well as a few I printed from vinyl engine. I figured I was covered. I was very surprised to learn that I was, in fact not covered. Ken's protractor showed me that I did not have the overhang set correctly nor did I have the alignment set right on either null point, on either turntable. Embarrassing as that may be, it supports my claim that this protractor is very easy to use and read. The result is tighter bass and an overall more smooth, refined and controlled sound. The good news is I have recordings of my previous alignment I can compare to the alignment I did with Ken's protractor. The bad news is I need to go back and rerecord everything uhhhggg.

Anyway, thanks a lot Ken and Jim. This was an unexpected pleasant surprise.

Nate

There comes a time in the affairs of a man when he must take the bull by the tail and face the situation -- W.C. Fields

Follow Ups:

RE: Review: Accutrack protractor and big thanks to Kwillis and Tubesforever - nu2toobs 19:28:37 07/02/09 (5)
Sorry to barge in, but what is the Accutrack protractor? The reason I ask is I'm having a tough time aligning my Koetsu on a Jelco 750d. The alignment from Turntable Basics is way different from others I've downloaded. I just want some comparisons to see which is best.
Thanks
__
Going to trial with a lawyer who considers your whole life-style a Crime in Progress is not a happy prospect.
Hunter S. Thompson
- Pics are worth a thousand words. - tubesforever 23:55:08 07/02/09 (2)
  Measure out your tonearms spindle to pivot distance and check to make sure its spot on. If not, loosen up the arm locking nut and set it properly. The closer you get to perfect here the better.
  Once you have the right distance tighten down the nut so it is secure.
  Loosen the cartridge screws if you have a slotted headshell. Otherwise follow the manufacturer's instructions to set overhang.
  Then drop on the AccuTrac protractor and here is how to set your alignment.
  First step, I like to start at the extremes. Drop the needle right on the outside line.
  
  You can see how the Grado is sitting right at the edge. I drop the needle on the arc line marked Magnepan Unitrac. I own other arms. Ken's AccuTrac covers those arcs as well.
  Second step is to cue up the arm and place the stylus on the inside line. If it doesn't track the arc like you see in picture two you need to adjust the overhang so the needle will track the entire arc.
  
  Either slide the cartridge toward the pivot or out from the pivot to accomplish a successful arc. On some SME arms you move the main bearing pivot in or out and on the Unitrac arm you see pictured you rotate the arm rest inwards or outwards to establish the proper arc.
  Step three, once you have the arc established, now set the cartridge into one of the grid patterns and square up the body to match.
  
  While the parallax error prevents you from clearly visualizing the alignment, the Accutrac grids make it easy to align the Grado Reference Master cartridge.
  Step 4 is to put the cartridge into the inside grid and verify its still square. If not then something is off somewhere.
  
  Step 5, if you are unable to get the proper spindle to pivot distance then getting the arc perfect will be tough. If you cannot get this step right remember it would be more important to track the arc as well as you can and make sure to square up the inner grid.
  Step six, seven and eight is to adjust the tracking force and stylus rake angle to provide the best possible sound quality. Azimuth is important as well. The stylus should be riding the groove straight up and down.
  I love this protractor. I can drop an expensive diamond on the laminated card knowing it can do no harm.
  Hope the pictures help. BTW the pics might mix in one of the early prototypes. The current model is superb!
  "Music Matters" Help support our schools music programs.
  
  Edits: 07/02/09
  - Hey! That looks like a prototype protractor Garth sent me. - JimK 12:27:09 07/03/09 (1)
    Are the two related somehow? Anyway, Garth's had a piece of string on it which took me a little time figure out, but after getting the hang of it I really liked it for my RB300.
    
    Hmmm. I wonder where I put that thing...
    
    Jim
    - His was probably more like the Turntable basics.... - tubesforever 23:36:57 07/03/09 (0)
      They use a sight line to line up to the pivot point. That's what Garth's string was intended for in my best guess-timate.
      
      Once you sight line the pivot, then you can use the protractor for lining up the grids.
      
      With Ken Willis at the helm, he can compute the actual tonearm you are using and build an arc for that specific tonearm.
      
      No guess work is left because there is no sight line to verify.
      
      What the pics don't show is the very soft clear plastic laminate over the firm board. The plastic laminate allows a soft resting place for a stylus. I like it a lot better than the hard plastic turntable basics surface.
      
      Its the little things that count.
      "Music Matters" Help support our schools music programs.
- Email Ken Willis via the forum, give him the spindle to pivot distance and he will make you one - Olly 19:41:19 07/02/09 (0)
  Personalised Accutrac protractor is the way to go.
  OLLY
- RE: Review: Accutrack protractor and big thanks to Kwillis and Tubesforever - John Elison 19:40:10 07/02/09 (0)
  An Accutrack protractor is an arc type protractor that contains up to four different custom alignments. It is one of the nicest arc protractors available today.
  - Ken Willis' Accutrack (Open in New Window)
Do what Tubes says...Send it to your Dad! - jazzthusiast 18:42:56 07/02/09 (6)
I'll send it back. Promise (hehe).

Dad

"I've had a wonderful time, but this wasn't it" -- Groucho Marx.
- Or just shoot Ken an email - tubesforever 00:06:49 07/03/09 (0)
  He is one of the good guys here at the asylum. These protractors are outstanding values for those of us who love vinyl.
  
  Cheers!
  "Music Matters" Help support our schools music programs.
- Hi "DAD", the Hehe gives you away - Olly 19:22:46 07/02/09 (4)
  and he thought he could trust you.Silly boy.
  OLLY
  - Sshhhhh!!! Can't blame a dad for tryin'... - jazzthusiast 19:36:40 07/02/09 (3)
    Of course, we all know when it comes to vinyl and gear, all bets are off.
    
    Hope all is well with you Olly. Thought the Rola Professional TT looked pretty cool that you posted about not too long ago. Doubt I'll see any "around these parts, partner".
    
    Regards,
    Jim
    
    "I've had a wonderful time, but this wasn't it" -- Groucho Marx.
    - Never know what's around the corner Jim. - Olly 19:52:28 07/02/09 (2)
      These are one hell of a turntable, just can't get enthusiastic enough to build a solid plinth to compare these to the Garrard 301,401 and Commonwealth Electronics. I have a Rola set up on a poor example of a plinth so I should attach an arm and see how it performs as it is but as I said I am to lazy to do it.
      The Rola is in the middle and was part of the 3 turntables I purchased as you see in the picture for AU$250.00, approx US$200.00 4 years ago. The SME3012 was worth more than what I paid for the lot.
      OLLY
      - Stop it Olly.... - tubesforever 00:04:18 07/03/09 (1)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Never know what's around the corner Jim. posted by Olly on July 02, 2009 at 19:52:28
        
        I need to find a drool cup....
        
        Damn you man, do you have to have so many GREAT turntables? No of course not. You should send me one.....or better yet send all three!
        
        Cheers!
        "Music Matters" Help support our schools music programs.
        
        Silly thing is I don't use any of them. Hope to change that soon. - Olly 02:07:23 07/03/09 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Stop it Olly.... posted by tubesforever on July 03, 2009 at 00:04:18
        
        The only part I am using is the AT1501Mk3 tonearm. Thinking of moving the SME3012 on as I don't think I will ever use it.
        OLLY
Your bill is in the mail Texanater..... ;-) - tubesforever 18:18:02 07/02/09 (0)
If you think the protractor is good, wait until you hear one of my improved Technics SL1200 bearings.

Its better than the Rek O Kut bearings I was doing up to now.

While at MuzikMikes for Ribfest they were doing a raffle. I did not participate. I could have, but my reward was meeting Mike, and about 15-20 other inmates. I was in asylum heaven.

Well JimK told Mike I was not participating so they threw a ticket in for me!

Dang the Asylum has some great guys. When I won Ken's protractor I knew you could use one. These things nail alignment in mere seconds. When your are done send it to your dad and then be prepared to beg him to send it back!

Ken Willis, has my highest endorsement for an incredible protractor. It is simple, fast, and it handles stylus safety better than any protractor I have used.

Your bill is in the mail Nate ;-)

Thanks for the kind words, they mean a lot to me.
"Music Matters" Help support our schools music programs.
RE: Review: Accutrack protractor and big thanks to Kwillis and Tubesforever - sberger 17:34:31 07/02/09 (1)
Ken's protractor is fantastic. So easy to use, and the results are as you spoke to. One of the great bargains in vinyl.
- ditto to that! - Cpk 19:12:09 07/02/09 (0)
  It kicks ass :-)!!
  
  A common experience resulting in a common confusion
You actually won something that could be used, WOW - Olly 17:08:48 07/02/09 (4)
Hi Nate, I have been a Ken Willis Accutrac fan since day one. I have 4 different arcs Ken has made for me and I also found that the normal run of the mill protractors I have picked up over the years were lacking in a big way. Once I placed the stylus down on the Accutrac I also found that I was way out on my settings and the difference it made was enormous. Even on 78's it was very noticeable and I would strongly advise anyone that is serious about their setup to get in touch with Ken to have an Accutrac designed for their very own tonearm.
My problems arose gfrom having to measure and mount my arms and you only have to be out slightly to bugger things up and this is where ken comes into his own.
Are you still using the cork/foam spotmats and if so I bet the sound is even better with perfect alignment?
OLLY
- RE: You actually won something that could be used, WOW - theophile 01:26:58 07/04/09 (0)
  Olly,
  I still use cork/foam spotmats.However I've been using them for years now with a hard mat atop of them.I started with the top-half of a SOTA acrylic/sorbothane two-piece(the acrylic part).Then I got a Boston Audio carbon graphite 'Mat1'.Now I use the Boston Audio 'Mat 2'.
  
  To reiterate;I use(used)these mats atop the cork/foam spotmat.
  Thanks Olly.
- RE: You actually won something that could be used, WOW - tubesforever 18:23:21 07/02/09 (0)
  LMAO....I have won a lot of useless trivial stupid junk in my life time. The AccuTrac is superb.
  
  BTW I am using spot mats with excellent results.
  
  Cheers!
  "Music Matters" Help support our schools music programs.
- absolutely I still use the spotmats - texanater 17:39:04 07/02/09 (1)
  I put the technics mat back on just to see recently and immediately put the spot mats back on. There was no comparison. Those spotmats are really amazing. They leave everything else I've tried in the dust. I also use them on my rek o kut but that is a no brainer. The stock rek o kut mat is pretty terrible. Expect an email from me shortly, I have a couple things I want to mention to you.
  Nate
  There comes a time in the affairs of a man when he must take the bull by the tail and face the situation -- W.C. Fields
  
  Edits: 07/02/09
  - OK., anytime you're ready - Olly 19:21:22 07/02/09 (0)
    OLLY

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