RE: Choices for my 2M Black/Xpression II rig: new stylus or new, different cartridge?

Thanks, I've decided that it is the bent issue. This weekend I re-aligned it using a custom arc protractor I made with Adobe illustrator. First I dug out an old pic showing the bent cantilever, imported into Illustrator and determined the angle to be about 2.5°, so I took the null point grids and rotated them 2.5° clockwise and then lined the cartridge up carefully to the protractor and the sound is great with almost no sibilance or edginess.

So I went ahead and ordered a new 2M Black stylus.

For those into protractors, I might add that the protractor I used was based on a custom Löfgren B with 56mm inner groove, 142 outer groove and 24.06° offset angle. This keeps the distortion really low (average 0.45%) over the inner 3/4s of the record surface and still less than 1% in the lead-in grooves where extra spacing means distortion is less of a problem. I also tried a regular Baerwald DIN arc with the same 2.5° rotation and it didn't sound baf per se, but the imaging and smoothness with the custom arc is noticeably better to the point of being almost "holographic". I almost feel like cancelling the new stylus order, but what the heck. I'll install it with the non-rotated custom arc and keep the bent stylus for an emergency back-up!

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Choices for my 2M Black/Xpression II rig: new stylus or new, different cartridge? - Garven 09:03:12 05/30/12 (19)

RE: Choices for my 2M Black/Xpression II rig: new stylus or new, different cartridge? - cwsiggy 16:38:56 05/31/12 (6)

RE: Choices for my 2M Black/Xpression II rig: new stylus or new, different cartridge? - slippers... 15:57:18 06/03/12 (5)

Vincent Phono pre... - cwsiggy 15:44:24 06/05/12 (2)

RE: Vincent Phono pre... - Garven 15:19:17 06/10/12 (1)

RE: Vincent Phono pre... - slippers... 13:07:52 06/27/12 (0)

RE: Choices for my 2M Black/Xpression II rig: new stylus or new, different cartridge? - Garven 07:06:14 06/05/12 (1)

RE: Choices for my 2M Black/Xpression II rig: new stylus or new, different cartridge? - slippers... 08:59:13 06/05/12 (0)

I agree with another poster... - EdAInWestOC 07:27:26 05/31/12 (1)

RE: I agree with another poster... - Garven 11:58:46 05/31/12 (0)

Try a different phono preamp - Bigby 22:27:43 05/30/12 (0)

RE: Why wouldn't you run the 10x5 into the 47k MM input? - amioutaline? 13:35:00 05/30/12 (0)

Here's an Ortofon MC . . . - dean_martin 12:37:36 05/30/12 (0)

Lots of variables in play... - rebop 10:20:11 05/30/12 (2)

RE: Lots of variables in play... - Garven 11:26:56 05/30/12 (1)

RE: Lots of variables in play... - rebop 13:18:11 05/30/12 (0)

RE: Choices for my 2M Black/Xpression II rig: new stylus or new, different cartridge? - dvb 09:41:50 05/30/12 (3)

RE: Choices for my 2M Black/Xpression II rig: new stylus or new, different cartridge? - Garven 09:46:13 05/30/12 (2)

RE: Choices for my 2M Black/Xpression II rig: new stylus or new, different cartridge? - dvb 15:31:41 05/30/12 (1)

RE: Choices for my 2M Black/Xpression II rig: new stylus or new, different cartridge? - Garven 17:41:02 05/30/12 (0)

Follow Ups

RE: Choices for my 2M Black/Xpression II rig: new stylus or new, different cartridge? - Garven 07:06:14 06/05/12 (1)

RE: Choices for my 2M Black/Xpression II rig: new stylus or new, different cartridge? - slippers... 08:59:13 06/05/12 (0)

RE: Choices for my 2M Black/Xpression II rig: new stylus or new, different cartridge?

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