Turntable Lab: Turntable Phono Cartridge Alignment Protractor Tool - Mirrored Surface for Precision

As usual my reviews are lengthy. I am so mad I waited a year to get this! I had no idea how misaligned my cartridge on my brand new Audio-Technical AT-LP120 USB was. This tool IS indispensable. I previously bought the Hudson Hi-Fi protractor but had to return it because the hole was too small to fit over my spindle. I could not believe how a tool designed for perfect alignment did not fit the spindle ...it’s ironic. I gave up on these thinking they’re a waste of money. I was wrong. Please choose this tool over the competition since it is designed superbly. It has instructions printed on the back side. Don’t assume cartridges are installed correctly. This will be a lifetime investment, allowing cartridges stay aligned. You will need this tool for mounting newer cartridges. I need to say the tracking slightly improved with the alignment, especially with regards to sibilance and violin passages. A slight misalignment is serious for vinyl preservation because the stylus is riding the grooves at an angle, not straight through so give this some serious thought.

After searching a video on how to use the thing, I was able to accurately align my newly installed cartridge with ease! What makes this tool stand out the most to me was its mirrored surface which makes the entire process much easier. That being said, the tool is made out of glass, so use caution when handling. Overall a must have tool to keep your turntable sounding consistent!

The mirror creates double lines, and made difficult to sight. It does what it's supposed to do.

I was getting back into LPs and noticed some high frequency distortion on most of my albums. I started checking all the adjustments of the cartridge/tonearm and finally decided to purchase this protractor tool after using a scale from an Internet article that I printed on my inkjet printer.It turns out the printed version was off enough to cause some distortion, probably because punching the hole in the paper printout for the spindle was not very accurate.But this tool is well made, easy to read, and fit the spindle exactly. After using this tool, a significant reduction in the distortion was noticed. Turns out my alignment was off such that the stylus was tracking too near the pivot point of the tonearm and also was not parallel with the record groove. Loosening the screws holding the cartridge and sliding the cartridge a little further toward the end of the tonearm to the alignment mark on the tool did the job.Though it's a very minor adjustment (in my case only 3 millimeters), every parameter of the cartridge alignment is important.Anyone serious about LPs should have this tool in their inventory.

Super easy to use. Takes just a few minutes to do. Downside is there are no real directions, so just watch the short video linked to this product page and you'll be able to do it, no problem.Makes a real difference in how your stylus tracks in the grooves.Reduces groove wear, improves playback sound from beginning to end of the record and should increase lifespan of the stylus and record.

I have been fortunate to assemble perfectly but at the time of doing the calibration it was perfect.It is not a tool that you are going to use every day or once a week but if you make capsules for the turntable and you want to do it correctly, I recommend it for the sake of your needles and the grooves of the record, have a good dayhe tenido la suerte de armar perfectamente pero en el momento de hacer la calibración estaba perfecto.no es una herramienta que la vas a usar todos los dias ni una vez a la semana pero si armas capsulas para el tocadiscos y quieres hacerlo en forma correcta la recomiendo por el bien de tus agujas y los surcos del disco que tengan buen diahe tenido la suerte de armar perfectamente pero en el momento de hacer la calibración estaba perfecto.no es una herramienta que la vas a usar todos los dias ni una vez a la semana pero si armas capsulas para el tocadiscos y quieres hacerlo en forma correcta la recomiendo por el bien de tus agujas y los surcos del disco que tengan buen dia

This works fine however because it is mirrored it is hard to use due to the reflection. Looks cool though.

The instructions could have been a little clearer, but it definitely gets the job done.