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Alignment Tools:
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The SMARTractor - mating ultra-precision with utmost ease and swift
operation
While the UNI-Protractor represents the most universal and versatile phono alignment tool ever introduced in high-end audio, it is an instrument which - due to it’s complexity and versatility - appeals more to professional users.
The serious audiophile who is interested in aligning - if only periodically - his analog front-end to the utmost precision does look for precision which comes handy and which is easy to operate.
To answer this request we have designed the SMARTractor - a direct off-spring of our
UNI-Protractor. The SMARTractor brings the same unparalleled precise tangential alignment for which the UNI-Protractor earned it’s laurels - PLUS the 0.05mm precise mounting distance measurement of the UNI-P2S.
- The SMARTractor comes with 5 (five) tangential curves combined in 1 (one) template.
- the SMARTractor's template is made from 3mm (= same thickness as 180 gr LP) strong premium grade german XT mirrored acrylic supplied by
Evonik.
- no-error-possible single-point alignment with 3mm deep parallax (for ALL helping lines) - an extreme precise, easy and fast alignment.
- super easy to use with 1-point fixed setting for every tangential curve.
- all alignment lines are cnc-laser cut hairlines.
- incorporates real glass aluminum-frame magnifier with automatic focus jig for unrivaled precise magnified view during alignment.
- all 5 tangential alignments are based on true triangular positioning and thus are independent of effective length and thus suitable for ALL pivot tonearms, no matter what their effective length or mounting position.
- The SMARTractor further comes with in-built direct mounting distance - P2S -measurement with 0.05mm accuracy.
The total of 5 tangential options of course includes the old audio phono standards set by Loefgren and Baerwald in the late 1930s and 1940s in both - IEC and DIN - norms.
- Loefgren A / Baerwald DIN
- Loefgren A / Baerwald IEC
- Loefgren B DIN
- Loefgren B IEC
and ...
furthermore the SMARTractor features the critically acclaimed UNI-DIN tangential curve.
An all new tangential curve which is the latest calculation and the first one which does really take into account the special requirements and circumstances of a stereo stylus tracking a non linear stereo groove with increasing differences between the two groove walls.
The result? - real sonic benefits!
In the last 2/3 of the record's groove, the UNI-DIN curve offers significant (18-45%) less average - as well as less total! - distortion than Baerwald or
Loefgren.
Sonically this gives you less stress on human (female) voices, more subtle details, less "grain", increased "air" and considerable more "headroom" in critical passages and especially so in climaxes. Rest assured - you'll love it, once you've heard it's direct results and merits.
Please note:
the UNI-DIN tangential alignment is available only in the SMARTractor and the UNI-Protractor.
Now - why 5 different options for alignment of cartridge/tonearm?
The vast number of tonearms introduced in the past 40 years not only displays a large number of different concepts, but also a considerable diversity in geometries.
Furthermore it makes a significant difference whether the record we want to track with best possible results is a modern pressing with a very long run-out/lead-out ('unmodulated groove' or 'dead wax'), or whether the record's groove is cut close to the paper inner label.
The later is often found with countless records made in the early stereo years from 1958 up till 1974.
The SMARTractor takes into account the diversity of geometries found in pivot tonearms - as well as the different situations in records past and present.
The SMARTractor offers the best possible tangential curve for every request.
For every pivot tonearm - as well as for every record collection.
And it makes sure that the serious audiophile gets the most perfect, utmost precise alignment possible.
Even more important, this ultra precise result is achieved swift, with ease and free of any possible error.
No in-deep knowledge nor any special manual skills are required. Setting up your analog front-end with unparalleled precision - and with the BEST SONIC results obtainable - is only a matter of a few minutes when using the
SMARTractor.
The SMARTractor - mating ultra-precision with utmost ease and swift
operation
The P.A.S. offers - for the first time - an all-complete set of unique
quality professional instruments and tools to ensure perfect set-up and
alignment for each and every tonearm, cartridge and turntable - past,
present and future.
A custom made in Germany attaché-style aluminum suitcase packed with a
extensive and sophisticated selection of - made in Germany and Japan - tools
and precision instruments.
This handy, stylish and mobile set offers to the serious audiophile and the
professional dealer focussing on analog components and set-up an unmatched
universal tool-box to make the best possible analog set-up - and
documentation! - a really swift and easy job.
The custom made full aluminum P.A.S. suitcase contains the following:
- UNI-Protractor Set
- UNI-P2S
- UNI-Scope
- LED magnifying glasses 1.5x, 2.5x, 3.5x
- selection of up to 12 tangential geometry templates
- selection of 3 different size precision spirit levels
- selection of 6 size hex wrenches metric
- selection of 6 size hex wrenches inch
- selection of 6 size Philips screw drivers
- selection of 6 size slot head screw drivers
- 8x magnifying metal frame lupe
- cold light battery powered lamp
- azimuth template
- overhang template
- 12" stroboscope disk for 33 1/3, 45 and 78 rpm - 50 Hz and 60 Hz
- digital cartridge stylus VTF gauge - illuminated - with 0.01 gr accuracy
- manuals and software CD
What does the P.A.S. offer compared to other set-up devices and tools?
With the P.A.S. the serious audiophile and professional user alike can
perform the following set-ups - in unmatched precision, swift, easy:
* precise leveling of turntable, mounting / arm board and tonearm bearing.
* precise checking turntable actual speed - 33 1/3, 45 and 78 rpm - 50/60 hz.
* precisely determine and mark mounting distance P2S with 0.05 mm accuracy.
* true triangular 1-point-alignment for each and every tonearm past, present
and future.
This includes also all tonearms with an odd geometry.
Tonearms NOT possible to align to any good results with any standard
protractor.
Including tonearms like many vintage SAEC, Fidelity Research, Grace, Toho
and many more, which do not follow Loefgren A / Baerwald nor Loefgren B nor
Stevenson.
Special optimized templates are available for even the most odd tonearm.
* direct read-out of P2S while aligning the cartridge - an unique option and
only possible with these instruments.
* magnifying alignment area by 20x and viewing via Laptop / PC.
* documenting with 20x magnification the quality and precision of cartridge
alignment by photo-file.
* inspecting stylus condition and documenting it with 200x magnification.
* angle and distance length measurement for stylus in the smallest
dimensions.
* adjustable 8 LED cold-light for alignment spot.
* direct overhang read-out for every tonearm.
* direct look-through azimuth template for cartridge and tonearm.
* precisely adjusting VTF with 0.01 mn (gram) accuracy
In addition:
* all precision tools for attending each and every small to miniature screw
- metric and inch - Allen wrench, Philips and slotted head.
Thus making sure, that you won’t run into a situation with an unknown or
foreign made tonearm where you can’t attend a needed setting.
The P.A.S. is the true one-of-a-kind all-complete instrument tool-box for
the serious audiophile, high-end dealer in analog front-end and professional
analog set-up person.hile the UNI-Protractor represents the most universal and versatile phono alignment tool ever introduced in high-end audio, it is an instrument which - due to it’s complexity and versatility - appeals more to professional users.
The serious audiophile who is interested in aligning - if only periodically - his analog front-end to the utmost precision does look for precision which comes handy and which is easy to operate.
To answer this request we have designed the SMARTractor - a direct off-spring of our
UNI-Protractor. The SMARTractor brings the same unparalleled precise tangential alignment for which the UNI-Protractor earned it’s laurels - PLUS the 0.05mm precise mounting distance measurement of the UNI-P2S.
- The SMARTractor comes with 5 (five) tangential curves combined in 1 (one) template.
- the SMARTractor's template is made from 3mm (= same thickness as 180 gr LP) strong premium grade german XT mirrored acrylic supplied by
Evonik.
- no-error-possible single-point alignment with 3mm deep parallax (for ALL helping lines) - an extreme precise, easy and fast alignment.
The UNI-Protractor is a versatile alignment and positioning instrument
for use with phono tonearms and cartridges. It allows precise alignment of
any given tonearm to any tangential curve desired.
It is about getting the very best possible from a given cartridge/tonearm
combination. To get that, the best possible geometrical set-up and alignment
is the very first step. What is lost here to imperfect alignment can’t be
recovered anywhere else in the audio chain.
UNI Protractor Manual 10 2012......................... (1MB)
The UNI-P2S is a high-precision and universal versatile positioning
and measuring instrument for use with phono tonearms turntables. It allows
precise measurement of mounting distance - P2S or pivot-to-spindle distance
- of any given tonearm.
UNI P2S 10 2012 ......................... (769KB)
The SRA / VTA / Azimuth Template
This all-new SRA/VTA template received much praise and universal acclaim by
all international reviewers seeing it at Munich High End show 2015.
- all loved the product and it’s total new and innovative approach.
The brand new SMARTstylus template comes in an engraved, handy hard case.
It features a 2x and 5x card-shaped hand loupe and a removable acrylic
crossbar for 100% stability in use and operation.
The SMARTstylus is the very first template allowing for setting ALL
geometric parameters of the cartridge - azimuth, SRA and VTA !! - fast and
accurate within minutes.
Further it allows for accurate setting of horizontal arm wand.
The design and concept of the SMARTstylus is patent pending and under
copyright protection.
In many ways the SMARTstylus matches and somehow “completes” the SMARTractor.
As the SMARTstylus takes care of the 3rd dimension in cartridge set-up -
while the SMARTractor makes sure the first 2 dimensions are perfect.
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