ALIGN IT PRO is a precision acrylic protractor for aligning a cartridge to the Baerwald geometry: it is set to the length of the arm and anchored at the centre of its pivot, so overhang is dialled in with a single pass.
ALIGN IT PRO: the working method
What sets it apart is the procedure. The protractor is adjusted to the exact length of the arm and locked on the centre of its pivot by a rod with two ends: the pointed one suits any arm or bearing, the flat one drops neatly into the centre screw of Pro-Ject's higher-end arms (X1, X2, CC, CC Evo). Overhang distance is thereby fixed precisely, with no need to move repeatedly between the inner null point and the outer one as conventional protractors require. It also explains why the tool carries just the inner null-point marking.
The geometry is Baerwald, a balanced choice that many people begin with: it trades off inner-groove and outer-groove tracking and keeps good linearity across the middle of the record. It is well matched to current albums, often spread over two discs with sides of twenty minutes or less, and to many other kinds of pressing in general.
A single tool covers overhang, azimuth and tangency. It fits every Pro-Ject turntable and many arms from other makers, provided the distance from arm pivot to platter spindle is one of those catered for. Detailed instructions and an explanation of tonearm geometry come in the box, useful to the beginner and to the experienced user alike.
Specifications
- Material: acrylic
- Alignment geometry: Baerwald
- Adjustments: overhang, azimuth and tangency
- Arm lengths covered: 8.6, 9, 10 and 12 inch
- Pivot-to-spindle distances: 200 mm, 212 mm, 238 mm and 291.6 mm
- Fixing rod: universal pointed end plus flat end for Pro-Ject X1, X2, CC, CC Evo arms
- Printed null points: inner one only
- In the box: detailed instructions and a guide to tonearm geometry
- Manufactured: Europe
