{"id":6188,"date":"2021-06-08T12:33:25","date_gmt":"2021-06-08T16:33:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nordost.com\/blog\/?p=6188"},"modified":"2021-06-08T12:37:04","modified_gmt":"2021-06-08T16:37:04","slug":"cartridge-mounting-alignment-in-6-easy-steps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nordost.com\/blog\/cartridge-mounting-alignment-in-6-easy-steps\/","title":{"rendered":"Cartridge Mounting &#038; Alignment in 6 Easy Steps"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/nordost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/cartridge-mounting_fbook-1024x540.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6190\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nordost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/cartridge-mounting_fbook-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/nordost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/cartridge-mounting_fbook-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/nordost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/cartridge-mounting_fbook-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nordost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/cartridge-mounting_fbook-500x264.jpg 500w, https:\/\/nordost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/cartridge-mounting_fbook.jpg 1134w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>An accurately aligned cartridge will keep the needle in the groove, minimize tracking errors, and achieve the most accurate sound from your turntable. Correctly mounting and aligning your cartridge, is a multi-step process that involves several tools, and some patience\u2026but the results are well worth it!&nbsp; To give you a better idea of how to get started in this task we have simplified the process in 6 easy steps:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1. Insert the screws and nuts through the tonearm headshell in order to hold the cartridge in place. (Do NOT initially tighten the screws all the way down!)&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2. Once loosely attached, use tweezers to connect the four tiny wires that come from the tonearm to the cartridge\u2019s color-coded ends.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>3. Before tightening the mounting screws to the arm\u2019s headshell, the cartridge\u2019s alignment must be set correctly. Use an alignment tool to align the cartridge. We recommend tools offered by Acoustic Solid, Acoustical Systems, Baerwald, Feikert, Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab, and VPI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>4. Use a \u201cpivot spindle\u201d measuring tool to set the distance between the tonearm pivot and the spindle. This distance should be specified by the manufacturer of your turntable.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>4. Align the cartridge stylus using a mounting template.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>5. Now that all adjustments have been made, tighten the mounting screws. (Make sure not to over tighten them!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>For more information about this, and all things turntable set-up, download our <a href=\"https:\/\/info.nordost.com\/turntable-setup-guide\">Complete Turntable Set-Up Guide today<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/info.nordost.com\/turntable-setup-guide\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"197\" src=\"https:\/\/nordost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/complete-turntable-set-up-guide-button-1024x197.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5893\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nordost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/complete-turntable-set-up-guide-button-1024x197.png 1024w, https:\/\/nordost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/complete-turntable-set-up-guide-button-300x58.png 300w, https:\/\/nordost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/complete-turntable-set-up-guide-button-768x147.png 768w, https:\/\/nordost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/complete-turntable-set-up-guide-button-500x96.png 500w, https:\/\/nordost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/complete-turntable-set-up-guide-button.png 1386w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:80px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An accurately aligned cartridge will keep the needle in the groove, minimize tracking errors, and achieve the most accurate sound from your turntable. Correctly mounting and aligning your cartridge, is &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/nordost.com\/blog\/cartridge-mounting-alignment-in-6-easy-steps\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Cartridge Mounting &#038; Alignment in 6 Easy Steps&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6188","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-helpful-hints","category-nordost-tech-talk"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Cartridge Mounting &amp; Alignment in 6 Easy Steps - Nordost Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nordost.com\/blog\/cartridge-mounting-alignment-in-6-easy-steps\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Cartridge Mounting &amp; Alignment in 6 Easy Steps - Nordost Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"An accurately aligned cartridge will keep the needle in the groove, minimize tracking errors, and achieve the most accurate sound from your turntable. 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