Acoustical Systems SMARTractor User manual

Universal high-precision triangular positioning &
alignment instrument for optimized analog phono
tonearm alignment & true one-point cartridge set-up
owner’s manual
©
SMARTractor
acoustical systems

2
The SMARTractor is a versatile high-precision
positioning and measuring instrument for use with
phono tonearms and turntables.
It covers all areas of the geometric tonearm
alignment with high precision mechanical
accuracy.
It also allows for precise measurement of
Pivot-to-Spindle (P2S) mounting distance -
of any given tonearm.
SMARTractor offers true 1-point cartridge
alignment to the tonearm, with a selection of
5 different tangential curves to choose from.
As the SMARTractor operates with true
tri-angular positioning, it applies to all pivot
tonearms, regardless of the effective length,
mounting distance or specic geometry a given
tonearm may ask for.
To ensure highly precise measurement, the
SMARTractor comes with a special designed
vernier scale.
This SMARTractor’s vernier scale provides
accuracy in read-out of 5/100 mm.
Precise analog tonearm alignment is impossible
without precise centering.
The SMARTractor is supplied with an universal
2-part spindle-adapter to ensure precise tting on
the platter spindle and perfect centering without
play.
Please check your SMARTractor package to
ensure that all contents are included.
All the above parts must be included to provide
perfect function under all circumstances.
Each SMARTractor was carefully checked and
tested prior to shipment.
Please do get yourself familiar to the handling and
use of the SMARTractor.
While it is a mechanical positioning instrument, it
needs a minimum of attention to detail by the user
to obtain the maximum precise results it ensures if
handled correctly.
A brief
introduction
Most important:
Please study the step-by-step illustrated
instruction to learn how to use and
set-up the SMARTractor correctly.
To get access to all features of the SMARTractor
it is inevitable to read this manual.
DISCLAIMER
Please use all parts with care and attention!
The use of the SMARTractor is on your own
risk.
Keep out of reach of children.
The SMARTractor set contains small parts
that can be swallowed!!
The SMARTractor’s locator pin has a very
sharp point and could easily penetrate human
skin.
The manufacturer and the designer do not
take any responsibility for possible damage
or injury due to operation or handling of
the SMARTractor or any of its parts.
The SMARTractor is made from materials
that are particulary sensible to heat and bright
sunlight.
Please use the SMARTractor with the same
care as with the proper handling of analog
records.
Please clean the mirrored surface of the
SMARTractor using only a wet soft cloth!
We nd the best fabric to use is a wet
microber cloth like those used to clean
eyeglasses.
The manufacturer precisely calibrates the
SMARTractor.
DO NOT LOOSEN the screws xing the
Vernier scale on top of the black POM block
guiding the measurement scale.

3
Unpacking the
SMARTractor
The SMARTractor set contents the following
parts:
* the SMARTractor - completely assembled
and calibrated
* (1) white universal 3-part spindle-adapter:
(1) POM spindle ring 20 mm, (1) 12 mm
and (1) 6 mm insert for spindle ring
* (1) long stainless steel locator pin with round
reticule w/ white engraved crosshair guide
* (1) metal frame glass magnier
* (6) small self-adhesive “feet”
* (2) M3 20 mm distance bolts
* (1) printed manual
The (6) small self-adhesive feet are only needed
if the turntable features an convex or concave
platter.
In those rare events (Simon Yorke tt or Goldmund
Studio TT or Goldmund Relief mat) do use
these small feet - 3 at a time - to equalize the
SMARTractor relative to the non-at platter
surface.
The (2) 20 mm M3 distance bolts are used ONLY
when aligning a tonearm with unusual tall
bearing housing. The 2 distance bolts will give
the SMARTractor an additional 20 mm of height
for the positioning arm in those instance where
required (for illustration see page 8).
The SMARTractor offers a total of
5 different tangential curves with which
to align a given cartridge and tonearm
combination.
Selecting the
tangential curve
You have the option to align the cartridge using
any of these ve tangential curves:
- UNI DIN (1)
- Loefgren B DIN (2)
- Loefgren B IEC (3)
- Loefgren A / Baerwald DIN (4)
- Loefgren A / Baerwald IEC (5)
The selection of the tangential curve depends on
your personal preference and on your record
collection.
If the majority of your records are rather
recent vintage, with production past 1985, we
suggest you align to either Loefgren A /
Baerwald IEC or Loefgren B IEC
If your record collection contains a lot of older
records from the beginning of the stereo era to
the early 1980ies we strongly recommend
aligning to Loefgren A / Baerwald DIN or
UNI DIN
If your collection features a majority of
records with classical music and / or human voic-
es I strongly recommend aligning to UNI DIN.
(1) (2) (3)
(4)
(5)

4
Step 1
The SMARTractor is already pre-assembled
with the 20 mm POM spindle ring (part of the uni-
versal 3-part spindle-adapter) sitting in the center
of the SMARTractor.
First place the SMARTractor - with the 20 mm
POM spindle ring - on the spindle.
Setting up the
SMARTractor
Step 2
Now take the 12 mm (tall) or 6 mm (short
and wide collar) spindle ring insert** . Now
SLOWLY and CAREFULLY place it on the top
of the spindle and ever so slightly press down.
Step 3
IMPORTANT - be carefull!
** 12 mm or 6 mm spindle insert ??
The 12 mm (tall) insert will work with small diameter spindles (smaller
then 7.15 mm diameter). The 6 mm (wide) insert will work with 7.2 and
wider diameter.
Do not press down the spindle adapter too hard or too deep. On some
spindle it will only be 2-3 mm or less. If you press too hard, you will
have a very hard time getting the white 20 mm POM ring off your
spindle again.
The 12 mm and / or 6 mm spindle adapter insert allows the precise
centering of the SMARTractor on a wide range of spindle diameters.
Remember - Please be careful and do not use any excessive force.
Pushing down realy hard creates a VERY tight lock which you will
have big problems loosening up again.
Measuring P2S
20 mm spindle ring
and 12 mm insert
UNI P2S
If you want to measure the arm mounting
distance or P2S, rotate the central block to the
UNI P2S position, loosen the locking screw
xing the positioning arm in the black POM
block.
The engraved line on the center piece will meet
the line at “UNI P2S”.
Slide the central assembly back or forth so that
the hole for the thumbscrew is aligned with the
locking thread for the selected curve - there is
only 1 possible thread hole to move to in each
position.
Fix the assembly in place by re-installing and
tightening the thumbscrew. The thumbscrew need
only be very snug by hand tension.

5
Step 4
Mount the long stainless steel locator pin with the
reticule either on top or pointing downward into
the 3mm-hole at the end of the aluminum
positioning arm. Handle with care, as the tip is
quite sharp and may cause injuries.
Loosen the front screw on the POM-block. Slide
the positioning arm with the locator pin toward
the center of the tonearm body.
Now carefully pull the positioning arm towards
the pivot of the tonearm and place locator pin or
reticule right on the pivot of your tonearm. Many
tonearms have a small indentation indicating
where the exact pivot point is located.
This is ideal for precise positioning of the locator
pin on the pivot point.
Step 5
If you can spot the tonearm pivot, put the pinpoint
of the locator pin here. Many tonearms have a
small indentation indicating where the exact pivot
point is located. This is ideal for precise
positioning of the locator pin on the pivot point.
If there is no indication of the tonearm pivot
point, attempt to locate pin exactly over the
tonearm pivot center.
If unsure of pivot center, use the reticule to
visually determine tonearm pivot point by nding
symmetrical outer lines on the tonearm body.
Step 6
When the pivot point is determined and is
directly underneath the pin-point of the locator
pin, tighten thumb screw holding the positioning
arm in place.
Take care to NOT move the SMARTractor in
any way until the measurement of P2S valve is
nished.
The pinpoint has to be located precisely over the
pivot at all times during alignment.
You can x the SMARTractor in place with clear
or painters blue tape by placing tape from the
SMARTractor to the side of the platter.
You can now read out the exact value on the
Vernier scale.
If unsure, please see page 6 for a short tutorial
how to read the Vernier scale correctly.

6
This is 231.5 mm P2S - the white “5” being in
line.
BTW: This is the perfect mounting distance for
the FR-64s.
This is 295,00 mm P2S - suitable for a FR-66s.
Side-kicks:
Reading the
Vernier scale
The SMARTractor features a Vernier scale to
allow precise read-out of the P2S with an
accuracy of 5/100 mm.
This Vernier scale runs right to left - as does the
metric scale with increasing distance of P2S.
If you are unfamiliar with a Vernier scale, please
get accustomed to its operation.
The white numbers 1- 9 over the black back-
ground are 1/10 of a mm each. The white lines
between numbers are 0.5/10 mm each - or
5/100 mm each.
Whenever any of the white lines is absolutely
in-line with a black line on the aluminum scale,
then it denominates the 5/100 value which has to
be added to the full mm value given between the
2 white “leaves” centered by the full vertical
white line on the left of the scale just before the
half-circle end.
To illustrate the read-out procedure, here are a
few examples of mounting distances for common
tonearms.
One will become accustom quite quickly to this
way of reading the scale.
The Vernier scale is an international standard in
industrial precision analog measuring.
The magnifier
Using the glass magnier greatly increases the
visibility of the stylus when trying to align on
the single spot. It further also allows with most
modern cartridges to get a fairly good view of the
cantilever.
Place the magnier in the cut-out frame on the
clear acrylic positioning arm and pull it all the
way forward so that it seats squarely against the
clear acrylic.
It is automatically in a position to optimize focus
when viewing through the glass lens on the
alignment spot for the selected tangential curve.
The cutout for the glass magnier in the
acrylic positioning arm allows for adjusting the
side-to-side position of the glass magnier to
accommodate all different positions of the 5
tangential curves on the SMARTractor.
.

7
Aligning the tonearm
and cartridge
Step 7
Remove the thumbscrew on the back of the
central POM block and rotate the complete central
assembly to the desired tangential curve.
Slight in position and x again with the
thumbscrew with normal hand tension.
Make sure your tonearm is parallel to the platter
surface.
Slide the tonearm with the mounted cartridge
towards the single alignment spot of the selected
tangential curve. It is surrounded by lines to ease
adjustment and precise view.
Step 8
You may need to carefully shift the cartridge in
the mounting area of your tonearm / headshell to
meet the single point with the stylus.
IMPORTANT NOTE
Don’t forget to retighten the mounting screws
after nal position is obtained.
Step 9
When the stylus is precisely sitting on the single
spot, use the helping lines to ensure that the
cantilever is perpendicular to the SMARTractor
surface when viewed from the front.
Adjust the cartridge accordingly until the
cantilever is visually in this position.
If you have a Uni-Pivot design tonearm, it is
critical that the table is level before carry out
this step.
Using the glass magnier will dramatically
increase visibility of the alignment.
You can now align your mounted cartridge
to your choice of tangential curve (picture see
page 3).
- UNI DIN
- Loefgren B DIN
- Loefgren B IEC
- Loefgren A / Baerwald DIN
- Loefgren A / Baerwald IEC
Make sure the tracking force on your tonearm
is set to an appropriate value for the mounted
cartridge.
IMPORTANT NOTE
Disengage the anti-skating on your tonearm
while aligning the cartridge.

8
In the rare event that you have to align a tonearm
featuring by design an unusual height of the
tonearm body, you can simply use the (2) M3
distance bolts supplied with the SMARTractor and
mount them between the POM block and the clear
acrylic sliding plate.
You won’t need any additional tools for this and it
is just a 1- minute routine, which is reversible at
any time.
General note:
Technical data and specications are subject
to change without prior notice.
Designed, manufactured and assembled in
Germany
acoustical systems,
Axinia Schäfer
Am Büchele 2
86928 Hofstetten
Germany
www.acoustical-systems.com
[email protected]
Step 10
Make sure that the stylus is precisely located on
the spot with the helping lines straight with the
cantilever – making sure that the locator pin is
still exactly positioned over the pivot.
When you are sure that the stylus is precisely
located on the spot with the helping lines in line
with the cantilever the tangential alignment to the
selected tangential curve is nished.
Please demount the SMARTractor and carefully
place it back in it’s package.
Do engage antiskating again and continue with
aligning azimuth, tracking force and SRA / VTA.
Here the SMARTstylus tool is most helpful to
get accourate settings very quick.
For further information please ask your dealer.
**July 2020