Ortofon Alignment Tool – Cartridge Alignment Protractor

The Ortofon Alignment Tool is an alignment protractor that lets you set up a cartridge in the tonearm using Baerwald geometry with two null points.

It sounds pedantic, but it is one of the cheapest sound upgrades in the whole turntable accessory aisle: if you have always mounted your cartridge by eye, you often only hear the difference once you have used a protractor.

Why the Alignment Tool?

A crooked cartridge does not track the groove cleanly. That costs channel separation and raises distortion. The protractor marks two null points where the tracking error disappears – you align the cartridge to them until the cantilever sits parallel to the lines at both points.

What you get

The updated standard version of the Ortofon protractor, designed for easy handling – for beginners as well as anyone mounting their cartridge for the tenth time. Ortofon also offers a larger, stiffer premium version.

Who is the Alignment Tool for?

For anyone mounting or readjusting a cartridge. Straight talk: The protractor sorts out overhang and angle, nothing more – tracking force, anti-skating and azimuth need their own tools. And check beforehand that it suits your tonearm geometry (pivot-to-spindle distance); if in doubt, we will tell you.

Our verdict

A few francs, a quiet evening and a noticeably cleaner-tracking cartridge: the Alignment Tool belongs in every drawer where a turntable lives.

Technical data

• Type: cartridge alignment protractor
• Geometry: Baerwald, two null points
• Version: standard version (Ortofon also offers a larger premium version)
• Included: 1 alignment protractor

Frequently asked questions

Which geometry does the Ortofon Alignment Tool use?

The protractor uses Baerwald geometry with two null points – a common choice because the tracking error stays small across the whole record side. Whether it suits your tonearm depends on the distance between the tonearm pivot and the platter spindle. Send us your model and we will check.

Do I align the cantilever or the cartridge body?

The cantilever, i.e. the stylus itself – not the cartridge body. Many bodies are not perfectly parallel, so the cantilever is the reliable reference. Slide the cartridge in the headshell slots until the cantilever is parallel to the lines at both null points.

Do I need any other tools for mounting?

Yes: a suitable screwdriver, a tracking force gauge and good light. The protractor only shows you how to align the cartridge. We also carry matching mounting screws for 2M and OM cartridges in case one goes missing.

Why buy the Ortofon Alignment Tool from HD Zürisee?

Because alignment is handwork and we have been doing it for decades. You get the protractor and, if you like, the setup too – from Andy and technician Mauri in Wädenswil. Original Ortofon, honest advice, even when the answer is: your arm does not need it.

Goes well with

New cartridges to set up and more turntable accessories for the workbench.