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A35460073B
05-22-2006, 11:41 PM
I have a brand new Xpression MKII which has a Benz Micro MC20E2 cartridge waiting to be installed. While trying to attach the little guy the little wires have become loose. Oh they're still in there, but in my attempt to get a good grip on them to fit them over the cartridge's plugs, I inadvertantly pulled them out a bit. Now I don't know how to get them back in. They don't seem like they'll interfere with playback or anything, but just in case, I'd like to know if it's possible to get them back into the tonearm.

The dealer at Needle Doctor suggested braiding. I thought of a gentle layer of scotch tape under the headshell (if there'd be room). My audiophile boss recommended a dulled-down toothpick to push them back in, but warned me about how dangerous it would be if I did not exercize great care and patience with that method. The wires do not seem that they will be making contact with the record surface when all is said and done, but I do not know for certain.

Also, I have two types of protractors to align this cartridge when I've gotten everything ready. (I'm currently considering buying a tiny plyers for the little nuts that have to be fitted over the screw ends on the bottom of the cartridge. Is that a wise choice or should I just try to screw the tiny black donuts in by hand?) The first, which came with the TT, has two right-angular grids, one inner and one outer, each with a stylus guide point. But I have no idea how I'm supposed to use the grids to align the cartridge's angle, since, they're right-angular. A second one that I got from http://www.enjoythemusic.com/freestuff.htm has a .PDF doc that prints out a cartridge protractor alignment thingie. Looks nothing like what I got from Pro-Ject, but it may nonetheless be what I need. It has a point to be punched out for the "hole" (for which I prob need a hole-puncher), inner and outer guide points for the stylus to sit over, and there are angular lines to align the cartridge to. This one I believe I know what to do with.

Any thoughts on any of this stuff? I'm nervous about messing this thing up. I've already extended the tiny wires beyond where they should be. Looks messy and just bugs me. Now I'm concerned about making sure that I align the cartridge correctly. I'd appreciate any thoughts or wisdom from people here who've been down this road already. E.g., should I buy those tiny plyers I mentioned or is there a better way? Can I perform a surgery on the tonearm that'll allow me to get those wires back in more perfectly? Are there any other tools I'll need, other than the tiny screwdriver provided by Benz Micro?

Help!

Nervous in L.A.

Bernd
05-23-2006, 03:28 AM
Hi,
First off, stop worrying. I don't think you have done any lasting damage.
Buy the specialist plyers. It makes the job much more safe. I am not familiar with your TT and arm, but most have a rubber stop through which the fine tone arm wires pass. If you have that you could carefully remove that and try to pull the wires through and re insert the stop into the arm.
If not, use some cotton thread that matches your tone arm colour and carefully tie the surplus wire to the arm behind the cartridge. Let's hope you have not pulled them out too much and have them detached from the base.
As for the protractor, I would recommend the HiFi-News Analogue Test LP. That comes with a superb Protractor for all sorts of arms.
Hope you can sort it out and if I can be of any more help please feel free to ask.
Good Luck

Peace

Bernd:16:

A35460073B
05-23-2006, 06:36 AM
Hi,
First off, stop worrying. I don't think you have done any lasting damage.
Buy the specialist plyers. It makes the job much more safe. I am not familiar with your TT and arm, but most have a rubber stop through which the fine tone arm wires pass. If you have that you could carefully remove that and try to pull the wires through and re insert the stop into the arm.

Hmm... I'll hafta check that. I don't believe so, as the wires pass through a tiny little circular opening... might be rubber, but I'm not sure if I should risk trying to remove it. But I'll take a closer look just to be certain. Maybe I can try contacting Pro-Ject to see what they might suggest.



If not, use some cotton thread that matches your tone arm colour and carefully tie the surplus wire to the arm behind the cartridge. Let's hope you have not pulled them out too much and have them detached from the base.

Interesting solution, and no, I don't believe I've actually detached them.



As for the protractor, I would recommend the HiFi-News Analogue Test LP. That comes with a superb Protractor for all sorts of arms.
Hope you can sort it out and if I can be of any more help please feel free to ask.
Good Luck

Peace

Bernd:16:

Thanks there brutha. Appreciate all that. I'll see if I can't find that HiFi News test LP.

JohnMichael
05-23-2006, 07:50 AM
One thing I wanted to mention about the wires pulled out a little is if this creates an electrical problem you will not notice it until the first record is played but I doubt if you did harm in this way. Another thing to check is that the internal wires are not pulled tight and puts resistance on the tonearm bearings and increases drag. That is also a concern with aftermarket rewire looms. One very easy to use guage for setting your cartridge is the Mobile Fidelity Geo Disc. I have had mine for many years and many turntables. It is not expensive and will last a lifetime.

A35460073B
05-23-2006, 08:50 PM
One thing I wanted to mention about the wires pulled out a little is if this creates an electrical problem you will not notice it until the first record is played but I doubt if you did harm in this way. Another thing to check is that the internal wires are not pulled tight and puts resistance on the tonearm bearings and increases drag. That is also a concern with aftermarket rewire looms. One very easy to use guage for setting your cartridge is the Mobile Fidelity Geo Disc. I have had mine for many years and many turntables. It is not expensive and will last a lifetime.

Thanks man. The wires do not appear to be applying any sort of stress on the movement on the tonearm. It moves all the way to the center with no felt resistance.

I'm just concerned about how best to tighten them up. I'm thinking of just twisting the cartridge a few times to "braid" them, as some have suggested to me. Hopefully they're still attached on the other end.

I'll look up the Mobile Fidelity Geo Disc.

JohnMichael
05-24-2006, 07:13 AM
Thanks man. The wires do not appear to be applying any sort of stress on the movement on the tonearm. It moves all the way to the center with no felt resistance.

I'm just concerned about how best to tighten them up. I'm thinking of just twisting the cartridge a few times to "braid" them, as some have suggested to me. Hopefully they're still attached on the other end.

I'll look up the Mobile Fidelity Geo Disc.


That is a good sign that there is no resistance in the arm's movement. I do not know if the wire in your tonearm is a solid wire from the clips to the rca jacks. The original wire in my Rega arm had a solder joint right behind the rubber plug where the wires came out for the cartridge. I think if I would have pulled one of those out I would have had electrical problems. Sounds like you just pulled out some of the wire with out harm.