Your protractor use provided for setting overhang? I wonder if there's any appreciable difference in cartridge height between the original cartridge and the replacement since it doesn't appear you have a tonearm height adjustment to compensate.
UPDATE
I just watched a crap ton of videos.... I didn't realize HOW much I didn't know haha
First off, the tracking pressure dial on the back of the tone arm CAN MOVE ON ITS OWN. I feel like such an idiot for this one. NOW it makes sense when I kept reading and hearing about zeroing out the pressure, balancing it, THEN moving the weight to the preferred pressure. Unreal, that was so much easier than I was making it out to be
Second, the cart was not as close as I could make it to perfect. I've made some serious progress on that front. ALSO (another derp moment), I removed the head from the tonearm to better adjust the cart.... yes, I know, "you were installing a new cart with the head STILL attached to the tone arm before?!" ... SADLY YES. But all is well now, I took a good half hour making little adjustments to that installation, and is now spot on.
So after all of this, I now have an accurate pressure reading (still going to double check it when the scale gets here) of 2(ish), anti skate at 2, a new, WORKING cart, and new shelves to set the system up on.
HERE is where it gets interesting.
I know, the TT is not the greatest, we've been down this road.
BUT, this morning is where I realized what was sounding "off", as I stated in that other post.
THE TT IS TURNING TOO SLOW. I used a [somewhat accurate, maybe not 100% perfect] app on the phone to read the RPM. I was sitting uncomfortably at 32.5. It's not terrible, but I put on an album and as soon as it started I knew it was slow. I double checked by playing the CD right after... I was right. I took it a couple steps further and tried another song, another record.... everything is too slow.
It's not fluctuating, the arm and stylus aren't moving in or out. Honestly, everything is working GREAT. Even though it's slow, the quality and sound are actually amazing!
I've read this could be either the belt or the motor.
I took off the rubber mat, carefully removed the platter, and checked the belt. This TT is older, and I don't know much about the inner workings, but the belt SEEMS fine. It's still somewhat snug on the under side of the platter. I don't know how tight it's SUPPOSED to be, but there is a little bit of looseness to let it reach the motor pulley (too loose?). When I rotate the center spindle with my fingers, it's not choppy. It's smooth, fluid.
So, would this most likely be a belt or motor issue? I know how to replace a belt, but I really don't want to spend a bunch of money on a new motor on this thing lol
Almost there, throw me any ideas you can think of
Thanks!