It’s not any less critical for a P10 than it is for any other deck, Rega’s language notwithstanding.
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Sure you can hear a difference and Rega isn’t claiming that you don’t (see the link). What they are saying is that what is right for one record won’t be for another. So my opinion is that setting it up as good as possible makes sense, but believing that one can make it perfect is misguided.
A bit off topic of course. One would still expect that the Solstice’s holes agree with its own alignment template 
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Assuming that’s true, the point is still that it’s a deck designed for ease of setup and enjoyment, and without endless twiddling. The fact they says it’s not critical encourages me to believe it’s not.
I’m not knocking twiddling decks, was just a lighthearted input on why I chose the P10.
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I agree with most of what you wrote in that post Suedkiez
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I get it - just like a Crosley, it’s a great choice for those not inclined to tweak.
OK, yes. A Rega P10. Just like a Crosley.
Lighthearted input. 
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Wrong, two points over the record is correct for a pivot arm, well unless its a thales arm, this pivot arm doesn’t have two null points, just one and thats the complete album, but this means that you need to get it very precise as if not its wrong for the complete album, rather that two small areas thats right and the rest is wrong, but this does give you room to be out as it just means the null points will be in different places over the album.
My thales Simplicity arm as it doesn’t change as it tracks across the album, means time spent in getting it spot on certainly pays dividends
I tried but my cartridge is very hard to see, so i did the best i could and tried my arm level, high and low and liked the level sound much more on my normal size vinyl, and as that is what i mostly have left it at that.
But my cartridge is designed to be used on my arm and they recommend the arm to be level to the vinyl, as that is the perfect angle
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I think some folks are talking about VTA in this thread, which is hard to set given variances in vinyl thickness, and others about the other thing, cartridge alignment, maybe azimuth and overhang?
Not the topic and I was talking about traditional arm geometries that this thread is about. Anyway this side track started with VTA which is an independent issue and also not on topic (sorry), my point simply being that one degree of setup is of limited use as individual records differ by more than this.
But I guess we should let the thread return to the apparent alignment issue with the Solstice 
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…I think that these are guidelines…my P10 Apheta 3 definitely goes have a single optimum sounding VTF / bias combination…something to be homed in on.
Maybe Naim uses a non standard geometry?..but it would be disturbing if this did not sound as good as one of the standard ones…even more disturbing if it is not compatible with 3-point fixing on Naim’s template.
I’m struggling to believe that Naim and Clearaudio could have made such a fundamental error in design…
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Surely the important question is how much effect does the Equinox following an arc with a 16mm (maybe slightly less. I didn’t measure it) overhang have rather than a 18mm one. It’s not beyond the realms that the ARO set up template is wrong and never replaced. If so my DV sounds incredible good set up “wrong”. We will know the answers by early next week at the latest.
Well it sounds like Naim will investigate and inform. Perfect.
Another thought is the Benz cartridge. Maybe the geometry Naim uses works fine with the Linn 3 point cartridges (Krystal, Kandid, Ekstatik) but the needle position of the supplied Benz is a bit quirky.
If so…that’s actually a good choice for Naim. If this table becomes a standard product I think a lot of folks would love to use it with the outstanding Linn cartridges.
Is it possible to say that maybe it’s just a matter of your inner preference in sound quality vs a real error of Naim / Clearaudio ?
It would be interesting if other Solstice owners will follow your recommendations and share if they really, also, observed an improvement.
I understand your point frenchrooster but I’ve set up my cartridge as per the Naim template and prefer it there. It’s their guideline not an independent one.
There’s either been an error in the CNC cutting for arm positioning, the template is erroneous or as been intimated at Naim don’t deem the difference important.
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Off topic slightly i agree, but you stated that and i quote,
“geometry does not allow for entirely correct alignment other than two points on the record, whatever alignment you choose”
That isn’t correct if you have the right arm.
But getting the overhang correct and perfectly in the right place, plus then the correct angle, and tracking straight, plus all the other things that need to be done right makes a big difference on a turntable, so much more than messing about with how your cables are hanging or what mains cable you have
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Yes, I left out the “unless you are using a linear arm or some other unusual geometry with moveable parts”, as we are talking about the Aro
True, as already clarified in some earlier post: nothing wrong with setting it up as good as possible, but don’t believe it can ever be perfect
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