[Chas]

morzh

My answer is a bit different.

Yes you can. But it won't be as accurate.
The reason is, it is ALWAYS better to watch the signal change itself rather than a signal that is a reaction to the signal's change.

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I agree, It is the Miller effect of grid voltage that shifts the reactance of the grid circuit creating a false peak to the adjustment. I have never encountered alignment instructions that specify using the AVC. The procedure surely exits, but disabling the AVC or using such a low signal input the AVC does not change insures that peak is achieved. It also reveals any issue with a an adjustment such as broad response or no response (circuit issues). In some receivers there are more than one timing circuit involved too as well as a boosted AVC taking an initial voltage for a power source.

So common was the use of the audio output for alignment many VOM's included an "Output" function.

YMMV

Chas