Post by Owen Y on Sept 3, 2019 12:52:20 GMT 12
It's probably time for a thread on AZIMUTH adjustment for cartridges.
A good place to start may be SOUNDSMITH Peter Ledermann's YouTube videos: DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com
7,244 posts |
Post by Owen Y on Sept 8, 2019 22:18:41 GMT 12
I've not played with maximising channel separation, but one of the things I've noticed, is that imperfect Azimuth can affect channel imbalance.
This may depend on stylus profile - 'line contact' type & even Shibata (relatively non-radical). DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com
7,244 posts |
|
Administrator
 Post by Owen Y on Oct 8, 2019 14:00:07 GMT 12
The easiest way to check Azimuth, is to use a small bubble level on the headshell, as below (as discussed in a previous thread)...
If your tonearm/headshell does not feature azimuth adjutment, then if required, use a thin shim (eg hard plastic, paper - as suggested in the Soundsmith vid) between headshell & one side of cartridge top. Not quite so accurate for VTA level of course, as the additional mass tends to affect cartridge level - but useful enough to get you in the ballpark before fine tuning by ear. (This bubble level is only 12mm diam. but fairly accurate it seems - I have ordered larger 20mm diam for greater accuracy & possibly easier to read.) 
DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com
7,244 posts |
Post by michaelw on Oct 8, 2019 14:32:22 GMT 12
my level is a bit bigger...
no brass cartridge bolts ? 
5,578 posts |
|
Administrator
Post by Owen Y on Oct 8, 2019 14:52:13 GMT 12
Well spotted
 A quirk of the Decca cartridges is that they were (originally) threaded for 6BA screws  - which were supplied (black steel).However, the Decapod mounting block has 6BA or M2.5 options & I chose the latter, when I ordered recently & then used brass fixings - as per Decca cartridge thread. DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com
7,244 posts |
Post by michaelw on Oct 8, 2019 15:04:25 GMT 12
i forget why i haven't got brass screws on my setup.
maybe i didn't have any long enough ? 
5,578 posts |
Post by Owen Y on Oct 8, 2019 17:36:37 GMT 12
You'd need only wee short ones, for your Lyra - say 10mm?
DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com
7,244 posts |
Post by michaelw on Oct 8, 2019 18:11:56 GMT 12
yes, don't know where they went so used the lyra supplied hardware.
5,578 posts |
Post by steviewunda on Sept 11, 2020 13:25:17 GMT 12
It seems to me that using a level on the headshell for azimuth alignment is only going to be effective if the cantilever and stylus tip are mounted exactly square (perpendicular) to the cartridge body - do you think it is safe to assume this? Having asked that question, I can't think of any way of testing for 'non-perpendicularity'. Your thoughts?
113 posts 
|
|
Administrator
Post by Owen Y on Sept 11, 2020 13:46:49 GMT 12
Greetings & welcome, steviewunda!
With a new, high quality cartridge, you should be able to expect that the stylus alignment should be pretty good. However, a definitive method is to use a Fozgometer, but it's not inexpensive. And it requires the use of a suitable Test Record tone. (Fozgometer at 3:30) DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com
7,244 posts |
|
Administrator
Post by Owen Y on Sept 11, 2020 13:53:16 GMT 12
Or, possibly an even more technically precise (& more costly) software method - AnalogMagik:
(Or, just learn to trust your ears )DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com
7,244 posts |
|
Pundit
 Post by Neil on Sept 11, 2020 14:01:16 GMT 12
I use the Fozgometer contraption and it is remarkably effective. Essential for unipivot arms.
119 posts |
Post by steviewunda on Sept 12, 2020 0:22:42 GMT 12
Thanks for the welcome and the info..we do have the technology, don't we ;-)
113 posts
|
Post by raveydave on Oct 4, 2020 19:19:03 GMT 12
Just a follow up on this one steviewunda... it would have been Neil ^^ that set up the azimuth (and the rest of the alignment) on your Troika.
Small world, huh. 🤔 
274 posts |
Post by steviewunda on Oct 8, 2020 21:09:39 GMT 12
Hi Dave! - yes and getting smaller fast ;-)
I have a Umik-1 mic and Room EQ Wizard that I used with a MiniDSP to setup my subs recently...I've been wondering if I could use them to check/fine-tune cartridge setup with an audio test LP - a la AnalogMagik. Has anyone tried this, or knows if it's feasible?
113 posts
|
Post by tabarddn on Mar 13, 2021 12:43:16 GMT 12
Hi The thing about Azimuth is that it is normally ignored by most hi-fi buff's & is difficult to correct on many arms. The Electrolytic versions have there advantages, but are costly & one reason or another have been reported to be less than satisfactory.
I have a Temaad titanium 12'' uni-pivot arm that is a breeze to set up using 3 simple tools. A old CD & mono solo piano piece. The CD (blank playing side up) slips under an old LP between it and the mat about 2/3 the way in, the force of the mat (in my system anyway) hold the CD in place. Then set the stylus on the CD & viewing from the front using the magnifying glass, check for vertical. If not adjust, it all looks OK the play the mono LP & the piano should be have a rock solid centre image out of both speaker. This system has proved itself well for me & over the last few years & I have had around 20 cartridges though my system. However the one time the process cannot work is if you have an output voltage imbalance. Should not happen but unfortunately especially with cheaper cart's it does. Cheers Derek
3 posts |
