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Post by jimbo on Feb 14, 2022 8:03:04 GMT
Video from Ortofon on their method for cartridge set up. Not sure what that turntable is !
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
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Post by Bigman80 on Feb 14, 2022 8:10:24 GMT
Video from Ortofon on their method for cartridge set up. Not sure what that turntable is ! TechDAS |
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Post by phonomac on Feb 14, 2022 9:33:51 GMT
Key info from that video:
'A Replicant plays just fine anywhere between 90.5 deg and 93.5 deg VTA'
It's not VTA that makes the sound 'snap' in or out of focus. It's azimuth.
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Post by jimbo on Feb 14, 2022 9:46:36 GMT
Yes I found that interesting and as a result I did focus on my azimuth when I set up my cartridge recently and i must say it has never sounded so good.
Maybe I need a fozgometer!
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Post by robbiegong on Feb 14, 2022 10:50:26 GMT
Key info from that video: 'A Replicant plays just fine anywhere between 90.5 deg and 93.5 deg VTA' It's not VTA that makes the sound 'snap' in or out of focus. It's azimuth. Yep, Azimuth is key, makes sense, you want that perfect 'horizontal'. I've always found I can then dial it in via on the fly, only after this and all the other usual parameters are carefully set / correct. To add, we should be addressing all set up parameters as best as pos', makes no sense to be casual with one or certain aspect but focus greatly on another. Set everything with care and attention and as best as you can, that's where the reward is, especially with these more demanding profiles IME. |
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Post by antonio on Feb 15, 2022 1:18:34 GMT
I will have to try that Azimuth trick with the mirror when I get back.
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dt79
Junior Member
Posts: 337
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Post by dt79 on Feb 15, 2022 8:07:19 GMT
I will have to try that Azimuth trick with the mirror when I get back. I got a little mirror which is about the same thickness as a record to do the same after seeing that video www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000RZQI68/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1I do find it very hard to see the reflection of the cantilever though when looking from the front and it seems to me that you can never be 100% certain that it’s straight with this method, because that depends on where your head is in relation to the cartridge and mirror! To be honest I’ve just reverted to using one of those azimuth/VTA acrylic blocks and just making sure the headshell is dead flat in relation to the surface of the record. I realised that my new amp has a bar chart display of input levels so later tonight I might use that in conjunction with the balance track on my Hi-Fi News test record and make sure both channels register the same. Sort of a cheat’s Fogzometer? |
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Post by antonio on Feb 15, 2022 9:33:16 GMT
I have a small mirror here, probably twice the thickness of an LP, but I could remove the platter mat, the only problem, will my eyes be good enough? I was interested in his method of anti skate, I've never done that before, always set it to the same figure as VTF or a little less. Could I be cheeky Dan, if you come to the bake off, to bring along your test record.
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Post by lurch on Feb 15, 2022 9:35:12 GMT
Whilst the alignment of the headshell/cart body sides is a good starting point and in most incidences near as damn it right. Setting azimuth has more to do with the stylus and correcting any production errors. As whilst when the diamond is initially fixed to the cantalever (as a free assembly) there is no reference point, once this is placed into the cartridge body there is a possibility for the final location to be rotationally out by a degree or so with reference to the cartridge top plate. Setting the Azimuth by the stylus will correct this.
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Post by jimbo on Feb 15, 2022 9:35:29 GMT
I will have to try that Azimuth trick with the mirror when I get back. I got a little mirror which is about the same thickness as a record to do the same after seeing that video www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000RZQI68/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1I do find it very hard to see the reflection of the cantilever though when looking from the front and it seems to me that you can never be 100% certain that it’s straight with this method, because that depends on where your head is in relation to the cartridge and mirror! To be honest I’ve just reverted to using one of those azimuth/VTA acrylic blocks and just making sure the headshell is dead flat in relation to the surface of the record. I realised that my new amp has a bar chart display of input levels so later tonight I might use that in conjunction with the balance track on my Hi-Fi News test record and make sure both channels register the same. Sort of a cheat’s Fogzometer? Yes Azimuth alignment is a tricky one and I am sure something like a Fozgometer is really essential to ensure your cartridge is set up correctly. However your method sounds good too. |
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Bigman80
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AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
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Post by Bigman80 on Feb 15, 2022 15:30:00 GMT
I will have to try that Azimuth trick with the mirror when I get back. I got a little mirror which is about the same thickness as a record to do the same after seeing that video www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000RZQI68/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1I do find it very hard to see the reflection of the cantilever though when looking from the front and it seems to me that you can never be 100% certain that it’s straight with this method, because that depends on where your head is in relation to the cartridge and mirror! To be honest I’ve just reverted to using one of those azimuth/VTA acrylic blocks and just making sure the headshell is dead flat in relation to the surface of the record. I realised that my new amp has a bar chart display of input levels so later tonight I might use that in conjunction with the balance track on my Hi-Fi News test record and make sure both channels register the same. Sort of a cheat’s Fogzometer? I bought one of those for the Winfeld setup and i thought it was bloody perfect for the job. A thread counters loupe is a good idea too as the styli and cantilever was very difficult to see against the black body of the Winfeld. |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Feb 15, 2022 15:31:46 GMT
Yes I found that interesting and as a result I did focus on my azimuth when I set up my cartridge recently and i must say it has never sounded so good. Maybe I need a fozgometer! Maybe we could group buy one and send it around the members for cartridge alignment duties when needed. I would certainly be happy to do that if there was any interest. Could build an Audio Addicts Cartridge tool kit....as it were. For contributing members> |
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Post by lurch on Feb 15, 2022 16:15:47 GMT
Yes I found that interesting and as a result I did focus on my azimuth when I set up my cartridge recently and i must say it has never sounded so good. Maybe I need a fozgometer! Maybe we could group buy one and send it around the members for cartridge alignment duties when needed. I would certainly be happy to do that if there was any interest. Could build an Audio Addicts Cartridge tool kit....as it were. For contributing members> Happy to kick this off by putting my Dr Feikart mk2 in the pool. |
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
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Post by Bigman80 on Feb 15, 2022 16:35:44 GMT
Maybe we could group buy one and send it around the members for cartridge alignment duties when needed. I would certainly be happy to do that if there was any interest. Could build an Audio Addicts Cartridge tool kit....as it were. For contributing members> Happy to kick this off by putting my Dr Feikart mk2 in the pool. Bravo lurchI will set up a thread somewhere on the forum and list the kit and kit owner to contact about loaning bits. This could be one of my better ideas lol |
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Post by jimbo on Feb 15, 2022 16:53:56 GMT
This sounds a very good idea. A group buy Fozgometer would be excellent, maybe wait till the V2 comes out first?
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Bigman80
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AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
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Post by Bigman80 on Feb 15, 2022 17:08:55 GMT
This sounds a very good idea. A group buy Fozgometer would be excellent, maybe wait till the V2 comes out first? Yep, absolutely. I like a gadget and i think one that *could* potentially improve the stylus interaction with the LP would be beneficial. |
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Post by jimbo on Feb 15, 2022 17:30:00 GMT
This sounds a very good idea. A group buy Fozgometer would be excellent, maybe wait till the V2 comes out first? Yep, absolutely. I like a gadget and i think one that *could* potentially improve the stylus interaction with the LP would be beneficial. I think Andy rexton has got one so maybe he could tell us more and share his thoughts on the device? |
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Post by antonio on Feb 15, 2022 17:39:53 GMT
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Post by rexton on Feb 15, 2022 18:56:26 GMT
Yep, absolutely. I like a gadget and i think one that *could* potentially improve the stylus interaction with the LP would be beneficial. I think Andy rexton has got one so maybe he could tell us more and share his thoughts on the device? Sure thing Jim, I'll post something later tonight. |
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Post by rexton on Feb 15, 2022 20:28:28 GMT
OK, I've had the Fozgometer for approx 6months and it's a device which is extremely easy to use but you will need the Ultimate test analog LP to get the best from it. It's extremely easy to set Azimuth and also channel imbalances. Typically it will take less than 5 minutes to do both of these. No pissing about with mirrors, or Scopes! It's pretty pointless with SME V arms. I use these with my Arms that use detatchable headshells. I'm upgrading to v2 Fozgometer so I'll be selling my Fozgo v1 pretty cheap if the group wants to buy these for Oli's proposed toolkit.
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
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Post by Bigman80 on Feb 15, 2022 20:50:30 GMT
OK, I've had the Fozgometer for approx 6months and it's a device which is extremely easy to use but you will need the Ultimate test analog LP to get the best from it. It's extremely easy to set Azimuth and also channel imbalances. Typically it will take less than 5 minutes to do both of these. No pissing about with mirrors, or Scopes! It's pretty pointless with SME V arms. I use these with my Arms that use detatchable headshells. I'm upgrading to v2 Fozgometer so I'll be selling my Fozgo v1 pretty cheap if the group wants to buy these for Oli's proposed toolkit. That could be an option |
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Post by jimbo on Feb 15, 2022 21:01:48 GMT
Thanks for the info Andy. This could be a very useful tool for the forum if there were enough folk interested?
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Post by martiansunrise on Feb 16, 2022 8:32:02 GMT
The ultimate faff around is the analogmagik software. I borrowed that and realised that there's days of listening to test records involved, not hours.
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Post by karma67 on Feb 16, 2022 10:13:23 GMT
The ultimate faff around is the analogmagik software. I borrowed that and realised that there's days of listening to test records involved, not hours. Haha me to, a total mind fuk. I now use my ears to set azimuth and SRA using various records. The trouble with all these fancy gizmos is they align the coils of the cartridge and not the stylus to the record. I know which one I prefer. |
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dt79
Junior Member
Posts: 337
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Post by dt79 on Feb 16, 2022 21:10:01 GMT
I have a small mirror here, probably twice the thickness of an LP, but I could remove the platter mat, the only problem, will my eyes be good enough? I was interested in his method of anti skate, I've never done that before, always set it to the same figure as VTF or a little less. Could I be cheeky Dan, if you come to the bake off, to bring along your test record. Dave - sorry, I saw this yesterday but forgot to reply. I’m afraid i won’t be able to come to the bake off, it’s a little far for me. Happy to send you the test LP via post if you want to borrow it? I’ve tried to set the antiskate using those test tracks on the test LP but have never been very successful. In order to track anything above the second track i end up having to use way too much VTF and AS, it just gets silly. And the inability to get those sounding right seems to have no bearing on real world tracking ability. I also read a very convincing explanation from Soundsmith (I think), who basically said that if you use those type of test tracks to set your AS then you are generally going to set it way too high because they represent a continuously high amplitude that is rarely seen in real content. So yeah I just set the value to match the VTF and don’t worry about it. |
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