Dear friends: Nice to read that almost all of you are getting fun here.
I hope that what I want to share with all of you could help in anyway:
in the last 3-4 years I'm using 5-6 different LP's with one two tracks in each one to set up by ear my cartridges and to know how is the peformance an set-up in other audio systems ( several and different ones. ), till today these LP's and " process " are working fine for me.
Basically what I try to do is to be " sure " that the VTA and Azymuth are in good shape. I will talk on just three different recordings ( that anyone can buy if not already have it in both formats: LP/CD. ) all 180grs and recorded around the same years, what I report is what I hear with a volume around 83-84db SPL at seat position with 90-92db on peaks:
The first recording ( VTA ) is Janis Ian Breaking Silence ( Analogue Productions APP-027. 33rpm. ), here I use the side two first ( walking on sacred ground ) and second track ( this train still runs ):
First track: At the very first 4seg. You can hear in the right side a cymbal that was rubbing with the stick, here you can be sure that your wiring is correct channel to channel. Then ( and this is critical ) at 1.45 minutes you will hear three shots in a small drum ( I dont know its name. ) then something that sing Janis ( three seconds. ) and again other three drum shots, all these 6 shots and especially the three last ones are tight and dry and the drum sound is alive and a little on the bright side ( the right word is not bright but I dont know any other ): if you hear these drum shots a little soft or warm then you have to change the VTA in positive angle. All over this track the cymbal sound in the right ( a little in up side. ) channel is not only clear and transparent but well defined, you have to distinguish each stick stroke on the cymbal. The Janis voice always dead at the center.
Second track: this track is very dynamic in the drum/percussion work and you have to distinguish the differences in strength that the drummer put when hit the different drums.
The track start with drums and acoustic guitar and after 20 seconds and in the left side after ( immediately/along ) a drum stroke you have to hear a tiny cymbal/percussion sound ( so tiny but clear. ). Then at the 3.20 minutes you will hear the part with the strongest drum strokes ( at least ten of them. ), the first 4 are big, thick, no overhang, almost organic and tight. The percussions all over the track are clear, transparent and tactile.
The second recording ( Azymuth ) is a double album by Eagles hell freezes over ( Geffen SVLP 050 . 33rpm. )here I use the side two second track ( hotel california. ).
This track start with some acoustic guitar melody and at the 28 seg you will hear the first big stroke in a big drum ( it is not really a drum but I dont know the word for this instrument. ), the sound will comes slightly at the right of the center stage, the sound has to be big and deep with no overhang or bass resonance, it has to be a little on the warm side thick not strictly tight or dry but not soft either ( if your system has good low bass you will love this track. ). After 8 seg of that first drum big sound you will listening a percussion ( low level ) in the right side and after additional 6-7seg. you will hear a second ( lower level. ) percussion instrument in the left side.
If your system has the resolution and the VTA and Azymuth are near perfect then you will hear what I say. If you cant hear the left side percussion then you have to try little azimuth changes till you can hear it, btw when you have to change the cartridge azymuth and after that you can hear this left side percussion you will note too that that big drum sound suffer an improvement in its quality reproduction.
Sometimes even if you try the azymuth changes you cant hear this left side percussion sound and that can be for multiple problems : maybe the SPL ( volume ) is not at the right level, maybe the tweeters are not well aligned with your ears, maybe in that tonearm/cartridge combination the cartridge left side output level on that frequency range is to low or smeared, maybe your phono stage has not the right resolution or the cartridge load is not the adequate and I can go on and on in the subject.
The third recording ( and when the VTA and azymuth are near perfect . ) is to confirm what we do before.
This album is the Patricia Barber Café Blue ( Premonition Records 737. 33rpm. ), here I use side one second track ( nardis, yes the one by Miles D. ).
Start with the Patricia voice where in the very first 8seg. you will hear clearly a complete and deep Patricia breathing slightly at the right of the center stage.
The very first percussion sound ( first sound is voice and piano. ) you will hear ( very tiny. ) a cymbal at 2.32 minute.
The track is very dynamic through piano, drums and percussions/cymbals. Well, at 4.45 minute you will hear a cymbal at the left side where you have to distinguish the stick stroke/shot on the cymbal very clear not only the harmonics and in the same left side with the same cymbal at 5.22 through 5.36 minute you have to distinguish how that cymbal is touched by the stick in the inner part of the cymbal where you can hear very clear/brilliant the stick stroke several times in that brief time.
Then at 5.47 minute and coming slightly at the left side of the center stage you will hear 5 ( five ) shots/strokes by the big drum ( where the drummer use his right foot. ) that are tight, deep, a little warm, fast, clear, with real presence and with no overhang.
This track ( all the recording. ) is overprocessed but if your system is spot-on then the dynamic of the recording is a beautiful fireworks time. The recording comes a little lower in volume you will need to change your volume level by 5db.
Of course that there are other several " things " to " see " on all those recordings but these highlights are IMHO good enough to start.
Almost always I make this three recording exercise twice. I use other 3-4 recordings for fine tunning but this will be for other better time.
I have to say that due to my problems in the English language is really hard to explain in precise way those experiences step by step but I hope it can be usefull for you.
Maybe for many of you these recordings does not like you ( because it si not the kind of music that you really like. ) but this is not important, the important subject is what you hear or what you can't.
Of course that depending of each one system there will be different flavors on what you hear but you cant hear nothing totally different of what I told here.
As better is your system set-up as better and nearest you will be on what I post here.
Is it perfect this experience?, certainly not. Is it the Bible ? Again certainly not. It is only a tool with I have a lot of experience in different audio systems and like I say at the begin: always works.
Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.
