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setting azimuth on VPI turntables

I purchased a VPI Scoutmaster a few weeks ago, being unenthusiatic over the sound, I was considering selling up until last night.

I had been over cartridge setup for this table a number of times, getting overhang, alignment, azimuth, VTF, and VTA just right. Still, things were not sounding all that good.

I had previously purchased the Fremer DVD so I did know about setting up this table optimally. I surmised the rod method of setting azimuth, as instructed in the VPI manual, was not optimal and part of the culprit in non-involving sound.

I finally got around to purchasing a DMM with a low enough AC voltage scale the other day. After much trial and error I finally got a crosstalk differential of less than 1%, a miracle with this setup. Setting azimuth on this table is a real PITA, everytime I got azimuth within specs, VTF went out of balance.

Eventually I got it right, the payoff in sound was way big time! Center image is now 'locked in', way more solid and dimensional. Images are also now floating free of the physical speaker, spaciousness, air in spades, a much more organic sound.

Having heard some complain about this table's uninvolving nature and lack of musicality prompted me to post this thread. I suspect many have not had their table set up correctly, because I certainly heard what they were talking about prior to getting azimuth 'locked in'. VPI owners, it is absolutely necessary to set azimuth electronically, the rod method in not nearly good enough! Get a proper DMM or get someone knowledgable to set up your table, you just might be in for a big surprise!

Vinyl setup:
VPI Scoutmaster, non-signature, Valhalla wired arm wand in near future
Dynavector 20XL
Cayin Phono One
DIY wall shelf using 3" thick maple
Bright Star Big Rock, going to try Gingko 11 in near future
SDS and ring clamp coming soon
sns
sns OP
3,199 posts
 
No. Crosstalk is the migration/blending of signal output from one channel to the other. Thus, left channel signal leaks into right channel, and vice versa. Using the balance control only controls gross decibels, the ratio of crosstalk (leakage) to proper signal remains unchanged.

Only by getting the stylus to ride perfectly perpendicular to groove walls will you get minimum crosstalk. The Fremer dvd explains this very well in the PDF files.
mjglo
127 posts
 
When attaching the test leads do they go pos to pos and neg to neg at the amp output terminals? Is it ok to leave the speakers hooked up? After you got the channels balanced did you use the VPI rod to see how close to level you are now?

Thanks,
Mike
sns OP
3,199 posts
 
Yes, postive goes to positive and negative to negative, unless your phono pre or pre inverts signal (as my preamp does) in which case positive goes to negative, and vice versa.
Leave speakers hooked up.

I did not recheck with the rod, I don't see the point. The electronic method is much more precise than the rod method, I will never use the rod method again.
mjglo
127 posts
 
Thanks for this thread, I just ordered the test LP and I already have the Michael Fremer DVD and several multimeters. This method just seems to make the most sense.

Mike
sns OP
3,199 posts
 
Here is an interesting web page discussing a new tool for dynamically setting azimuth. http://www.adjustplus.de/index.php?lang=english
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