Cartridge Opinions - Sorry

Dear @kennyc : All of us know that the builded cartridges on the cantilever/stylus tip atached are not 100% perfect and from several years now that microscpic video you mentioned was already see it.

What you maybe don’t take in count is that the stylus tip in a pivoted tonearm even if it’s aligned " cartridge’s “stylus” to be “perfectly” parallel to the groove, “perfectly” perpendicular 90 degrees from the front, and 92 degrees from the side. "" the stylus tip can’t rides the groove modulations with precission due to the tracking error and only at null points can do it but even that and at microscopic levels the stylus tip always is jumping during the groove modulations tracking task.

So what are you trying to share?, all what you posted is know but audiophiles.

We have to align the cartridge with the higher accuracy levels we can and that’s all we can do it.

In the other side the several any kind of distortions/noises/resonances developed trough the cartridge tracking inside the cartridge it self and along the ones developed by the tonearm and TT as the feedback from there and from the LP surface into the cartridge and the fact that the stylus tip can’t pick up all the recorded information in those LP grooves makes that you can’t discern if what you are listening is because you have a " problem " with that 92 or that 90 degrees or because all those distorions developed during playing.

There are and exist a lot of issues on what we are listening trhough our analog rig.

In the other side the LP it self comes with several imperfections that add more trouble in our " perfect " alignments and each LP comes with different imperfections even in the same title.

So what do you want to do with all those? to make an alignment correction at each single LP or even at each track on each LP?

Maybe that could be your target but certainly not mine.

Now, you said that if I don't understand then you can explain me, well I need an explanation ( I think you are talking of your first hand experiences . ):

How do you mantain exactly those 90 degrees ( which groove do you choice to make the alignment and why and where in the LP surface and with which LP. ? ) and 92 degress at each single groove because I understand that the cartridge has a suspension/compliance mechanism and all those imperfections I talked about?

R.

Dear @tyray : "  Do you use any vacuum tube gear in your system? ""

Not any more, I used full tube electronics for more than 10 years till I learned that the inherent limitations of tube alternative can´t honor the LP reproduction and not even the digital one.
I'm a MUSIC lover not hardware lover.


"" Are you an expert in all things turntable? ""

Certainly not, each single day I try to follow learning and as a fact through this and other internet forums I do it.

R.

Dear @mijostyn : "  I hate to say this but that turntable system? is a mess. You need to clean that up. A record clamp that massive is not necessary with vacuum hold down. ""

well that's your opinion ( I mean your first hand experiences with. ) because my first hand experiences  with any vacuum hold down mechanism (including  other than in my system. ) told me that almost any weigth/clamp a top makes a difference for the better because the vacuum can't stop the resonances developed between the LP surface and the stylus tip the feedback in between exist during playing and any clamp helps to change the frequency of those resonances and to lower its level and you can listen the differences there testing with and with out the clamp.

R.

Dear friends all of you: I sended an email to J.Alaerts and VDH, I´m customer of both cartridge design true EXPERT manufacturers not new comers or rookies. I asked about cartridge importance against tonearm importance in an analog rig and this is what they answer me:


ALLAERTS:

From: J.Allaerts
Date: jueves, 13 de agosto de 2020 09:19 a. m.
For: rauliruegas@hotmail.com <rauliruegas@hotmail.com>
Asunto: RE Allaerts ,

Hi Raul ,

I think that the cartridge is 500 % more important is as the arm , the arm is only the tool that must keep the cartridge on his position , no more no less , and also that is important that for my cartridges the masa from the arm can have 10 Gr , weight cartridges , if this is correct its only to adjust the arm correct and you can play , but for music and dynamic range and accurate , is the cartridge the most important piece , better , the cartridge is the source and first in line , so actually the MOST IMPORTANT PIECE from a High Tech installation , don’t let you involve with some other explanations , OK,

Best Regards

Jan. """

When I lended my Allaerts MC2 Finish Gold to M.Fremer for review was because I asked before to Stereophile why no Allaerts cartridge review and they told me that they asked for review sample two times but Allaerts always was and still is back ordered.

Any gentleman that wants to buy a MC2 Formula 1 needs to send payment in advance ( around 20K. ) and wait 3-6 months to receive his cartridge.

Allaerts does not needs advertazing or reviews, normally is back_ordered in the two top cartridge models.

here you can read the specs of the Formula 1:

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

MC2 Formula One

Casing Manually milled and drilled aluminium.

Special prepare for Gold coated 100 µmm Cover0,3 mm thick, coated with 24 ct. gold foil. Color Gold colored finish 24 ct Kobalt.

Terminals Soft iron, shaped by grinding and milling.
Special prepare for Gold coated 100 µmm 

Connector pins1,3 mm x 20 mm, 14 ct. solid gold pins.

Screw bushes2.5 mm brass threaded bushes mounded into casing.

Magnet Permanent. (Cat.: rare earth magnet) Samarium-CobaltPower : max. BH (Kj/m3°) 280

Coil2 mm x 2 mm, Teflon Type c 1005 +

Coil windings20 micron gold handwinding wire +Stylus holderSolid

Boron rod: 0,3 mm x 7 mm.Angle of stylus in holder: 0°.

Stylus tipTIP FG-S High Tech diamond, highly polished finish.Rounded radius 4 micron.

Shock absorptionHigh Tech Rubber, 120 SCHORTension wireSteel wire spring, code 1007 +.

TECHNICAL DATA

Coil impedance32 Ohm

Load impedanc 845 Ohm

Load capacity 150 pFStylus

pressure1.8 grams, Max. tolerance 0,05 gram

Output voltage150 µVMax.

tracing capacity>400 µmm

Channel separation >70 dB at 100 Hz

>60 dB at 1 KHz

>70 dB at 20 KH

Frequency range 3 Hz to 150 KHzTotal

THD %0.01 %

Total unit weight11 grams (incl. socket screws)

It’s estimated the stylus will last between 7,000-10,000 hours. """

Btw, Jan use Yorke analog rig, Simos builds only six units by year and only on custom order.

Obviously that the Allaerts cartridge owner needs a really top SS Phonolinepreamp as is the level of CH or FM Acoustics and obviously too no single tubes down there ( this is absolutely out of question. ).

The information by VDH:

" After the cartridge, the arm is the next important item on a turntable. It is therefore important what material(s) and construction are applied. Any arm transmits the mechano-acoustical energy of the cartridge and is also a mechanical resonator itself. Both effects are unpleasant because both change the replay quality in their own specific way. "

this is one model I own from VDH:

https://www.vandenhul.com/product/the-colibri/


Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.

@rauliruegas
I was simply defining “optimum” cartridge setup means getting the stylus angles correct. There are many roads on how to get there, I’m still learning how but I listed some methods/tools that I need to further explore as mentioned in my previous post.

When you use a protractor to align your cartridge to the null points, how do you know that at these null points that the stylus is perfectly parallel to the groove and are at the correct angles, given manufacturing inconsistencies?

Also, you’re getting your angles mixed up. 90-92 degrees is measured vertically, while null points (zenith) is measured horizontal. Therefore, once vertical is set up, it should remain the same across the entire record surface.

What do you think the various angles: SRA, VTA, azimuth, zenith, is trying to achieve? Answer: to align the stylus, not the body, not the cantilever, but the stylus. Cartridge “optimization” is simply getting the best stylus to groove angles and VTF.

And no, it isn’t just my experience. I know the problem, but am still learning the solution aka I know what “optimum” is trying to achieve, but I’m still learning how to get there. I first learned the 92 degrees from Michael Fremer (Stereophile), and Jonathan Valin (The Absolute Sound) recently mentioned the 92 degrees in his current review of the DS Audio Master1 cartridge.

I’ve spent the last 4 years doing in-depth audio research to create a maximum price/performance analog+digital chain while minimizing sound quality loss. Many very serious audiophiles often with expensive highly transparent systems maximize their system’s performance including cartridge optimization. Many of these tips I’ve learned on WBF (Whats Best Forum). The more transparent your system, the better you’ll hear the benefits of cartridge optimization.

Because I plan to be switching cartridges, I’m learning how to optimize for myself (as opposed to hiring someone to set it up for you). My strategy to learning cartridge optimization is to first research available setup tools such as protractors, usb microscopes, software, etc. Next is to learn directly from at least 1 seasoned dealer/professional by asking questions and watching them install my cartridge. I will then finalize the tools and methodology. With enough experience of what is optimal, I hope to eventually be able to make the final adjustments by ear.

This 4th post on this subject will likely be the last because of fatigue - I’m quickly losing interest in continuing this tedious topic