HiFi News Test Record Azimuth

+1 rdk777

"I use the  Analogue Productions - The Ultimate Analogue Test LP and measure test tone with the Fozgometer."

Cut and dry

I have the HiFi News test record, the bias tracks are a waste of time but I use the resonance tracks and I’ve tried the azimuth track, mono button depressed, but it’s very hard with a pure tone to gauge its relative volume to that you heard even a few seconds ago. There is a lower level tone just before the main tone and this is possibly more useful if adjusted to barely audible on that but it’s very hard to be sure when you have it minimised even so. I have a threaded azimuth weight inside the counterweight on my arm so I do the best I can with the test record then put a stereo disc on with good depth to the image, deselect mono on the pre and try either side of the setting from the test record, judged by the angle of the screwdriver blade in the adjuster, and listen for any change in soundstage. This has helped finalise my setting but you need to be close or there’s nothing to hear. 
I should get an oscilloscope I suppose, and one of those USB microscopes rather than use the cartridge body if Framer’s right about the QC levels of some of the cartridge manufacturers and he may be, as I found a Transfiguration Proteus I had for 5 years, and thought I had set pretty well, beaten by the SPU Royal N that replaced it in my system even when I didn’t have enough antiskate set. (This latter I know from the skewed cantilever it developed after a year.)

As lewm suggested the important issue is record wear. To minimize this it is important that the stylus be perpendicular to the record. With well made cartridges this will also optimize crosstalk. The easiest way to get the stylus perpendicular to the record is to look at it. You can increase your accuracy dramatically by putting the stylus down on a mirror the thickness of a 180 Gm record. With two lights aimed at the sides of the stylus you will see a distinct hourglass shape. If it is leaning to one side or the other adjust the azimuth until it is perfectly upright and symmetrical which is painfully easy to see, even for somebody who listens to Tekton loudspeakers. This method is more than accurate enough in regard to record wear. If the geometry of the cartridge is off it will not optimize audio performance. The solution to this dilemma is to get a better cartridge or maybe get a warranty replacement. 
The one tool that really makes this easy is the SmarTractor. With the stylus down on the mirrored surface you can use it's special magnifier to give you the big picture. Brilliant if expensive tool. 

I’ll go with MC’s #1

Analog is not perfect. Importance is based on sound quality.

While listening, sibilance will turn into detail with longer trails when azimuth is correct.

While somewhat closely related to Anti-Skating, more than other setup parameters, the objective in simple terms is to get the U shaped stylus properly oriented in the V shaped groove for optimal contact of the groove walls.

Use of Acoustic Sounds Ultimate Analogue Test LP and Fozgometer can often be optimal is my go to for starters. Realize though that we are introducing an electrical variable to a mechanical measurement and coil separation differences between channels can sometimes mess things up.

boothroyd, Preservation of your records will do a whole lot more for sound quality than an overpriced meter will ever hope to. The mirror method will properly orient the diamond and if the cartridge is well made the coils also. If it's not...then what does it matter. Crosstalk in cartridges is terrible to begin with, a dB here or there really does not matter. I have checked the mirror method with my Hi Fi News record and an oscilloscope. I check every cartridge when I set it up for the first time to make sure it is constructed well. Every cartridge I have gotten since I have been doing this has been easily within a dB. In other words most cartridges are well made today and the mirror method gets you real close while optimizing record wear. The benefit being no need to waste money on a meter.