2. analog
  3. 1283794383

getting azimuth right

I was checking the alignment and it just occured to me the the stylus was listing towards the inside of the record. The cartridge is perpendicular to the record but the stylus is not right. So... I made some some azimuth adjustments. Well, to say that their was an improvement would be putting it lightly. At first it sounded a little thin, then... The sound went from being somewhat fat to more precise, larger soundstage, blacker, tighter bass with more impact and weight. My cartridge never tracked the inside grooves of a record like this before. The sound is relaxed and natural. However, the cartridge now leans towards the outside of the record slightly, but the stylus is now perpendicular to the record. Is this unusual? The difference in horns and piano is amazing. I think I learned something today. Wow. The sound is so relaxed and not edgy and the decay.... wow. I learned how important getting azimuth right is. I can't even say how many times I have worked on getting the aligment right and fiddled with this cartridge. I just got a big payoff for my labors

I had to write this because I hope to share this info with others that may be going through what I did and to not give up on analog. I just know their has to be others that have overlooked this. How can this be? I thought the cartridge should perfectly perpedicular to the record and the whole straw on the tonearm thing. Not so. You really have to look good. The mintlp kit helped me very much in figuring this out. Now I can see how important an azimuth tool can be. I can tell there is probably some fine tuning I could do but I am excited to say the least.
tzh21y
koegz
317 posts
 
A very simple and acurate method. Simply use a test record with a 1kHz sound from 1 channel at a time. then use a sound meter(radio shack) the same distance from each speaker and adjust. easy, quick, cheap and acurate.
dre_j
159 posts
 
Koegz,

I’m having trouble understanding your comment but will try to share my thought anyway. Based on your statement above, I’ll try to follow along. However, the only thing this approach will do is allow you to possibly hear a channel imbalance of the total system including the room. It certainly won't allow you to properly adjust azimuth. If someone is using azimuth to adjust for channel imbalance, I'd suggest that is not the purpose or proper use for this adjustment.

If we are trying to adjust for proper channel balance, the best place for this is with a balance control in the phonostage or the preamp. If the cartridge balance is that far off, it's probably a good idea to send it back to the manufacturer for a replacement.

Dre
doctorcilantro
59 posts
 
Read the Feickhart manual. It's VERY interesting. Once you plot for phase and CT, you can dial in VTA, something a mm won't allow you to do. You don't need the software but using a digital oscope/VUs would allow you to plot all this like they do.
koegz
317 posts
 
Dre i; Not complicated. Analogue Production's "THE ULTIMATE ANALOGUE test LP", Trachs 2 and 3. I quote "The object is to sit the stylus exactly perpendicular in the groove" henss the Azimuth Adjustment. You say this is not correct? Did I not spell it out how to do it? Well you better contact Analogue Productions and tell them they are misinforming their users and set them strait on the correct method. I am very happy with my results.
dre_j
159 posts
 
Koegz,

I'm very familiar with the LP. However, the method you describe is not what the LP states. The text on the LP is actually vague at best. The missing link in the LP's text is the approach to measurement and interpretation of the results. My comment was specifically focused on this part of your post:
then use a sound meter(radio shack) the same distance from each speaker and adjust. easy, quick, cheap and acurate.
I'm fairly certain that I would not suggest the use the method you had mentioned based on my understanding of your words. That was the reason for the question of making sure I understood what you where trying to say.

My goal is not to enter into an argument or debate, but only to make sure I understand what you are trying to say. I would be happy to provide you with some reasons why the approach, as I understand your comments for adjusting azimuth, may not be viable method for doing so (which I touched on in my post above).

Dre
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