What does mist racking actually sound like?

P. S. Do NOT go backwards, EVER. No scratching like a DJ with your $4K cartridge. ;)

Thanks everyone for the great advice. I've made several strides today. It's amazing to not realize how much your sound is changing as a cartridge breaks in. Once the XV-1S suspension loosens up, things are now obvious and my sound had to get really shut in before I realized it.

I have now decreased my VTF from 2.174 grams to 1.935 grams. Much more air, more open, much less surface noise. My anti skate has been decreased by at least 70% from what it was set on. It's amazing how excessive anti-skate can affect rhythm and pace. I was floored! Changed my cart load from 400 ohm to 250 ohm. It's a tough one - I like the 50 ohm setting on my Cadence too, but the 250 just has more dynamics. I can easily see if I had a more flexible load settings on a phono-pre how the XV-1s would love its load to be between 100-150 ohms.

Still adjusting azimuth with a Fozgometer but at settings which support ideal azimuth, it sure looks unbalanced by my eyes. To my ears, I really cannot hear a difference between what my eyes say and the Fozgo says. I'll keep playing. Quick question - should I adjust azimuth by ears, eyes and Fozgo with anti-skate engaged at where I think it should be or not engaged at all for azimuth adjustments?

Thanks so much for the advice and suggestions. This has been and will continue to be a great learning experience.

:-)

It's amazing how excessive anti-skate can affect rhythm and pace.

Exactly so, as does excessive VTF. These two mis-adjustments sound very much alike. I know of two theories which purport to explain why. Whichever is correct (and both may be) there's no question about their deadening effects on sonics.

Fine tune azimuth again after you've got VTF and A/S fairly dialed in, with those parameters set where you actually play. The stylus should ALWAYS look vertical, no matter what any instrument says. Anything else could damage your vinyl. I rough in by eye and fine tune strictly by ear but if you're more confident using the Foz it certainly won't hurt. I used to use a similar device until I discovered I could do just as well by listening.

Sounds like you're making great progress!
Doug

Does not sound cool.

Doug thanks again for the advice and everyone else too. I'm learning that setting the Azimuth for me is a dual combo of eyes and Fozgo. Not sure my ears are good enough yet until the retrospective analysis for azimuth whereas VTF and anti-skate are easily heard by my ears early on.

When combining the use of the 3x and 10 x lupe that came with my Mint and getting azimuth set by sight, then fine tuning it in ever so slight increments with the Fozgo has made my soundstage width expand farther than before with better imaging.

When I got my turntable around 18 months ago, I had a buddy of mine set it up. He did a great job but I'm glad I reset things myself this weekend. I learned tons and its very rewarding to get great sound after you have done it yourself so to speak.

My Freshman year of analog is now complete - on to the Soph class!