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"Making Mono" for checking Azimuth

I have a Hifi News test record for checking azimuth, but it requires minimization of a signal when listened in mono. My preamp (like many others) doesn't have a mono switch. Can I just take the output from my phono preamp, run it into a Y adaptor, and feed the output of the Y adaptor into one channel on my preamp, and just listen to that channel to minimize the signal? And further, could I reduce 2:1 with a Y adaptor and then expand 1:2 with another Y adaptor, thus creating 2 channel mono?

Or - is there another way to check azimuth that I should be considering?

Thanks, Peter
peter_s
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,487 posts
 
Bifwynne....your bubble level on the head of the tonearm would give you good azimuth if and only if your stylus was manufactured properly and mounted square on the shank and square to the cartridge itself. If you have a cartridge manufactured by a trustworthy company, you could go with your method. I use a similar method..using a carpenters level holding its weight in my 2 hands and aligning the level to the tonearm head...I have a Benz LPS and trust the manufacturer.
bifwynne
2,206 posts
 
Al, what do you think about my use of the small bubble level thingy that comes with my protractor kit? Seems to me that if the air bubble is dead center while the sylus is sitting on the record, azimuth is perfect. Am I missing something?
almarg's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
almarg
9,670 posts
 
04-02-12: Bifwynne
Al, what do you think about my use of the small bubble level thingy that comes with my protractor kit? Seems to me that if the air bubble is dead center while the sylus is sitting on the record, azimuth is perfect. Am I missing something?
Hi Bruce,

Doug is the expert on that sort of thing, so it would be best to await his answer. Stringreen's response seems logical, but I have no particular feel for how much variation is typically encountered from cartridge to cartridge (between identical models as well as between different models) in how precisely the stylus, cantilever, and generator mechanisms are aligned relative to the cartridge body. Also, of course, that methodology presumes that the turntable has been adjusted such that the platter is perfectly level, as it should be.

Best regards,
-- Al
syntax's avatar
syntax
2,193 posts
 
Very simple to do with Graham AZ-1 Azimuth Adjusting System. Use with monophonic record to determine the optimum azimuth position for the stylus tip. Works perfect.
peter_s OP
1,348 posts
 
Any suggestions for the SME system (or apparent lack thereof)?
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