Fozgometer

An additional comment or two to my previous post:
Mike Fajin also asked me about the equipment I used during my
calibration attempts. I had downloaded the test tones to my HP
laptop, and connected the laptop to the Foz using an
inexpensive splitter cable with a mini jack on the computer
end, and RCA jacks on the other two "legs" of the
cable. Fajin said a cheap splitter cable (i.e., from China)
could be a problem, and also that playing the test tones from
the laptop, rather than burning the test tones to a CD and
playing it on a CD player, might also introduce inaccuracies.
His advice was to burn the test tones to a CD and use that to
calibrate the Foz, and to use good quality interconnects from
the CD player to the Foz.

P.S. I got my Foz back from MS and it seems to be working
fine. When MS calibrated the unit, it was set to 30db, rather
than 20db as the unit's instruction manual states.

If this thread was the only source of information about the Fozgometer, I would conclude that the product isn't functionally reliable.

Sdcampbell, thanks for the clarification. I have been wondering about some of the problemss people have posted on using and calibrating the Fozgometer. As Mike Fajin mentioned to you, the unit is sensitive to extraneous signal noise so you have to use good quality connectors and a clean signal. I found this out while using one of my phono preamps and a LOMC cartridge; the preamp had developed some signal noise in one channel that was affecting the Fozgometer and making it difficult to set azimuth. So I used the tonearm cables directly into the Foz. That's the preferred method but when you have a cartridge with low output, the range of signal output is reduced so it reduces the sensitivity of the adjustments in azimuth.

Your mention of the Fozgometer being recalibrated to a 30dB sensitivity got me to thinking that I could do the same in order to have a wider range of sensitivity for LOMC cartridges. I'm assuming that's how it would work. I'll have to experiment to see. Or have you already seen that effect?

I know it would cost more to implement but it would be handy to have two signal level settings on the Fozgometer, one for high output cartridges and one for low output cartridges. But that'd make the Fozgometer more expensive for everyone just to make it more convenient for a limited number of users.

Thanks again for posting the information. Helps to understand how these things work.

Onhwy61, on the contrary, it points out that you need to pay attention to how you use the Fozgometer and what the signal readings mean. As I said in my recent post, I think some of the difficulties in using the Fozgometer are the result of user error or misunderstanding, or faulty cartridges and/or phono preamps. The owners manual is fairly complete but it could be improved by providing more background information on how the Foz works, what the signal readings mean, and how to troubleshoot (and correct) for odd readings or behavior. That would also help users know when the device is actually deffective or needs to be recalibrated by Musical Surroundings. (And to expect that every single Fozgometer manufactured will work perfectly, forever, is unrealistic.)

The Fozgometer is a very handy device to aid in setting azimuth but it's not a purely "plug-and-play" device; you need to use it properly, use a fresh battery, have good connectors, and normally functioning cartridges and phono preamps. Playing vinyl can be very simple if you want it to be. But if you're wanting to get the highest level of playback that's reasonably possible, you have to take the time and trouble to make that happen. I don't consider it a hassle, it's just part of the enjoyment of a lifelong hobby.

Regards,
Tom

Onhwy61: I get your drift... I think I would have contacted Musical Surroundings before posting this thread. However, maybe the reason for this thread was that MS was contacted and no credible response?