Clearaudio Azimuth Optimizer V Fozgometer

Quite a bit more?...that's an understatement! The Clearaudio Azimuth Optimizer is currently retailing for around $3150 EU ($4300 USD), so it's unlikely that anyone hanging out here at Audiogon has made a comparison with a Fozgometer. If anyone has, it's probably the folks at Musical Surroundings, the distributor for Clearaudio and the Fozgometer. I would think that they'd want to know how the Fozgometer stacks up against the Optimizer. Whether or not they'd be willing to let that information out to the general public may be another matter. '-)

I own a Fozgometer so I'm curious if anyone responds to your question and provides a comparison.

Regards,
Tom

Don_c55,

I did the same gig with the bubble level on the headshell for a long time.
Got a Fozgometer for Christmas and when I checked it using the AP Test
LP, the measured azimuth was way off. I thought my rig sounded great
before, but once adjusted with the Fozgometer, I hear a definite
improvement in imaging and soundstaging precision and also a reduction in
surface noise.

After seeing how a minimal (tiny) amount of headshell rotation results in
such a big shift in readings on the meter, I think that it is nearly impossible
to set azimuth precisely without some type of measurement equipment.

Just my 2 cents based on my experience.

Happy New Year!
Dave

Dicockrum,

Did you try finer adjustments, after using the Fozgometer, or just believe the meter and go with that setting?

My arm [the original VPI JMW-10] has an azimuth ring with index marks and allows very, very fine adjustments.

The later VPI arms with dropped counter weight are too hard to adjust even with the SoundSmith Counter Intuitive IMO.

Rotating and locking a head shell is too crude for me, and most arms have no azimuth adjustment at all.

If you are satisfied thats fine, but YMMV applies here.

Other people have fine tuned, after using the Fozogometer, for even better results.