Introducing the Phono Cartridge Measurement Library

[USER]

How can you describe how something plays when your cartridge is so badly misaligned?

You'll get a potato medal for adjusting the azimuth.

Cut the attitude or go find another thread.

 

[Erogen]

Cut the attitude or go find another thread.

My approach is correct. The azimuth should be set correctly.

 

[USER]

My approach is correct. The azimuth should be set correctly.

If you had more experience with this you'd know that there are a lot of reasons for the azimuth to show up like that, including issues with the test record. Sometimes the crosstalk measurements "break-off" when they are past the test record's limit (and the Clearaudio test record has a limit, so it is not a perfect or definitive example for crosstalk). You'd also know that there is relation to the frequency response, which seems well set-up. More you don't know if he used other methods or test records for setting up the azimuth. There is variance from test record to test record, even if the same ones. Mackat knows what he is doing. Finally, please read the first page of this thread for more information as it is covered there and, most importantly, stop being a jackass.

 

[mackat]

You'll get a potato medal for adjusting the azimuth.
Setting the azimuth correctly the first time on the Technics SL 1200GR turntable is bordering on a miracle
This turntable has a rubbish headshell mounting system.

Some cartridges show strange crosstalk readings with the CA-TRS-1007.

My Signet TK10ML is a similar example. Using a Fozgometer and the Analogue Productions test record, it shows normal readings. I will test this one too.

I have no issues adjusting azimuth correctly on my 1200GR. It has a collet with some play, just like any other 1/2 inch mount tonearm.

 

[Thomas_A]

My approach is correct. The azimuth should be set correctly.

And which record is correct? Have you any optical measurements of all usable test records?

 

[Erogen]

If you had more experience with this you'd know that there are a lot of reasons for the azimuth to show up like that, including issues with the test record. Sometimes the crosstalk measurements "break-off" when they are past the test record's limit (and the Clearaudio test record has a limit, so it is not a perfect or definitive example for crosstalk). You'd also know that there is relation to the frequency response, which seems well set-up. More you don't know if he used other methods or test records for setting up the azimuth. There is variance from test record to test record, even if the same ones. Mackat knows what he is doing. Finally, please read the first page of this thread for more information as it is covered there and, most importantly, stop being a jackass.

Is taking about 100 measurements of many, many inserts to set the correct azimuth sufficient experience?
I'm convinced it is.
He simply didn't set the azimuth correctly.

 

[Erogen]

I have no issues adjusting azimuth correctly on my 1200GR. It has a collet with some play, just like any other 1/2 inch mount tonearm.

Please tell me how many measurements I made, in the case of the Technics turntable, to achieve the correct azimuth.

 

[mackat]

Please tell me how many measurements I made, in the case of the Technics turntable, to achieve the correct azimuth.

I wasn’t trying to invalidate your experience with setting azimuth. I was simply sharing my own.

You clearly have a genuine interest in this topic, but most of your interactions on here come across as snarky, dismissive, and unnecessarily confrontational.

Have you considered engaging constructively with your peers instead of simply criticizing their measurements?

 

[Erogen]

Have you considered engaging constructively with your peers instead of simply criticizing their measurements?

Of course.

 

[USER]

Of course.

We know who you are. We knew from the start but showed you grace and yet you, as always, ruined it with your nonsense. Stop killing the thread. I have asked the mods to remove you for the fifth time. Can you take the hint that you aren't a good forum member? Please everyone don't engage and muddy the thread further. It doens't matter what you say because he doesn't care to engage in earnest. We've been through this before.

 

[mackat]

Hello, You are my idol. Is it possible you please this peasant? Can you test the MP-200 with the MP500 stylus. This ad the hoc combination is common not only to save money but because of mass/arm compatibility. In the UK also some people retip the MP-200 with a paratrace stylus very similar to the MP500, hence results would be of interest. Much appreciated.

Finally was able to do this as I picked up another MP-200 not too long ago.

MP-200 with MP-500 stylus

Appears to be nearly the same as the MP-500.

 

[Balle Clorin]

And NO top end blipp! ??Looks better than some 500 and 700 posted

 

[mackat]

Technics EPC-305MCMK2

This one is riding quite low, so the TTDD has deteriorated substantially.

I was not able to improve crosstalk at all. Edit: The Fozgometer shows ~-25 dB per channel. Some cartridges don't like the CA-TRS-1007 crosstalk.

Someone please stop me from buying more cartridges with near certain suspension issues, lol

That being said, it does sound quite good.

 

[JP]

I’ve tried…

 

[sqrl]

I call dibs on the two TRS-1007’s (one original, one MKII) that just appeared at auction

If anyone is planning to bid anyway, please DM me so we don’t get into a bidding war against each other.

Looks like some one managed a bidding war anyway - 50-60 thousand Yen!

 

[mackat]

Looks like some one managed a bidding war anyway - 50-60 thousand Yen!

Unfortunately, they’re valued a bit higher in Japan than when they pop up on Discogs. They usually seem to go for around 30-40k.

This time was crazy, though. I did end up winning them both, so stay tuned

 

[sqrl]

Well done. Hope they will all be in good condition. I didn't bid you up on those, but I won the box with TRS-1002-5 and DIN 45 542-3...9 and the JVC SS23 Infrasonic/Ultrahigh sweeps.

 

[richjoh]

Here is Nagaoka MP200, the change is only the test records, CA-TRS-1007 and CBS STR120. They do measure same near 20kHz. The channel difference of the TRS-1007 was repeated to see if it was a tracking issue, I got same result. Is it software related, I have no idea.

Without any data to distinguish, I would side with CBS STR-120 only because its FR goes out to 50KHz.

Rich

 

[sqrl]

Here is Nagaoka MP200, the change is only the test records, CA-TRS-1007 and CBS STR120. They do measure same near 20kHz. The channel difference of the TRS-1007 was repeated to see if it was a tracking issue, I got same result. Is it software related, I have no idea.

Without any data to distinguish, I would side with CBS STR-120 only because its FR goes out to 50KHz.

Rich

View attachment 532743

View attachment 532745

Looks like a good starting point. It is actually within its specification of 1.5 dB channel balance. Maybe you can slightly twist the headshell anti-clockwise a little, if there is give in the collet, if you're using these records to adjust azimuth by crosstalk. Its specified FR is 20 Hz-23 kHz, so the extended HF test record doesn't actually help much and the big drop in output zooms the scale out on the chart, so that the channel balance might look closer than it actually is. STR-120 goes 10 Hz-50 kHz, so I am not not sure what is happening below 600 Hz on the chart. You can use the advanced tab and specify a 20 Hz-20 or 23 kHz range for the STR-120, which will give you similar zoomed scaling to the TRS-1007 for a better comparison. You might also be able to shim VTA lower and reduce distortion further.

 

[sqrl]

Looks like a good starting point. It is actually within its specification of 1.5 dB channel balance. Maybe you can slightly twist the headshell anti-clockwise a little, if there is give in the collet, if you're using these records to adjust azimuth by crosstalk. Its specified FR is 20 Hz-23 kHz, so the extended HF test record doesn't actually help much and the big drop in output zooms the scale out on the chart, so that the channel balance might look closer than it actually is. STR-120 goes 10 Hz-50 kHz, so I am not not sure what is happening below 600 Hz on the chart. You can use the advanced tab and specify a 20 Hz-20 or 23 kHz range for the STR-120, which will give you similar zoomed scaling to the TRS-1007 for a better comparison. You might also be able to shim VTA lower and reduce distortion further.

Sorry, my mistake on the STR-120, which is of course 500 Hz to 50 kHz.