Introducing the Phono Cartridge Measurement Library

[JP]

The FR script is insensitive to these types of anomalies as it time-slices the audio and grabs the largest bin in the given time slice. This means a resonance, etc. would need to have more energy than the fundamental within the time slice that the fundamental is being being measured. The most likely place to see this is at LF as the time slices are largest as are resonance due to arm/cart interaction.

I've been thinking of a waterfall plot using FFT or maybe HT to provide a broader view, similar to the attached. It wouldn't replace the current FR functionality, but could be an interesting add-on to the test "suite".

 

[aaaakkkk]

Audio-Technica AT33PTG/II

Vertical Tracking Force 1.5g = Tracking ability 70mkm
Vertical Tracking Force 1.8g = Tracking ability 90mkm
Vertical Tracking Force 2.0g = Tracking ability 100mkm

 

[aaaakkkk]

Kind of uneven crosstalk on VM 540ML? Did you try to optimize it, but maybe the L/R frequency response suffered then?

The generator is installed offset, the damper is also offset, and the diamond on the cantilever is tilted and rotated. You have to manually achieve a compromise; it takes a long time to set up. I think if you turn the generator just a little bit, the crosstalk situation will improve.

 

[morillon]

Audio-Technica AT33PTG/II

Vertical Tracking Force 1.5g = Tracking ability 70mkm
Vertical Tracking Force 1.8g = Tracking ability 90mkm
Vertical Tracking Force 2.0g = Tracking ability 100mkm


View attachment 327965View attachment 327966View attachment 327967

not 47k..but ?
(1.8gr..low value recommended, it seems a little surprising...)

 

[JP]

New beta code has been posted here.

 

[aaaakkkk]

not 47k..but ?
(1.8gr..low value recommended, it seems a little surprising...)

Sorry forgot to write about the Denon HA-1000.

Based on the characteristics:
Dynamic Compliance 10 x 10-6 cm/dyne (100 Hz)
Then compliance@100Hz = 50mkm / (9.8*VTF[min])
10 = 50mkm / (9.8*VTF[min])
0.51g = Tracking ability 50mkm (but this is at 100Hz)

 

[USER]

Denon DL-55
Click to increase size

Notes

• This started out a cynical purchase but ended up being a pleasant surprise
• A low-tiered, low-output MC cartridge from the early 1980s
• Used, nude, special elliptical stylus with aluminum cantilever
• Azimuth needs further adjustment
• These measurements were taken with my Wayne Kirkwood Flat MM on MM setting
  • I didn't want to set Flat MM to 100kΩ in MC mode (recommendation is 100+Ω)
  • If there is any real interest I can measure a NOS copy on my Manley Chinook
    • @aaaakkk's last measurement makes me wonder if there would be a difference
• FR is below +1 dB until 10kHz as the resonance was smartly pushed up
• Distortion compares to modern cartridges and is as good as Denon seems to get
• Crosstalk is -30 dB on DIN 45 543!
• Nicer diamond than the DL-103R that will provide much more consistent performance across the record
  • And this was their cheap MC when it first came out!
  • Some --much more expensive ones-- may have better trackability because of lower tip mass
    • But that seems like it
• I got lucky this one is in good condition as most seem well-used (I like the swirly blue as well!)
• We found ourselves a hidden gem!

I'll update to the latest version of the script once it is out of beta. I need to tailor it to my work process given the high volume of measurements (not to mention my OCD).

 

[morillon]

Sorry forgot to write about the Denon HA-1000.

Based on the characteristics:
Dynamic Compliance 10 x 10-6 cm/dyne (100 Hz)
Then compliance@100Hz = 50mkm / (9.8*VTF[min])
10 = 50mkm / (9.8*VTF[min])
0.51g = Tracking ability 50mkm (but this is at 100Hz)

I wanted to say that I am a little surprised that 1.8gr is valued...lower than the recommended values and not 2gr or a little more...

 

[aaaakkkk]

I wanted to say that I am a little surprised that 1.8gr is valued...lower than the recommended values and not 2gr or a little more...

Just in case, I'll set it on the scale and measure again.
Vertical Tracking Force 1.0g = Tracking ability 50mkm


The scale on my record player is lying, I measured it using scales

Audio-Technica AT33PTG/II

Vertical Tracking Force 1.0g = Tracking ability 50mkm
Vertical Tracking Force 1.5g = Tracking ability 70mkm
Vertical Tracking Force 1.8g = Tracking ability 80mkm
Vertical Tracking Force 2.0g = Tracking ability 90mkm

 

[morillon]

Just in case, I'll set it on the scale and measure again.
Vertical Tracking Force 1.0g = Tracking ability 50mkm


The scale on my record player is lying, I measured it using scales

Audio-Technica AT33PTG/II

Vertical Tracking Force 1.0g = Tracking ability 50mkm
Vertical Tracking Force 1.5g = Tracking ability 70mkm
Vertical Tracking Force 1.8g = Tracking ability 80mkm
Vertical Tracking Force 2.0g = Tracking ability 90mkm

just audiotechnica gives 1.8/2.2gr 2gr recommended....
(the denon is a nice old machine with the advantage of double gain but surprisingly only offers an input impedance , not to high (100ohm) , which can limit its interest with somes cartdriges.. .
but especially given its age, given the complexity of the machine or some of its technical biases typical of this era...requires very "delicat" recapping)

 

[Balle Clorin]

Is this the correct thread? AT-33PTGii on two Denon test records XG-7001 and XL-7004 My PTG looks much nicer here than on CA -TRS-1007. XL-7004 seems very good, very well matched L and R and very good crosstalk, maybe bottom at 6k and peak at 16k? is more pronounced than the TRS-1007s
Script 17B

CA TRS-1007

Introducing the Phono Cartridge Measurement Library

@USER or @mackat What tonearm was used with that Denon DP-80?

audiosciencereview.com

Notes

• Cartridge: Audio-Technica AT33PTGII
• Stylus condition <50 hrs on vinyl,
• Test record: see above
• Turntable and arm: Michell Gyro SE. Measured peak wow <0.1%. Arm resonance with cart 6.5-7Hz
• Tracking force: 1.8g
• Phono stage and loading settings: Parks Audio Puffin. EQ=500R-0=corrects for TRS-1007 and B&Q QR2010/QR2009 response. XG-7001/XL7004 recorded flat and with script 17B,Toslink out to USB converter to PC
  • Capacitance and impedance: 50pF fixed, 200 ohm . Total 147pF with cables
  • SUT if used: Not used
• Cable capacitance:147pF
• ADC: internal in Puffin.
• Recording: no adjustment on balance, no Azimuth adjustment on cartridge, 5-48kHz, PC and Puffin at 96kHz.

 

[aaaakkkk]

Excellent Crosstalk, my cartridge has worse.

 

[Balle Clorin]

Xtalk depends very much on the test record, your PTG does not have the wavy response on CA TRS-1007 that mine have…

 

[aaaakkkk]

Try it on another lp player. Crosstalk on Ortofon is also bad, it’s a cartridge with poor high-frequency Crosstalk.

 

[morillon]

Try it on another lp player. Crosstalk on Ortofon is also bad, it’s a cartridge with poor high-frequency Crosstalk.

for example the 1k reference of the denon xl 700* are rather suitable for a crosstalk measurement at 3.54cm ( capability +- 34-35db )... the idea being above all to look through our discotheque for a good comparable basis on a simple qualitative 10khz ( at-6605 like old hificlassic review ?).... ;-)
ps is really the data not to be forgotten..the level of our test signals in these crosstalk measurements..and distortions....depending on the discs

 

[USER]

Audio Technica AT71E with LP Gear Elliptical Upgrade for Sony ND-136G Stylus
Aka LP Gear ATN71E Stylus for Audio-Technica AT71E Cartridge
Click to increase size

Notes

• As sales start soon I figured I'd post an old measurement of a good replacement stylus
  • They very much vary in quality and I have been burned many times
• Vendors often use the same replacement stylus for various cartridges and prices can be lower for some depending on popularity
  • I purchased this on a hunch and it appears to be the cartridge I wanted
• This is an old measurement and so data is limited
• A comparison with a NOS stylus shows that this does the job
  • Not a bad match for measurements taken years apart
  • And the replacement has a slightly better diamond shape too
    • 0.3 x 0.7 versus the original 0.4 x 0.7
  • Inspect the stylus carefully no matter what
    • Remember this and don't assume anything without measurements
      • Everything sounds great on forums
• With that I have wrung out everything I could out of the AT71E
• Happy turkey day for those that celebrate

 

[aaaakkkk]

Dynavector Karat re-tipped with microline diamond from AT-OC9ML/II

Diamond together with a piece of boron cantilever is installed in an aluminum tube
Dynavector Karat was originally without a cantilever, but with working coils.
The AT-OC9ML/II generator was filled with glue and could not be restored,
the console was broken.
The length of the new cantilever is approximately 2.3 mm, the diamond looks little used,
contact patch width is approximately 3.5 microns
(the diamond that was installed on the new AT-540ML had approximately the same contact patch width)

 

[melloncolliecat]

Audio Technica AT71E with LP Gear Elliptical Upgrade for Sony ND-136G Stylus
Aka LP Gear ATN71E Stylus for Audio-Technica AT71E Cartridge
Click to increase size
View attachment 328567View attachment 328568
View attachment 328571 View attachment 328570View attachment 328569

Notes

• As sales start soon I figured I'd post an old measurement of a good replacement stylus
  • They very much vary in quality and I have been burned many times
• Vendors often use the same replacement stylus for various cartridges and prices can be lower for some depending on popularity
  • I purchased this on a hunch and it appears to be the cartridge I wanted
• This is an old measurement and so data is limited
• A comparison with a NOS stylus shows that this does the job
  • Not a bad match for measurements taken years apart
  • And the replacement has a slightly better diamond shape too
    • 0.3 x 0.7 versus the original 0.4 x 0.7
  • Inspect the stylus carefully no matter what
    • Remember this and don't assume anything without measurements
      • Everything sounds great on forums
• With that I have wrung out everything I could out of the AT71E
• Happy turkey day for those that celebrate

By all means not a small peak, but for a third party option, still a good result. I have tried a Vivid Line from same vendor, and the peak went through the roof...

 

[narud]

AT95-ML

-this is an at95-e generator using a vm95-ml stylus and mount.
-Technics sl-q2
-2 grams
-artdjpre with capacitance switch modded to 0pf/100pf
-sl-q2's cable capacitance is around 120pf (measured with a cheap meter)
-stylus has maybe 100 hours tops
-interface is a tascam 1x2

 

[narud]

Signet AM-50

-Signet AM-50 at 1.5 grams (audio technica high inductance generator with beryllium rod cantilever and micro ridge stylus)
-Technics SL-1700 mk2 w/silicone damper
-Parks Audio Puffin w/ fixed 50pf
-cable capacitance measured at 80pf
-purchased as nos but under scope it showed some very minor use
tascam 1x2