Introducing the Phono Cartridge Measurement Library

[VinyLuke]

es, I realize that and I did set the audio settings in Audacity to use 96 kHz sampling but now I'm not sure if it really did that correctly. There really is no distortion data past 10 kHz in my graph. I guess the combination NI Komplete Audio 2 + Audacity is not the most common here and I'm a novice Audacity user so I may be using a wrong interface setting. I did not install Windows ASIO drivers yet since it seemed to work with the standard drivers already. However, there are other settings I can play with...

If you are using windows, you should set recording settings in Windows Settings - Devices - Sound Settings - Input Device Properties - Additional device properties - Advanced and set default format.

 

[stereoplay]

Makes it sense to split up the thread?

Going through the pages and search for a specific cartridge is time consuming and some more common cartridges are spread all over the thread.

Why not split it up in this way (e.g):

Denon DL-103 review
AT-VM95SH review
...


What do you think about my proposal?

 

[JP]

I think the intent was for the index to take people to the relevant measurement posts.

 

[stereoplay]

Ah, I see it now. I was not aware of that.

 

[JP]

Audio Technica OC9XML

About one hour on the cartridge. I didn't optimize azimuth - looks like right round -35dB should be attainable.

 

[Thomas_A]

Audio Technica OC9XML


View attachment 348361

About one hour on the cartridge. I didn't optimize azimuth - looks like right round -35dB should be attainable.

2nd HD ≈-35 dB at 5 kHz which is excellent. I wonder if this is property of a new stylus of the boron and/or microline/ridge type.

 

[Thomas_A]

Shure V15 Type IV / Jico SAS B

View attachment 347799
It took me a few attempts to understand how the TRS-1007 was recorded and how to mitigate that with the script settings (riaamode = 2, riaainv = 1). I also found that if you record with 96 kHz sampling, the sample with Right channel must be channel swapped but that somehow is not necessary if the recording is done with 44.1 kHz. Apparently the script swaps the channels when it converts to 96 kHz?

Well, in any case the script works well and is quite useful although perhaps not fully intuitive for the beginner.

Notes:

• Turntable: Denon DP-51F
• Jico SAS B needle is brand new
• VTF: 1.5 g with damping brush in use (in this unit from Jico, damping works out of the box as it should)
• Phono stage:
  • RH_RIAA 3.0 (my own design, curve accuracy +/-0.1 dB)
  • Capacitance set to 160 pF, Denon stock cables estimated to have 120 pF ---> 280 pF
  • 47 kOhm
• A/D: Native Instruments Komplete Audio 2
• I measured the original Shure MR needle as well and it is still OK with estimated 100 - 150 h of use. I had wrong capacitance settings and too low sampling rate when measuring it so will redo with the same setting as here later on.

I already thought that the Jico SAS B sounds good and works well and this measurement proves it. It seems to be even better than the original MR needle.

Also excellent distortion figures.

 

[Risto_H]

Also excellent distortion figures.

Yes, not bad and the FR is quite good. I will repeat the measurement though since I had not figured out that I have to adjust Windows sound device settings as well to capture with 96 kHz. I will do some different capacitances and the original MR needle as well.

 

[Balle Clorin]

Audio Technica OC9XML


View attachment 348361

About one hour on the cartridge. I didn't optimize azimuth - looks like right round -35dB should be attainable.

Beautiful, think that could be my next cartridge after all, better than specs, better than my OC9MLii and 33PTG, What arm and TT.? Found it , now I want that too…

Technics SL-1015 Specifications Technics

A comparison of JVC and CA test record would be interesting…

 

[mackat]

First post of mine with the CA-TRS-1007 that just arrived!

Shure V15 V-MR

The subsonic filter on this preamp isn't defeatable, so just ignore that area.

 

[aaaakkkk]

First post of mine with the CA-TRS-1007 that just arrived!

Shure V15 V-MR

The subsonic filter on this preamp isn't defeatable, so just ignore that area.

View attachment 348617

Try Side-B, on my CA-TRS1007 on Side-B the HF response is higher.

 

[aaaakkkk]

2nd HD ≈-35 dB at 5 kHz which is excellent. I wonder if this is property of a new stylus of the boron and/or microline/ridge type.

Perhaps the diamond is mounted on the cantilever at the correct angles. AT needs to sell such cartridges at an order of magnitude more expensive

 

[mackat]

Try Side-B, on my CA-TRS1007 on Side-B the HF response is higher.

Azimuth did change slightly between takes. Also, this copy is slightly warped. Side A up at the edges, side B down.

 

[Thomas_A]

Azimuth did change slightly between takes. Also, this copy is slightly warped. Side A up at the edges, side B down.

View attachment 348625

How many hours of stylus?

 

[mackat]

How many hours of stylus?

I’ve probably put around 10-20 on it.

I purchased it as unused.

 

[Thomas_A]

I’ve probably put around 10-20 on it.

I purchased it as unused.

Distortion figures indicate that it is new.

 

[mackat]

Here are some others to compare:

 

[Risto_H]

@mackat very nice results. Interestingly in your measurements we don't see the the azimuth related crosstalk problem. I wonder if different issues of that test record behave differently in this respect? I will pay more attention to the side of the test record next time...

 

[mackat]

@mackat very nice results. Interestingly in your measurements we don't see the the azimuth related crosstalk problem. I wonder if different issues of that test record behave differently in this respect? I will pay more attention to the side of the test record next time...

Thank you! Which crosstalk problem are you referring to? I tried to adjust azimuth visually as best I could with these, and I think I got pretty lucky.

 

[JP]

Found it , now I want that too…

Not quite - it’s an SL-1000MK3. I use the EPA-500 for the utility of the swappable armwand of which I have many.