Most test records (e.g: STR-100) have their frequency sweep track (used by the Phono Cartridge Response Measurement Script) at the beginning of the record, where the Radial Tracking Error is not null.
This is problematic for estimating the cartridge crosstalk, and indeed the instructions provided by The guidebook suggest that we play with the cartridge azimuth (turning the headshell slightly, or adding spacers) to attain optimal results.
This is probably OK for estimating the cartridge best performance, but it probably not a good idea for actually setting up the cartridge/turntable, which has been designed to minimize its readout error at a different location of the tonearm's arc. Right?
Aside from the cartridge's azimuth, the other factors that contribute to the crosstalk misestimation is the Horizontal Tracking Error itself, the cartridge is not aligned with the grooves and it blends the channels slightly, increasing crosstalk. I found that twisting the cart slightly also improves crosstalk. The linear velocity at the outer edge of the record is also the highest, this is good for frequency resolution, but it probably amplifies high frequency tracking errors and anti-skating forces as well (which are also change across the record radius).
BTW: I'm suspecting that — on healthy cartridges — the "azimuth twist" probably mostly compensates for the anti-skating error at the beginning of the record.
What do you guys think?
This is problematic for estimating the cartridge crosstalk, and indeed the instructions provided by The guidebook suggest that we play with the cartridge azimuth (turning the headshell slightly, or adding spacers) to attain optimal results.
This is probably OK for estimating the cartridge best performance, but it probably not a good idea for actually setting up the cartridge/turntable, which has been designed to minimize its readout error at a different location of the tonearm's arc. Right?
Aside from the cartridge's azimuth, the other factors that contribute to the crosstalk misestimation is the Horizontal Tracking Error itself, the cartridge is not aligned with the grooves and it blends the channels slightly, increasing crosstalk. I found that twisting the cart slightly also improves crosstalk. The linear velocity at the outer edge of the record is also the highest, this is good for frequency resolution, but it probably amplifies high frequency tracking errors and anti-skating forces as well (which are also change across the record radius).
BTW: I'm suspecting that — on healthy cartridges — the "azimuth twist" probably mostly compensates for the anti-skating error at the beginning of the record.
What do you guys think?
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