Phono Cartridge Response Measurement Script

[Thomas_A]

So here are my results of todays measurements. First out is Shure V15Vx with my latest purchased JICO SAS/B with various VTF. It has quite a few years but not so much played.

So to my old SAS/B stylus:

And my SAS zirconium stylus:

So what to get out of this? Need to think this over a bit...

Adding results from the Ortofon test record sweep for which I set the azimuth. Newest SAS/B stylus:

 

[aaaakkkk]

sweep From Ortofon test record - Did you pre-process it through an equalizer?

 

[Thomas_A]

sweep From Ortofon test record - Did you pre-process it through an equalizer?

No. Only RIAA.

 

[Thomas_A]

Effect on anti-skate force: Effects only third harmonic and slightly on crosstalk (which could be due to tilting - it is a unipivot; so any AS change should be followed by azimuth correction). Should it be equalised? Norm means setting it steady on blank vinyl surface.

Naturally, at 1.5 g distortion drops a few dB:

 

[aaaakkkk]

No. Only RIAA.

If you only have RIAA and I only have RIAA, then why are our responses with LP Ortofon so different? I tested my phono preamp for RIAA compliance, have you tested your phono preamp?

 

[Thomas_A]

If you only have RIAA and I only have RIAA, then why are our responses with LP Ortofon so different? I tested my phono preamp for RIAA compliance, have you tested your phono preamp?

Yes. I have tested it

Muffsy phono preamplifier minireview (update)

This review was updated September 21, 2023. Main change was the use of the E1DA Scaler to fix the impedance issues that is evident when using the E1DA ADC alone. This is an attempt to make a small review with measurements of the Muffsy MM phono preamplifier. It is a DIY kit so it is far from...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Can you link to your Ortofon result?

Edit. I saw it. It is not very different. I set norm to 2 kHz and use 1 kHz tp 50 kHz display.

 

[aaaakkkk]

There is a difference, but you are right, not very big.

 

[Thomas_A]

There is a difference, but you are right, not very big.

What cart and VTF of your curve?

 

[aaaakkkk]

What cart and VTF of your curve?

It's written in the left corner. AT-540ML (2.0G), ~ 80mkm, 51LP

 

[Thomas_A]

It's written in the left corner. AT-540ML (2.0G), ~ 80mkm, 51LP

Do you have L and R as well? Not sure what 80mkm, 51LP means.

 

[aaaakkkk]

Do you have L and R as well? Not sure what 80mkm, 51LP means.

80mkm - Tracking, 51LP - how much is played on this cartridge. There are L and R.

 

[Thomas_A]

80mkm - Tracking, 51LP - how much is played on this cartridge. There are L and R.

I can only see one channel.

 

[aaaakkkk]

L+R

 

[aaaakkkk]

L+R v.2

 

[Balle Clorin]

The Ortofon test record is not good for frequency sweeps

 

[Thomas_A]

The Ortofon test record is not good for frequency sweeps

Agree. But the sweep seems good for azimuth and distortion measurements.

 

[USER]

Agree. But the sweep seems good for azimuth and distortion measurements.

May I ask why you think this? To me FR has a strong relationship with both the azimuth and distortion results. The manner in which the Ortofon FR results are "off" affect the distortion results and make them undependable. (The dip makes them look better than they really are, for example.) For the same reason the results above 20kHz don't mean much unless you have standard to compare it to. To me azimuth is more than the 1kHz result, the left and right channel FR have to remain parallel to each other across the range in an optimized set up (with a good cartridge in perfect turntable). It seems that the Ortofon struggles above 20kHz here too, even with the regular azimuth measurements. Your CA results look much better for set-up purposes from what I have seen, even with the uneven left and right channel distortion results (consistent in both records) that make these results harder to read. Could there be an issue with the tonearm set-up here?

 

[JP]

And my SAS zirconium stylus:

Look at all that “detail”

 

[Thomas_A]

May I ask why you think this? To me FR has a strong relationship with both the azimuth and distortion results. The manner in which the Ortofon FR results are "off" affect the distortion results and make them undependable. (The dip makes them look better than they really are, for example.) For the same reason the results above 20kHz don't mean much unless you have standard to compare it to. To me azimuth is more than the 1kHz result, the left and right channel FR have to remain parallel to each other across the range in an optimized set up (with a good cartridge in perfect turntable). It seems that the Ortofon struggles above 20kHz here too, even with the regular azimuth measurements. Your CA results look much better for set-up purposes from what I have seen, even with the uneven left and right channel distortion results (consistent in both records) that make these results harder to read. Could there be an issue with the tonearm set-up here?

At least the pressing I have (and Balle Clorin) has flaws. Apparently there is a some flaw every rotation causing uneven signal in one channel with some azimuth settings in some cartridges. Also the crosstalk seldom goes below -25 dB with my copy CA-TRS1007, while it goes at -35 for the Ortofon. Also aaaakkkk's result shows excellent crosstalk figures. There are probably better pressings of the CA-TRS1007 out there, but at least my copy is not one of those.

 

[USER]

At least the pressing I have (and Balle Clorin) has flaws. Apparently there is a some flaw every rotation causing uneven signal in one channel with some azimuth settings in some cartridges. Also the crosstalk seldom goes below -25 dB with my copy CA-TRS1007, while it goes at -35 for the Ortofon. Also aaaakkkk's result shows excellent crosstalk figures. There are probably better pressings of the CA-TRS1007 out there, but at least my copy is not one of those.

Sorry to hear that. I was shocked by the azimuth 1kHz results difference for your Super OM40 as my CAs can all go to at least -30dB. Have you tried side B of the CA?