Phono Cartridge Response Measurement Script

[MaxwellsEq]

I bought mine here and there were no issues at all:

Clearaudio Frequency Response Test Record CA-TRS-1007 (Burn-in CD, Test-CD, Test-LP)

Testschallplatte zum Testen von Tonabnehmern,Tonarmen und Plattenspielern mit einem Frequenz-Gleitton von 20 Hz bis 20.000 Hz

www.hifi-zubehoer.shop

That's helpful, thank you. Trying to source one is difficult. I get the feeling it's no longer made. Other ClearAudio discs are much easier to track down

 

[dougi]

That's helpful, thank you. Trying to source one is difficult. I get the feeling it's no longer made. Other ClearAudio discs are much easier to track down

That is who I used. It was shipped, just no confirmation or responses (and then lost in our postal system as said). YMMV.

 

[melloncolliecat]

I wonder if someone here won a JVC TRS-1007 today...

 

[JP]

That seller rejected bids from proxy services.

 

[MaxwellsEq]

That is who I used. It was shipped, just no confirmation or responses (and then lost in our postal system as said). YMMV.

Oh. I'm going to give up on the idea of owning one. It's frustrating!

 

[melloncolliecat]

That seller rejected bids from proxy services.

Ah, thanks for that info! Just as well that I didn't try then...

 

[melloncolliecat]

I got the Clearaudio here, worked well for me. Doesn't mean it will work as well for everyone else, but they seem to get good ratings overall. A few negative on the auction site though... https://www.klangheimat.de/lng/en/a...ability-testschallplatte-clearaudio-180g.html

 

[mackat]

I bought mine here and there were no issues at all:

Clearaudio Frequency Response Test Record CA-TRS-1007 (Burn-in CD, Test-CD, Test-LP)

Testschallplatte zum Testen von Tonabnehmern,Tonarmen und Plattenspielern mit einem Frequenz-Gleitton von 20 Hz bis 20.000 Hz

www.hifi-zubehoer.shop

That is the vendor that took a long time for me.

Granted, it sounded like the problem may have been on Clearaudio’s end, but communication could have been better.

I purchased a second copy here and had no issues: https://www.klangheimat.de/lng/en/a...atte-clearaudio-180g-lp83056.html?language=en

 

[JP]

That’s who I ordered from. Took forever, and communication was poor. Got them in the end except one was a different title - they were supposed to refund that one, but never did. I gave up after pestering them a few times. Wasn’t worth the headache.

 

[aaaakkkk]

I wonder if someone here won a JVC TRS-1007 today...

if we consider the price dynamics for this disk ($100, $200, $300) the next copy will probably be sold for $400 TRS-1005 ($45, $86) $150?

 

[Balle Clorin]

My existing PC is failing and and I got a new W11 PC.
How can I best transplant the script and files to the new PC? Script files and wav files reside in the same folder.

I failed when installing by my self on the old PC , but @USER rescued me very kindly.
I still have the correspondence on that , hopefully I may retrace the tracks , but is there an easier way? Or some things or tricks I should be aware of when moving?

EDIT:
Followed this and it works.

Spoiler: method

I started by copying the folder where I have the script file.py and wav files are, then i folowed this

First install Anaconda from that site I linked to. Install normally with recommended settings. And close.

Then open start, all apps, and the anaconda folder. Confirm that it is simple and looks like this:

Phono cartridge measurements

IEM measurements

USB-C dongle measurements: JCALLY JM6 PRO | JCALLY JM20 | UGREEN HiFi Audio

Cassette deck measurements: Nakamichi RX-505 | Realistic SP-32 | Sony TC-WA8ESA | Denon DR-M20 | Pioneer CT-W650R

Portable cassette player measurements: Realistic SCP-18 | Modern Portable 1 | Modern Portable 2 | Realistic SCR-42 (AIWA HS-J470)
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[IMG alt="USER"]https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/data/avatars/m/7/7070.jpg?1727287576[/IMG]

USER​

Major Contributor​

Forum Donor
JoinedMar 30, 2019Messages1,174Likes2,053
Feb 11, 2023
Confirm that things look like above before you proceed.

Then open the highlighted "Anaconda Prompt (anaconda3)"
type and run

conda install -c conda-forge librosa

Confirm install and close.
Go back to Start, all apps...

Click on "Spyder (anaconda3)" and run the script. Hopefully it works.

 

[Heinrich]

Hi guys, the topic of pickup performance may become relevant for me once I start to revive my equipment. I'm afraid that a replacement of my (sure!) MC is advisable. I'm now concerned about the regularly very high distortion in the treble that You report - 30%, wow!

Is this real or an artifact of worn out test recordings?

 

[Balle Clorin]

Youare maybe confusing db and %?

But the data are real, a good cartridge stays below -20db (10%) in the top and <-30db ( 3%)at 5kHz

 

[Heinrich]

Thank's a lot. This one reads like H2 3% at 10k, and still round about 3% at 5k, while H3 1% at 10k and at 5kHz give or take. But I've seen much worse.
Anyway, with such non-linearity the choice of a pickup becomes a matter of taste, because HD is only an indication of a more fundamental character ;-) I always loved my DL103, but won't replace it 1:1 today ... thumbs up!

 

[MaxwellsEq]

Thank's a lot. This one reads like H2 3% at 10k, and still round about 3% at 5k, while H3 1% at 10k and at 5kHz give or take. But I've seen much worse.
Anyway, with such non-linearity the choice of a pickup becomes a matter of taste, because HD is only an indication of a more fundamental character ;-) I always loved my DL103, but won't replace it 1:1 today ... thumbs up!


View attachment 415896

We are often less sensitive to distortion at higher frequencies because higher order harmonics are above our hearing range! However, you are correct - distortion is not great at low and high frequencies, but adequate where our hearing is most sensitive. Also frequency extremes are less important because there is less content there! If we had constant sensitivity across the frequency range and better high frequency extension, we could probably not live with vinyl!

 

[Heinrich]

We are often less sensitive to distortion at higher frequencies because higher order harmonics are above our hearing range! However, you are correct - distortion is not great at low and high frequencies, but adequate where our hearing is most sensitive. Also frequency extremes are less important because there is less content there! If we had constant sensitivity across the frequency range and better high frequency extension, we could probably not live with vinyl!

Sure, some pure (no pun intended) HD3 at 10k won't be objectional to a human listener. But as said, such high percentages as seen may be indicative of more general non-linearities. E/g expressing itself as intermodulation, generating also sub-harmonics which could basically be heard. But it doesn't stop there--the figures are model based (the measurement protocol), hence won't be the full picture. I personally think of it as some sort of 'character', which could be liked or not. Don't we appreciate being spoiled for choice ;-)

All good, and reiterated, thank's for opening the persepective!

 

[aaaakkkk]

Youare maybe confusing db and %?

But the data are real, a good cartridge stays below -20db (10%) in the top and <-30db ( 3%)at 5kHz

This test record was recorded without RIAA, on a real record it would be -30db - 8db(RIAA)=~1.2%

 

[mackat]

Goldring 1042

I've been curious about this cartridge for a while, but hadn't been able to find any measurements online.

This is a truly low compliance MM cartridge (16 mm/N vertical) fitted with an advanced stylus cut, something fairly rare these days. It uses a Gyger S, at approximately 5/120 µm.

Contrary to some dubious internet rumors, it is not manufactured in China; "Made in England" is still very prominently stamped on the top of the cartridge body.

I fitted it to a Technics EPA-A501L tonearm wand, at 18g effective mass.

And now, for the measurements:

At 1.8g

Not bad at all, and certainly better than I expected for this cartridge with a relatively high tip mass of 0.45 mg!

2.0g

Now let's add 200 more pF of capacitance via a loading plug...

Look at that peak and roll-off! This cartridge is definitely capacitance-sensitive.

Now for the bad: at 2.0g, this cartridge only makes it through the 50 and 60 µm bands of the Ortofon test record. At 2.5g (well outside the recommended range of 1.5-2.0g), it just barely makes it through the 70 µm band. Interestingly enough, the Audio Note IQ-III, a rebadged/upgraded variant, extends that range to 2.5g.

Overall, a mixed bag, though I am impressed with its relative flatness compared to much of what we see today. Channel matching and distortion are also good.

IMO, very overpriced at the US MSRP of $699, but it can be gotten from Europe for a bit over $300.

 

[Thomas_A]

Goldring 1042

I've been curious about this cartridge for a while, but hadn't been able to find any measurements online.

This is a truly low compliance MM cartridge (16 mm/N vertical) fitted with an advanced stylus cut, something fairly rare these days. It uses a Gyger S, at approximately 5/120 µm.

Contrary to some dubious internet rumors, it is not manufactured in China; "Made in England" is still very prominently stamped on the top of the cartridge body.

I fitted it to a Technics EPA-A501L tonearm wand, at 18g effective mass.

View attachment 416123

And now, for the measurements:

At 1.8g


View attachment 416126
Not bad at all, and certainly better than I expected for this cartridge with a relatively high tip mass of 0.45 mg!

2.0g


View attachment 416125
Now let's add 200 more pF of capacitance via a loading plug...


View attachment 416124
Look at that peak and roll-off! This cartridge is definitely capacitance-sensitive.

Now for the bad: at 2.0g, this cartridge only makes it through the 50 and 60 µm bands of the Ortofon test record. At 2.5g (well outside the recommended range of 1.5-2.0g), it just barely makes it through the 70 µm band. Interestingly enough, the Audio Note IQ-III, a rebadged/upgraded variant, extends that range to 2.5g.

Overall, a mixed bag, though I am impressed with its relative flatness compared to much of what we see today. Channel matching and distortion are also good.

IMO, very overpriced at the US MSRP of $699, but it can be gotten from Europe for a bit over $300.

Seems rather good, except distortion and x-max are not up to the best.

 

[Aero]

Goldring 1042

I've been curious about this cartridge for a while, but hadn't been able to find any measurements online.

This is a truly low compliance MM cartridge (16 mm/N vertical) fitted with an advanced stylus cut, something fairly rare these days. It uses a Gyger S, at approximately 5/120 µm.

Contrary to some dubious internet rumors, it is not manufactured in China; "Made in England" is still very prominently stamped on the top of the cartridge body.

I fitted it to a Technics EPA-A501L tonearm wand, at 18g effective mass.

View attachment 416123

And now, for the measurements:

At 1.8g


View attachment 416126
Not bad at all, and certainly better than I expected for this cartridge with a relatively high tip mass of 0.45 mg!

2.0g


View attachment 416125
Now let's add 200 more pF of capacitance via a loading plug...


View attachment 416124
Look at that peak and roll-off! This cartridge is definitely capacitance-sensitive.

Now for the bad: at 2.0g, this cartridge only makes it through the 50 and 60 µm bands of the Ortofon test record. At 2.5g (well outside the recommended range of 1.5-2.0g), it just barely makes it through the 70 µm band. Interestingly enough, the Audio Note IQ-III, a rebadged/upgraded variant, extends that range to 2.5g.

Overall, a mixed bag, though I am impressed with its relative flatness compared to much of what we see today. Channel matching and distortion are also good.

IMO, very overpriced at the US MSRP of $699, but it can be gotten from Europe for a bit over $300.

1. The given grind size seems to be questionable - value 120
2. Adding 200 pF worsens the quality, the high tones are boosted
3. With a better azimuth setting, the crosstalk would be around 30 dB / 1 kHz, which is a very good result
4. Ortofon SPU usually has a tracking parameter of 60-65 and no one says that these are bad models because of this. DJ cartridges have a high tracking value of 100-120
It all depends on the application, DJ records are often recorded very loudly, especially those played at 45 speed, hence the need for a high tracking parameter.

Generally, this is a very good model, when Great Britain was in the European Union this cartridge had a very good price, currently VAT is added to this price, sometimes also customs duty.
Thanks for the measurement