Setup cartridge, which measurements for beginner

[simsalabim]

Hi knowledgeable people,
I have build my own turntable out of an original Lenco L76.

It is an idler wheel driven turntable.
The top has been redesigned by someone in the Netherlands and the tone arm and bearing is handmade by another person, the arm is a well tempered clone.

I have a new Goldring Ethos on the way.

And i would like to know more about correctly setting up my cartridge.

Now i use a protrector to set up for Löfgren ‘A’, an acrylic tool for VTA and azymuth (eyeballing) and also for azymuth a square small block which i can place against the side of a cartridge to see if it is square with the vinyl.
And last i have a scale for the cartridge weight.

I would like to get as good results as i can.
What do i need?

What do i have?
- measuring microphone Behringer
- Microphone preamp tube Behringer
- laptop
-simple usb soundcart

I do not yet have a multimeter with microvolts, i have a standard one.

Would be interested to learn what i need.

I read somewhere about a microscope and an oscilloscope.

I am not looking to get a lab grade setup, i would be happy with tools that get me going, getting a good setup for my cartridge and tone arm.

Thank you on beforehand and looking forward to learn something new!

 

[simsalabim]

Oh, and i do not have a test lp yet, i read a lot of them are either warped or off center..
Any recommendations on good ones?

 

[simsalabim]

Where should i start?
I would like to learn the most important thing first, and dive into that.

Or is it not very important to use measurements with programs with an oscilloscope, camera, microscope, microphone?
And is a measuring by eye usually enough?

If not, i would like to learn how to measure, and asking here for a starting point, to start with what is the most important.

Anyone? thanks!

 

[sergeauckland]

If you set up using the protractor, and get the cartridge body parallel to the record and azimuth set up by eye, that's pretty much all you need to do. Tracking weight should be close to the maximum quoted in the cartridge spec, (Goldring recommend 1.75gm) and bias according to the arm instructions, or use a test record and adjust bias for best tracking on the high level tracks.

As to minimising crosstalk on an Oscilloscope, that's a lot of bother for very little benefit, as it depends on the accuracy of the test record, and anyway the LPs you'll be playing all vary somewhat.

The cartridge you've chosen, being a lowish output MC, is pretty much immune to loading, so there won't be much to fiddle with there. You should check that the LF resonant frequency of the arm/cartridge is around 11Hz. If higher, you can always add mass to the headshell, but if lower, there's not much you can do, although that's less likely.

S

 

[simsalabim]

If you set up using the protractor, and get the cartridge body parallel to the record and azimuth set up by eye, that's pretty much all you need to do. Tracking weight should be close to the maximum quoted in the cartridge spec, (Goldring recommend 1.75gm) and bias according to the arm instructions, or use a test record and adjust bias for best tracking on the high level tracks.

As to minimising crosstalk on an Oscilloscope, that's a lot of bother for very little benefit, as it depends on the accuracy of the test record, and anyway the LPs you'll be playing all vary somewhat.

The cartridge you've chosen, being a lowish output MC, is pretty much immune to loading, so there won't be much to fiddle with there. You should check that the LF resonant frequency of the arm/cartridge is around 11Hz. If higher, you can always add mass to the headshell, but if lower, there's not much you can do, although that's less likely.

S

Hi Serge,

Thank you for your reply!

My well tempered arm has a fixed anti skating which should be sufficient.
(this is the bias you are referring to?)

I did read quite a bit about warped and off center test lp’s, so didn’t buy one yet, afraid of a lemon (they are quite expensive).

So i’ll leave the crosstalk for what it is.

The LF resonant frequency i’ll check.

Thanks!

 

[Balle Clorin]

Ortofons test record is good for crosstalk tests/azimuth and tracking/antiskate. The rest , sweep and square wave is useless. I you get the old 70s ortofon it has both vertical and lateral resonance test.

Ortofon Test Record

Ortofon’s Test Record is designed to allow you to verify your HiFi system in the most natural audio surroundings at home. The Test Record contains special test signals developed for analyzing cartridge performance as well as its interaction with your tonearm and turntable. Before testing your...

ortofon.com