In Reply to: ZYX R1000 airy cartridge - Azimuth help request posted by Heifetz on October 18, 2014 at 16:50:36:
It's rare that a cartridge has equal output on both channels.... It's also hard to determine if the improved sound with the azimuth slightly "off" is a sign of a misaligned stylus on the cantilever....
I personally go with the perfectly parallel setup, and gradually adjust VTF, VTA, and anti-skate off of that. The issue with the cantilever not perpendicular to the record surface is that unequal forces on the cantilever can over time cause it to drift out of alignment. Which could then create (mis)tracking issues on heavily-modulated recordings. Not to mention periodic re-adjustments needed to keep the stylus in the "ideal" position.
I'd have a dealer look at the cantilever/stylus under a microscope. A misaligned stylus could drastically reduce the life of the cartridge, and accelerate wear on the grooves. I think "perfect" alignment is everything in vinyl playback, and a cartridge should sound best when all the alignments are "dead on".
When it comes to preserving the life of your vinyl, there is nothing worse than a cartridge with a misaligned stylus on the cantilever.
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Follow Ups
- You Might Have a Defective Cartridge....... - Todd Krieger 22:50:17 10/18/14 (1)
- RE: You Might Have a Defective Cartridge....... - Heifetz 01:36:54 10/19/14 (0)