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ZYX R1000 airy cartridge - Azimuth help request

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Posted on October 18, 2014 at 16:50:36
Heifetz
Audiophile

Posts: 245
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Joined: April 3, 2013
Greetings,
I have a new ZYX R1000 Airy and have been setting up the with special attention too the azimuth. The cantilever looks perfectly perpendicular and lined up with 'red line' under a magnifying glass. When the cartridge & cantilever sit 'correctly lined up to the lp surface' the vocal imaging is not centred. I checked with my fozgometer/hi fi test record (direct from tonearm and before phono stage/preamp) and the left/right channels are not equal.
When I adjust the azimuth to get equal output on both channels and then verify this with the vocal lp the image is perfectly centred. However, now the cartridge is not level with the lp and the cantilever does not look perpendicular at all. It all looks lop-sided.
I checked that the platter is level and lp too. The tt is Thorens 160B.
I don't know what is going on. My ear tells me one thing (with supporting evidence from the fozgometer) but eyes are warning me that it looks wrong. It's difficult to see but it looks like the actual stylus tip is readjusting itself, in relation to the cantilever a little to sit in the groove. I've gone back to the more visually correct set up for fear of damaging the stylus - but am dissatisfied with the balance and imaging.

I would be most grateful if someone can offer me advice.

Kind regards, Bob



"You have to leave something to your imagination"

 

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Your ears are right, posted on October 18, 2014 at 18:13:16
Brian Walsh
Distributor or Rep

Posts: 10768
Location: IL
Joined: December 6, 1999
Just because a cartridge is parallel to the record surface, it doesn't mean the azimuth setting is correct. In fact in nearly every case of the many dozens of setups I've done, regardless of cost, the optimum azimuth is at something different from zero (level). The improvement can range from audible to mind blowing. Equalizing crosstalk between channels gets you in the ballpark, gives you a starting point from which to fine tune using other measurements or by listening.
Brian Walsh

 

RE: ZYX R1000 airy cartridge - Azimuth help request, posted on October 18, 2014 at 18:47:08
Heifetz
Audiophile

Posts: 245
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Joined: April 3, 2013
Thank you Brian.
I would like to ask you another question if you don't mind.
Should I be concerned about needle wearing unevenly if it is not sitting at zero level?
Thx so much, Bob
"You have to leave something to your imagination"

 

You Might Have a Defective Cartridge......., posted on October 18, 2014 at 22:50:17
Todd Krieger
Audiophile

Posts: 37308
Location: SW United States
Joined: November 2, 2000
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.

 

RE: You Might Have a Defective Cartridge......., posted on October 19, 2014 at 01:36:54
Heifetz
Audiophile

Posts: 245
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Joined: April 3, 2013
Thank you Todd.
I put the cartridge through a long session on pink noise from the Cardas LP. I heard it helped play in and thought it wouldn't do any harm but also had no real reason to think it might help the imaging problem.
Anyhow, i re-checked everything again (boy, I'm getting good at setting up !) and did discover that the platter was not as level and consistent as I previously thought. I recently changed my tt mat. I made a few adjustments and then aligned the cartridge in the standard position. Well, it sounded much better with the vocals much more centred. So I'm much happier now.
Now listening to Sinatra at the Sands (-:
Thx every one for your advice.
Bob
"You have to leave something to your imagination"

 

"Equalizing crosstalk between channels gets you in the ballpark"??? ..., posted on October 19, 2014 at 03:44:10
andyr
Manufacturer

Posts: 12548
Location: Melbourne
Joined: September 2, 2000
I thought that was supposed to get you the correct azimuth, Brian?

So:
* why is it not perfect, and
* what "other measurements" do you have to do, to get a perfect azimuth setting?


Regards,

Andy

 

RE: ZYX R1000 airy cartridge - Azimuth help request, posted on October 19, 2014 at 13:13:16
Heifetz
Audiophile

Posts: 245
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Joined: April 3, 2013
Thank you Todd.
I put the cartridge through a long session on pink noise from the Cardas LP. I heard it helped play in and thought it wouldn't do any harm but also had no real reason to think it might help the imaging problem.
Anyhow, i re-checked everything again (boy, I'm getting good at setting up !) and did discover that the platter was not as level and consistent as I previously thought. I recently changed my tt mat. I made a few adjustments and then aligned the cartridge in the standard position. Well, it sounded much better with the vocals much more centred. So I'm much happier now.
Now listening to Sinatra at the Sands (-:
Thx every one for your advice.
Bob
"You have to leave something to your imagination"

 

The stylus is probably not properly set in the cantilever. nt, posted on October 20, 2014 at 10:04:20
Ralph
Manufacturer

Posts: 4769
Location: Minnesota
Joined: April 24, 2002
-

 

Or the platter is off kilter :) nt, posted on October 20, 2014 at 10:06:36
Ralph
Manufacturer

Posts: 4769
Location: Minnesota
Joined: April 24, 2002
-

 

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