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  #21  
Old 03-15-2014, 04:01 PM
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jdandy jdandy is offline
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Mike.......The meters on the C2300 and every other McIntosh component with a meter are set using a specific test tone and a specific level. Each meter is set individually. I believe you can safely assume your meters are accurate.
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  #22  
Old 03-15-2014, 04:36 PM
ronenash ronenash is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jr_spyder View Post
I have a new Classic 3 and now just venturing into fine tuning all the settings. I got the Analogue Productions Test LP and have just been playing around. If I understand it right the Azimuth test is simply a cross-talk test between channels. So, as an example, when you play the left-only track you shouldn't hear anything out of the right speaker. This would be ideal but unrealistic to get down to zero crosstalk I'm guessing. The advice is to minimize any sound coming from the "dead" channel, and get both channels to have matching levels of deadness.

So what I did is play the left channel track but turn off my left amp, then listened to the very faint tone coming from the right speaker. This is the crosstalk talking. I turned up the volume until I saw a little motion on the meter on my amp. This was still not loud but audible enough to mentally record it. Then I switched everything around and did this for the other channel. With the volume set to the same number on my preamp I was getting a slightly higher needle on my amp, and barely more noticeable volume.

This all seems oh so close. I haven't tried any tweaking of the actual azimuth yet, and may not. This made me pretty happy that I'm probably in good shape on this setting.

Would welcome feedback about this methodology, even if wrong.

John
John,

The azimuth test is not a crosstalk test. The best way to describe azimuth is the angle in which the stylus sits in the groove (i.e. it does not lean to the left or right side of the groove) and thus the channels are in balance.
The test you have done will show crosstalk but its not azimuth. On the VPI since the arm is a uni-pivot design you set the azimuth by turning the tonearm weight to the left or right. Moving the weight backward/forward will effect the tracking weight. It gets tricky changing one without changing the other.
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  #23  
Old 03-15-2014, 04:37 PM
ronenash ronenash is offline
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John,

The azimuth test is not a crosstalk test. The best way to describe azimuth is the angle in which the stylus sits in the groove (i.e. it does not lean to the left or right side of the groove) and thus the channels are in balance.
The test you have done will show crosstalk but its not azimuth. On the VPI since the arm is a uni-pivot design you set the azimuth by turning the tonearm weight to the left or right. Moving the weight backward/forward will effect the tracking weight. It gets tricky changing one without changing the other.
BTW, I forgot to mention that azimuth does effect crosstalk but not that much.
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  #24  
Old 03-15-2014, 05:24 PM
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jr_spyder jr_spyder is offline
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Interesting. Here's what it says on the Test LP:
Azimuth Adjustment
Track 2: 1kHz reference level Left channel only
Measure Right channel output.
Track 3: 1kHz reference level Right channel only
Measure Left channel output.

The object is to sit the stylus exactly perpendicular in the groove.
Twist cartridge about its radial axis until the measurements from Track 2 and Track 3 are equal or very close to equal for both channels.
(Or at link: Analogue Productions)

I read this as saying that unequal cross-talk is a possible indicator of non-perpendicular azimuth. I think everyone is saying just about the same thing, regardless of terminology. Of course there are other influences on cross-talk at the speakers as well, not at all attributable to the TT. So you just have take each measurement as an indicator, not the absolute truth. That's a good thing about the Fozgometer I guess - it takes out all other parts of the system downstream of the TT.

These setting are definitely fussy on the VPI tonearm, but doable with some patience.
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  #25  
Old 04-08-2014, 06:50 AM
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Update: First of all I would like to thanks edkoz for loaning me his Fozgometer, really super awesome of him. So I ordered one of the test LP that Fozgo. recommend and the instruction was very simple as you only use track #2 and track #3 on side one to check and/or adjust the azimuth. Hooked up my TT cable to the Fozgometer, placed the test LP on the platter and lowered my tonearm to play track #2. (Left chanel only) Left LED on and the meter needle moved to about midway of the meter (#20) then track #2 ended LED off then meter needle back to (0). Now, track #3 (Right chanel only) start playing, right LED on and meter needle moved to midway which is exactly the same where track #2 were, I mean exactly as if the needle didn't move. No adjustment needed for me to do. Now, I don't know if I just got lucky or the little bubble level I've used (see post #1) really works. Anyway I just thought I share this. Thanks Dan and others for recommending the Fozgometer. I think there's really no way of knowing for sure if your azimuth is adjusted accurately without the Fozgometer.
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Last edited by miketuason; 04-08-2014 at 07:26 AM.
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  #26  
Old 04-08-2014, 09:39 AM
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Mike.......Very good news and peace of mind that it is correct.
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STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario
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  #27  
Old 04-08-2014, 09:57 AM
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Ed was gracious to lend me his Fozgometer also. When I tested the azimuth with the Fozgometer, I also found that I had set it dead on. It was great to confirm this though. I had only used the bar supplied by VPI to set the azimuth so my needle and cartridge must have been built carefully.
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  #28  
Old 04-08-2014, 01:55 PM
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Thank you Ed!
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  #29  
Old 12-03-2019, 11:49 PM
6dj8 6dj8 is offline
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I use a small bubble level on top of the arm. Centered on the front of the head shell.

This give the starting azimuth. Then I listen and make very small adjustments with the azimuth ring, by ear for best sound.

Some VPI arms with dropped counterweight have a fixed azimuth ring.

Works fine for me.

Could never get good results with the fuzegometer..

YMMV!
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  #30  
Old 02-12-2020, 01:07 AM
Vinyl Lives Vinyl Lives is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by miketuason View Post
Nor sure if this is the best but seems to work for me. I was able to find a small enough and light enough bubble level to place on the tone arm shell. At less than half a gram it doesn't seems to put too much weight or stress on the needle.



I've been using the bubble level for years on my VPI tables, it works extremely well. One additional step I do is to weight the level and back off the tracking force so the pressure (tracking force) is consistent.
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