[shaizada]

Hey Guys,

I'm not completely satisfied with setting the Azimuth with a mirror and am looking to borrow a test record.

I am looking to set azimuth with a digital multi meter. 

Hoping a member around can help as I'm trying to avoid purchasing one.

I'm in Orange County (Southern California).

Having said that, if someone has one and wants to come over for a listening session that would be tons of fun!

Thanks so much!! 

~Gaurav

[Wayner]

Using the mirror doubles the visual error rate, so I don't know why you wouldn't be happy with that. I'm not sure if a test record is going to help return your wants for higher accuracy.

Wayner

[shaizada]

Thanks for the reply Wayner.  Do you strongly feel that the mirror technique is just as effective?  I keep reading that if you REALLY want to be accurate, you want the crosstalk level to be less than 10% and the "proper" way is to use a DMM.  I was just hoping to use some 1KHz test tones and take it from there.  It would be great if I could set azimuth with the mirror technique and verify the results with the DMM way.

[Wayner]

Azimuth adjustment is not that common any more. What table do you run that has that adjustment option?

Wayner

[shaizada]

Running a VPI TNT-V "Hot Rod" with the JMW 12.5 arm.

EDIT: Just added my signature.

[Wayner]

I had no idea that the VPI had adjustable azimuth. How is it adjusted?

Wayner

[BobM]

Azimuth is also something that I have never checked on my Moerch DP-6 arm, but it does have provision for it via a screw on the top of the bearing housing. Does anyone have a link to a detailed description on how to do this or check this with a multi-meter?

Probably something Fremer wrote at some point, I'd bet.

[toobluvr]

Azimuth is also something that I have never checked on my Moerch DP-6 arm, but it does have provision for it via a screw on the top of the bearing housing. Does anyone have a link to a detailed description on how to do this or check this with a multi-meter?

Probably something Fremer wrote at some point, I'd bet.

Bob...

I just "eyeball" for stylus perpendicularity into the groove.   

I put stylus in groove......
 
then I get eyeball as close to record surface as possible and , with a 30x jewelers loupe w built in bright light, I view things head on from the front. 

That is, I sight down the length of the tonearm toward the pivot point.
Any observed stylus leaning to one side or another can be adjusted for with azimuth.

With this 30X magnification and bright light, you get a real good look at things.

For VTA I check for a vertical stylus the same exact way, except I view things from the side.  ie:  sighting towards the record spindle.  This is my starting point, and then I fine tune by ear by raising / lowering VTA by small increments.  My ears usually tell me that what visually appears to be perpinducular, sounds the best.

Crude I know, but it's all I got.

[shaizada]

I had no idea that the VPI had adjustable azimuth. How is it adjusted?

Wayner

Wayner, there are two ways to do it.  You can do it via the counter weight on the back, and then to dial it in, you can use that ring with two weights on the side as you can see in this picture.  You can move the ring to set azimuth.

[shaizada]

Azimuth is also something that I have never checked on my Moerch DP-6 arm, but it does have provision for it via a screw on the top of the bearing housing. Does anyone have a link to a detailed description on how to do this or check this with a multi-meter?

Probably something Fremer wrote at some point, I'd bet.

Bob,

You are right that this is something Fermer wrote in good detail
Email me and I'll send you something very "useful"

vijDOTgauravATgmail.com

[shaizada]

Azimuth is also something that I have never checked on my Moerch DP-6 arm, but it does have provision for it via a screw on the top of the bearing housing. Does anyone have a link to a detailed description on how to do this or check this with a multi-meter?

Probably something Fremer wrote at some point, I'd bet.

Bob...

I just "eyeball" for stylus perpendicularity into the groove.   

I put stylus in groove......
 
then I get eyeball as close to record surface as possible and , with a 30x jewelers loupe w built in bright light, I view things head on from the front. 

That is, I sight down the length of the tonearm toward the pivot point.
Any observed stylus leaning to one side or another can be adjusted for with azimuth.

With this 30X magnification and bright light, you get a real good look at things.

For VTA I check for a vertical stylus the same exact way, except I view things from the side.  ie:  sighting towards the record spindle.  This is my starting point, and then I fine tune by ear by raising / lowering VTA by small increments.  My ears usually tell me that what visually appears to be perpinducular, sounds the best.

Crude I know, but it's all I got.

I'm going to get myself a magnifying glass like that or a loupe.  I have a 5x one and I'm not too thrilled with it.
Also, if you sight down the tonearm to the pivot point, you can't possibly be seeing the cartridge head on.  Are you sure that you don't mean that you are looking at the cartridge head on.  The cartridge is mounted at an angle in the tonearm head right?  Just wanted to be clear.

For VTA, I take a 5x7 notecard with horizontal lines on it.  I check the height of the tonearm near the cartridge and then nearer to the edge of the record.  With the JMW 12.5 tonearm, it's a little difficult because it's tapered.  Then I adjust according by listening.  The on the fly VTA adjustment on the JMW is fantastic for that.

[Russtafarian]

I've got a test record and a setup for measuring azimuth with a VOM.  Call me.

Russ

[toobluvr]

I'm going to get myself a magnifying glass like that or a loupe.  I have a 5x one and I'm not too thrilled with it.
Also, if you sight down the tonearm to the pivot point, you can't possibly be seeing the cartridge head on.  Are you sure that you don't mean that you are looking at the cartridge head on.  The cartridge is mounted at an angle in the tonearm head right?  Just wanted to be clear.

For VTA, I take a 5x7 notecard with horizontal lines on it.  I check the height of the tonearm near the cartridge and then nearer to the edge of the record.  With the JMW 12.5 tonearm, it's a little difficult because it's tapered.  Then I adjust according by listening.  The on the fly VTA adjustment on the JMW is fantastic for that.

Correct......
I view cartridge head-on for azimuth.   I only mentioned sighting down the tonearm to give folks a general feel for what I was doing.

Having used a 30x lens, I would say that is the minimum you need.  I don't think you could see well enough with less.  And I surely don't know how you can see anything with a 5x!!     That's not much better than the naked eye.  Matter of fact, I would like to get a 40x.

search ebay for:   "30x jewelers loupe illuminated"

That is the one I got.  They are incredibly cheap.  I don't remember the vendor, but it cost like $7 total shipped!  As you can see,  there are dozens available, many below 10 bucks!

I thought for this price it would be crap quality, but the lens is good and the lighted feature really helps.  It gives you a great look at the stylus and cantilever.

I used to do that with a lined notecard for VTA.   But there are two problems with it:

(1)  as you say, if your arm tube is tapered (like my current one) it doesn't work

(2)  even with a straight arm tube it may not work if the cantilever is not attached properly.   The idea is to get the stylus exactly vertical in the groove, not to get the arm tube parallel to the record surface.  Sometimes executing the latter will yield the former, but not always.

[shaizada]

Hey Thanks for the heads up on the magnification loupe on ebay.  I just picked up a 40x here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170394431009&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_1841wt_1202

That was a great price and should help a lot.

Also, Russ and I will be getting together sometime soon and nailing the Azimuth in both our setups using a test record and a multi meter.

[toobluvr]

 
That's incredible!
$5.49 including shipping!   How is he not losing money??           

The one I got looks identical to this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/30X-LED-ILLUMINATED-Jeweler-Loupe-Eye-Magnifying-Glass_W0QQitemZ270469430166QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCoins_US_Individual?hash=item3ef93bfb96

If your lens is the same quality, you will be happy.

[lonewolfny42]

Hey Thanks for the heads up on the magnification loupe on ebay.  I just picked up a 40x here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170394431009&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_1841wt_1202

That was a great price and should help a lot.

Also, Russ and I will be getting together sometime soon and nailing the Azimuth in both our setups using a test record and a multi meter.

Thanks for the tip on the loupe....
.....mine arrived today...good eBay seller (he's in Brooklyn)...it's a good deal. 

[BobM]

Mine too. Haven't taken a look at the stylus yet, but I have scrutinized the hairs on my hand.