Azimuth and the Fozgometer


Finally received the Fozgometer after a 2 month backorder. In the past I have always used a loupe and a front surface mirror to set the azimuth on my Tri-Planar with Dynavector XV-1S cartridge. According to the meter, I was very close to a correct azimuth. I wasn't prepared for the effects that a very slight adjustment would make. Nailing the azimuth has brought my soundstage into tight focus. I have never experienced this kind of solid imaging in my system.
I know that the $250 price tag is a bit steep for something that won't get a lot of use, but this is not a subtle improvement. There are other ways of measuring azimuth, that I am not very familiar with, but I would doubt that they are as easy to use as the Fozgometer.
czapp

Showing 2 responses by dconsmack

I have the Fozgometer. It's a great tool and I recommend it. It seems like this tool still just isn't enough for some, because of the tone used to test at etc. But, put it in perspective: EVERY adjustment on a turntable is an approximation. Alignment is an approximation (pivoted arms), VTF (subjective for sound), VTA/SRA (no standard), and now azimuth. So really, theres no such thing as an absolute setting for any of this. The Fozgometer is reliable and the simplest way to get azimuth as close to ideal as possible.
I used Mac The Scope software before I used the Fozgometer. The results were identical. However, the Fozgometer appears to use a filter because the needle read out is very steady. It's also extremely sensitive to the slightest azimuth adjustment (duh) and can take the signal directly from the tonearm (no need to go through the phono stage). I have a low output MC cart and it gave plenty of signal. Easy-peezy, and looking at high magnification, it's perfectly straight.