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.
I just tried my Fozgometer for the first time. I have a Dynavector XV-1s which is low output so I hooked up the outputs from my phono stage (Tron Seven) intead.
The meter correctly identifies left and right signals but doesn't show any movement on the meters.
It looks like there is a calibration of the meters and I tried that; the meter moves a bit as I turn the calibration screw but always goes back to zero.
I am also going to await the arrival of the Soundsmith Cartright. It does so many more things and apparently it has been designed to account for the inherent differences in cartridge geometry and output. While things like the Fozgometer are spot on for some carts and completely misdirect you with others. Pretty much like most of our hobby.....your milage may vary! Apparently the Cartright will be able to take these conditions into consideration.
I spoke with Peter recently and he is so buried building cartridges that the Cartright is on the back burner right now. I await it with baited breath.
I just had a look at the Cartright. Now THAT is what I call a TEST INSTRUMENT! All the more credible because of the vast phono cartridge experience of the designer.
No disrespect to Jim Fosgate, he certainly has lots of experience with phono reproduction, though with more emphasis on multi-channel and noise-reduction designs. If the Cartright can do what it describes, then it's definitely worth the price of four Fozgometers!
Like Doug and some others, I tend to cast a jaundiced eye on "setup aids" of all stripes -- in my case, usually, for these two reasons: 1.) I'm cheap, and don't want to spend a lot of money on something I may use only once or twice (my time isn't worth THAT much ;--) 2.) I'm smart enough and clever enough to (usually) come up with a DIY test solution that is as good, if not better, than the 'store-bought' variety. Lucky me . . . .
But if the Soundsmith device can do what it claims, and in such a simple/elegant/efficient way, than I'm going to start saving for it. I'm in! .
Mauidj, I thought "baited breath" looked funny so I googled it. It actually should be "bated breath" where bated is a contraction of abated or almost not breathing in anticipation. Thanks for the fun of looking up all these crazy words and phrases in English. As usual, Shakespeare is credited for first using it.
Some people will spend $5000.00 on a cartridge and another $5K on a tonearm in a blink of an eye but will cheap out on a "proper" alignment protractor and digital scale and on and on... and rely solely on their "trusted" ears.
I do not have a FOZ. The Cartright...... where do i line up??
Call to Peter Lederman. Stop making cartridges for a few weeks and get this thing tested and on to the market. The market is flooded with all kinds of cartridges. We need something to align them properly. Not more cartridges.
Tbg. Many thanks for the insight. Yes...had I thought through the meaning then I would have spelt it correctly. How often we say things without being fully conscious of what we are saying. Aloha!
Dear Madfloyd, You are the umpteenth person to be stumped by the operation of the Fozgometer. I have not even seen one first hand, but I wrote above and elsewhere that the instruction manual must be sorely lacking, if indeed gave you one when you buy the Foz. My point: have you read and re-read the owners manual, assuming there is one? Does it address your issue? If not, call the maker. None of us here will know as much about this product as they do (or should). I think that to assist you properly, one must understand how the Fox is supposed to work, how it arrives at what it calls proper azimuth adjustment. There are several electronic methods and several endpoint goals one could aim for. The best set of tools I ever saw for azimuth is the Dr. Feickert kit. Unfortunately, it is even more expensive than the Foz.
Left out a word; should have written "if indeed they gave you..."
Frankly, I am a bit suspicious of the Cartright, because it claims to do so many things in a package that is not much larger than the Foz. But I have an open mind, and I do respect Peter Ledermann. (I respect Jim Fosgate, too, but I wonder what he was thinking when he marketed his product.)
Lewm: Unlike the Foz the Cartright is based around a record and test signals. Plus I'm not sure I understand what size has to do with it ;-) Yes Peter is a unique character in out hobby and deserving of respect. Let's wait and see what he comes up with. It should be revolutionary for sure knowing him.
Just sayin' that when I saw the actual size of the Cartright, I was surprised since some of its announced capabilities normally require a bench full of equipment. But, like you, I have an open mind.
The foz works as advertised, the problem is quality control from whomever is building them for fosgate.
As stated above check to make sure the lugs for the meter are not shorting to the chassis. Mine was like this when received it, you could just insulate with electrical tape as a short term fix or put a dremel to the lugs like I did.
Another control issue, this is something you will need to do now is recalibrate since you played with the trimmers, is that between the two that I have had on hand to use one was not claibrated correctly from the factory.
Hi, Mauidj; the Fozgometer also uses a record and test tones to measure crosstalk and determine any adjustments needed to correct azimuth.
Brad, thanks for the post. The Fozgometer is being criticized by people that have never used it to set azimuth. And the complaints by people that have used it may or may not be related to how well the Fozgometer functions. I get the impression that 1) there may be cartridges that are at the limits of "acceptable tolerances" that are causing problems, 2) there MAY be some Fozgometers with quality control problems, and 3) some people may not be using the Fozgometer properly.
I agree with Lew that the documentation about, and the user guide for, the Fozgometer is minimal (probably intentional) and so speculation and the possiblity of user error is elevated.
Hey Tom, agree the marketing, quality control and reports of users having problems have given this product a bad rap and rigtfully so.
To the spectators if you could see and work through the above you would be rewarded with a nice tool. Another thing is I would recommend using the recommended test LP due to it is cut hotter than others which should help with the readings.
Thanks, Ecir, for that insight about quality control. That plus the lack of a good owners manual goes a long way to explain all the consternated owners who have posted here and on Vinyl Asylum about problems with the Foz.
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