Azimuth&Bias on HIFI test record

Azimuth can best be confirmed with a mirror. The object is to have the cartridge perfectly perpendicular to the record. I'm no setup guru and could be wrong on this but it seems to me that if azimuth were wrong then the relationship between the arm and the platter is off which would be unusual with better tables.

Bias is a booger. Test records give dubious results, IMHO. If you don't have access to a proper blank track on a test record, which I believe is the best way, carefully cue the stylus on the outermost area of an lp. There is a small hump on all older recordings at the edge. What you are trying to do is que the stylus between the hump and the lead in groove. If the cartridge climbs the hump and goes off the record you have too much anti-skate.

Next, as the record is playing look closely at the cantilever and its angle in relation to where it exits the cartridge body. If the cantilever is obviously at an angle to where it isn't aligned with the cartridge body then you have too much or too little anti-skate. Playing a cartridge like this will eventually skew the cantilever permanently.

So, now you have it set up to not jump the hump and the cantilever remains centered in the cartridge body. You may then experiment by ear in minor adjustments to acheive equal left and right volume adjustments.

I believe the absolute best way to check bias is to use an oscilliscope to determine if the signals are of the same amplitude left and right. I've never known anyone that has done this however.

Hopefully Twl will chime in and write a clearer explaination than this attempt.

Doug,

Thanks for the compliment as I was a little nervous about writing. So many people here know much more about these types of subjects and it's a little intimidating.

I'm sure about the canitlever statements I made. While I don't have a clue as to the construction inside a cartridge it must have a suspension of sorts which is, by its nature, very sensitive and prone to damage. If one has too much anti-skate the stylus will still want to track the groove as the tonearm tries to keep it from doing so. The result would be a cantilever that is more or less permanently tweaked to the side.

I actually saw this when an acquaintence asked me to look at his table. I had brought my blank record and after seeing the stylus pushed way to the side tried the blank. It confirmed my suspicion. We left everything as it was except for the anti-skate which we adjusted, played a few junk records while we watched tv and lo and behold it was more centered in the cartridge body. The next time I went over it was back where it belonged. Damage? I don't think it helped the mechanics of the cartridge to be mistreated in that way but it sounded fine. I suspect his records took a hit though. This kind of stuff is what makes buying used vinyl so "iffy".

Anyone reading this that takes issue with what I've said please be kind to me. These are honest observations and I still don't know if my rationale is right on. Enlighten me if you know the truth.