Azimuth observations and importance

Response to Lloydc: Try a hobby shop (Hobby Lobby) for brass shim stock (.001 or less). They come in various thicknesses and they are reasonably priced.

My Alphason HR-100S does not have azimuth adjustment. Someone like Wally, I really cannot remember, suggested using a hole punch on typewriter paper to punch out discs for use as shims. They mentioned that you rarely need three, usually one or two will suffice as a rule.

I currently use two of these discs near the right cartridge bolt to correct an azimuth issue with my cart. It does make a significant difference.

With my Alphason HR100-S, I use the discs created from punching printer paper with a hole-punch. This was suggested by somone in Stereophile. Usually only one or two are required - placed near one of the cart bolts/screws. I use two, stacked together, for my current cart.

My opinion on azimuth is that it's always a compromise, no matter how long you agonize over it. I set the arm up to look balanced and see how it sounds and adjust by ear if necessary. I've never really believed the compromise you spend ten minutes on is much worse than the one you agonize for weeks over. Having said that, I'll soon have a Reed 3P to play with. Maybe the fine adjustments on the fly will change my mind on this. Meanwhile, my system sounds great without multimeters, filters or fozgowhatevers.

I realize I'll likely be blasted for the above post but, as great as vinyl is, it's not a perfect playback medium. Do we really believe all records are cut the same? Even from the beginning of one side to the end can vary. The perfect adjustment for one LP is great as long as you only play that LP. Where is the line drawn between good setup and just dwelling on minutia?

I've mentioned my set-up technique in other threads, but it may be worth mentioning it again for additional comments.

First off, I own a Classic TT with a Classic 3 waand. My cartridge is a Sound Smith VPI Zephyr (MI) which was jointly designed by Harry Weisfeld and Peter Ledermann. Although I liked the Clear Audio Maestro (MM) a bit more, Mike (VPI) and I just could not get it to work well with either the Classic 1 or 3 wand.

I use the VPI jig which came with the TT to align the carty. It's based on Baerwold (sp?) geometry. I double check alignment with an old Sumiko metal protractor. Alignment is perfect.

Now as to azimuth, my old protractor kit comes with a feather weight tiny bubble balancing level thingy. I am able to set azimuth -- with the help of the SS Counter-Intuitive devise -- 100% level; 180 degrees. No guessing, estimating or eye-balling.

Let me add, that Peter recently retipped by Zephyr. Not that this is necessarily relevant, but he said my old stylus was 80% worn -- and the wear pattern on each side of the stylus was equal.

When the Zephyr came back after the retip, I noticed that the cantilever appeared to be axially twisted about 15-20 degrees from 90 degrees dead center. I have read elsewhere that this is done intentionally to match the cutting angle of LP masters.

As far as sound is concerned, the retip improved imagaing, detail, and so forth and so on across the board, which is no big deal since the stylus is new.

What I don't know is whether the cartridge is operating at optimal channel balance performance as discussed elsewhere above, notwithstanding the care I take with set up.

In the next several weeks, I am having the tone arm base upgraded to the Classic 2/3 version. At that time, I will ask Mike (VPI) to reset my carty. Mike uses an oscilliscope. It will be interesting to see how well my set up technique compares to what Mike comes up with.

I'll report back after I have VPI do the upgrade.

Lloydc: Probably not. I use foil tape when necessary.

Dear Bifwynne: You wrote, "What I don't know is whether the cartridge is operating at optimal channel balance".... I am guessing that this was just an unfortunate choice of words. Azimuth has very little effect on "channel balance", as that term generally refers to the matching of the output voltages of one channel vs the other. Azimuth mainly affects crosstalk. You probably knew that.

It's funny for me to look at my old posts on this thread. When the Triplanar was my main tonearm, I was an azimuth junky. I still own the TP and love it, but I am also using a few other tonearms that do not allow for azimuth adjust, and I find that life is OK without worrying about it at all. Maybe my capacity for anal behavior is diminishing with advancing age. Other improvements I have made to my system since 2010 completely swamp out any effect of fiddling with azimuth. So maybe also I am too blissful.

I'm with you Lew when it comes to azimuth paranoia.
Life is good without it :^)

Ironically azimuth paranoia occurs with me when I use a detachable headshell tonearm, often the bayonet fittings have a little slop. I use the Ikeda headshell on these which has the dreaded asimuth adjustablility via a clamp rather than the grub screws used on many.
Well designed unipivot + fixed headshell + decent cartridge = cure for Azimuth paranoia.

Thanks Lew and Dover. Yeah, I meant cross talk. Sounds like much ado about not a big deal. My system sounds great. My wife yells at me so I know bass kicks!