Azimuth "recording"


I recently purchased a Technics 1210 GAE, and I am loving the detachable headshell.  I have 3 cartridges in rotation 2 MC and one Mono.  I wonder if anyone has any tips on how to "record" azimuth for quick resetting.  I dutifully have recorded VTF, VTA, bias etc. for each cartridge for fast switching - but I am hoping to not have to pull out the test record and fozgometer with each switch  to set AZ when I have other listeners such as my wife present. Usually only happens when I switch from MC to mono and back.

The azimuth for all but one of the cartridges (my mono) is fairly off when fastened to the arm in what I would consider the  "straight" position.  Once the azimuth is properly set the audio difference is very noticeable.  I have though of snapping a photo of the cartridge head on with one of those plastic AZ tools to rough it in for quick switching so I can at least eyeball the angle. Any tips?

Cheers


slashsmil

Showing 1 response by millercarbon

Hmm, could have sworn the OP said he clearly heard a difference, knows what he wants, and is just looking for a way to mark or reference to be able to easily return to that azimuth when swapping carts. That's it, right?   

I mean, he did say "for quick switching so I can at least eyeball the angle". 

It's hard to say without seeing the arm and how the head shell attaches but what you want is something with one or more reference marks on the head, and one or more reference marks on the arm tube. Simplest/cheapest will be to cut two strips of paper, put some marks on it like every mm, tape one to the head, the other to the arm. Fold and trim so they line up where you want.  

I did something like this on my Conqueror tone arm. It had VTA but no marks to calibrate so no way of replicating different VTA settings. I used a label maker, trimmed the label down real thin, taped it to an acrylic disc, and you can see how great that turned out in my system pics. Look at pics #15-17. https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/8367  I would try something simple like tape and paper first, then if you like it maybe make something better looking/more durable like I did here.