Thank you everyone for your comments and advice.
As i said I know that there are many methods by which to set azimuth and it is very difficult to measure. In fact my interest in using a voltage output measure is to see how that might differ in results with how I set-up the cartridge currently, which I did by ear: first I get in the ballpark by making sure the cartridge is aligned properly and then confirm that with a mirror and magnifying glass to check the position of the cantilever and stylus....and then I listen. To me it starts sounding right when listening to vocals, or a female vocal to be more precise, and her presence becomes more defined and localized, and in the right (or let's say in better) proportion to the rest of the musicians and soundstage. From my testing when the voice starts sounding too diffuse and laterally too wide, which also means that the soundstage also seems to flatten, then the azimuth is off. And I say the azimuth is off only because by changing it I notice somewhat the better definition and focus when I change the azimuth (the JMW10 allows for this type of adjustment).
@lewn
I am surprised you never heard of measuring output voltage at the amplifier terminal as almost all who use the voltmeter (vs Fozgometer) method seem to suggest doing exactly that- for example Michael Fremer in a Stereophile article on Azmuth adjustment writes the following:
"Whether or not you've built the box, the next step is to set the voltmeter to low AC volts (around 5 volts) and put the probes in the left channel of your amplifier's speaker terminals....."
He then repeats this for the right.
And there are countless others that suggest the same thing. And to your point, if you are going to use this method, why there vs measuring from the speakers? To be clear I am not suggesting this is necessarily a good method- I am just curious for comparison to what I have done already. If anything, as you also suggest, I would measure from the phono using a Fozgometer - but barring that why amp terminal vs speakers since all the imbalance, if any, has already "happened". And because I am not sold on measurements per se and I am just experimenting, I do not really want to drop $300 on a Fozgometer either.
@millercarbon
I did indeed read Peter's advice on this- now if he finally did come out with his long promised cartridge set-up device I would actually take the plunge!
@mrubey
I am indeed doubtful that 1Khz sweep from a test record does the trick- I am not at all surprised that that at different frequencies azimuth setting doesn't jibe with what you get at 1Khz.
Anyway, thanks for all the responses- it is always great to hear from others more experienced than myself- and I will do another set-up round using all your insight to see what I get.
But let me know if you have any thoughts about taking a measurement form the amp terminal and speaker terminal- I am very skeptical of the insistence on using the former.
As i said I know that there are many methods by which to set azimuth and it is very difficult to measure. In fact my interest in using a voltage output measure is to see how that might differ in results with how I set-up the cartridge currently, which I did by ear: first I get in the ballpark by making sure the cartridge is aligned properly and then confirm that with a mirror and magnifying glass to check the position of the cantilever and stylus....and then I listen. To me it starts sounding right when listening to vocals, or a female vocal to be more precise, and her presence becomes more defined and localized, and in the right (or let's say in better) proportion to the rest of the musicians and soundstage. From my testing when the voice starts sounding too diffuse and laterally too wide, which also means that the soundstage also seems to flatten, then the azimuth is off. And I say the azimuth is off only because by changing it I notice somewhat the better definition and focus when I change the azimuth (the JMW10 allows for this type of adjustment).
@lewn
I am surprised you never heard of measuring output voltage at the amplifier terminal as almost all who use the voltmeter (vs Fozgometer) method seem to suggest doing exactly that- for example Michael Fremer in a Stereophile article on Azmuth adjustment writes the following:
"Whether or not you've built the box, the next step is to set the voltmeter to low AC volts (around 5 volts) and put the probes in the left channel of your amplifier's speaker terminals....."
He then repeats this for the right.
And there are countless others that suggest the same thing. And to your point, if you are going to use this method, why there vs measuring from the speakers? To be clear I am not suggesting this is necessarily a good method- I am just curious for comparison to what I have done already. If anything, as you also suggest, I would measure from the phono using a Fozgometer - but barring that why amp terminal vs speakers since all the imbalance, if any, has already "happened". And because I am not sold on measurements per se and I am just experimenting, I do not really want to drop $300 on a Fozgometer either.
@millercarbon
I did indeed read Peter's advice on this- now if he finally did come out with his long promised cartridge set-up device I would actually take the plunge!
@mrubey
I am indeed doubtful that 1Khz sweep from a test record does the trick- I am not at all surprised that that at different frequencies azimuth setting doesn't jibe with what you get at 1Khz.
Anyway, thanks for all the responses- it is always great to hear from others more experienced than myself- and I will do another set-up round using all your insight to see what I get.
But let me know if you have any thoughts about taking a measurement form the amp terminal and speaker terminal- I am very skeptical of the insistence on using the former.