Clearaudio Azimuth Optimizer V Fozgometer

Don_c55,

I have only had the Fozgometer for one week so I have not yet had the chance to experiment with other settings based on listening. What I can say at this point is that the reproduction quality I am hearing after adjustment with the Fozgometer is noticeably better than I was able to obtain before.

Interestingly, I own a 1st Gen VPI JMW 12 arm with the marked azimuth ring. I recently reinstalled my Eminent Technology ET Two air bearing arm on my TNT and am enjoying it immensely. It is, however, more difficult to consistently set azimuth on the ET Two than with the JMW 12, so I find the Fozgometer to be a real benefit here.

I will probably try some very small adjustments to the Fozgometer-determined azimuth setting to see if improvement is possible. Even if this proves to be so, I consider the Fozgometer indespensible in baselining the azimuth setting when changing cartridges or making other adjustments on the ET Two.

I wish someone would invent a similar easy-to-use and repeatable device for baselining VTA!

Happy New Year!

Dave

Don_c55,

I did the same gig with the bubble level on the headshell for a long time.
Got a Fozgometer for Christmas and when I checked it using the AP Test
LP, the measured azimuth was way off. I thought my rig sounded great
before, but once adjusted with the Fozgometer, I hear a definite
improvement in imaging and soundstaging precision and also a reduction in
surface noise.

After seeing how a minimal (tiny) amount of headshell rotation results in
such a big shift in readings on the meter, I think that it is nearly impossible
to set azimuth precisely without some type of measurement equipment.

Just my 2 cents based on my experience.

Happy New Year!
Dave

1stump: Like you, I found myself "wandering in the dark" on
azimuth adjustment before using the Fozgometer. I guess that I have not
yet developed the "magic eye/ear dexterity" to find the sweet spot manually
like many claim to. The Fozgometer made short work of it for me.

Lewm: It is a shame that misinformation has kept you from trying the
Fozgometer. The Fozgometer's manual states "Higher output
cartridges
(>.3mV@3.54cm/sec) should have enough output to be connected directly
to the meter but ultra-low output cartridges may require additional gain. In
this case, RCA cables should be connected between the Fozgometer and
the phono preamp out or preamp tape out jacks."

There are posts here on Audiogon where users have hooked it directly (via
the tonearm cabling) to
<.3mV output cartridges with good results.

I tried it both ways (directly from the cartridge and also from the preamp's
tape out jacks) and found no difference in the readings. IMO, it is an added
benefit to be able to compare results using both methods to validate that
the phono stage and preamp are not misbehaving.

Dave