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Compliance & Efffective Mass Question

Hi Folks:
I've a ZYX Universe S-SB cartridge that I'm running on a budget Airtech tonearm (http://airtech.atspace.com/), and a Teres 255 turntable. Phono Stage is my Supratek Syrah full function preamp.

I've never paid much attention to anything about 'compliance' or 'effective mass', and am not sure how to even calculate such things. Is there some guidance that someone could offer me on how to measure the above, what an appropriate relationship/ratio should be, and if my setup is 'off', what steps I might take to better optimize my setup?

Thanks in advance for any advice or tips! I'm keen to get the best out of what should be a great vinyl rig - I do like the sound a lot, but there is the odd track or passage that seems to produce some sibilance or distortion, and I've always wonderered whether there is something awry with my setup that might be remedied by some alteration.
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Showing 3 responses by dgad

dgad
782 posts
 
My ZYX has a measured compliance of 5. My tonearm has an effective mass of 18gms. and the resonant vertical & horizontal frequencys are 14 Hz each. This indicate a 5 rating. I need to increase the mass of my tonearm by over 10 gms.
dgad
782 posts
 
I am checking over time if the compliance changes. I also find some cartridges compliance to not be to specification. I would suggest the airtech might be too light an arm for a cartridge with a compliance of 15 or less, especially the ZYX. It seems to prefer Gimballed arms and high mass. On the other hand other cartridges with medium compliance prefer some linear tracking arms, and some medium - low compliance cartridges work better in Unipivots. The rules are general guides with many caveats.
dgad
782 posts
 
Doug,

I moved my ZYX Universe from my Schroder SQ to my Ikeda tonearm. Basically adding about 15 gms effective mass to the arm. It now has a resonant frequency of 10 Hz lateral & vertical as expected. What is even more amazing is the increase in bass, image density & smoothness of the treble. I am still dealing w. some more little things, like ideal VTF which I find 2.25 to sound better than 2.00. It is amazing how having the wrong effective mass arm can completely change the sound. You need to truly know your cartridge compliance. As many cartridges vary compliance in production even with the same model this will be more difficult to do unless you purchase your tonearm after testing your cartridge.
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