Thanks.....changed the battery..no help, no short on the meter. It is a bad brand new Ortofon cartridge. Back it goes. |
Yes...it is a new Ortofon that was manufactured with internal improper connections. Thanks |
Thanks Jorsan....I used it a few months ago to set up a Benz LPS and it worked fine. The brand new Ortofon was internally wired incorrectly. The leads I installed match the color of the pins, and itself matched the illustration on the enclosed brochure. Although the cartridge was not completely set up, I listened and discovered that the right channel was coming from the left and v/v. I've sent the cartridge back to Ortofon, and will post when I get another. |
Yup.....mine was really wrong, and Mike send me a whole new one. He tested and adjusted it and it now works fine. I guess its like an Alfa Romeo. When its working, its wonderful, but you need to keep a repair shop close by. ( I had a Duetta...the red sports car from The Graduate) |
I suppose an update is in order.... I got the replacement Ortofon and the cartridge is fine, but the Foz was indeed broken as well. I sent the Foz back to Musical Surrounding who told me the meters were shorted, and that they are sending me a new unit. Right now I have the cartridge set up and am eyeballing the azimuth. I'll readjust it when I get the new Foz. The sound on the Ortofon was piss poor for the first side or 2 playing LPs. It then started to strut...the fuzzy sound receeded, and was replaced with great hall ambiance. This cartridge replaced an LPS and right now even not fully broken in, it is a sound replacement. Listening to it gets better everyday is enlightening. It doesn't click to a better picture, but slowly the listener is aware of new "stuff". It reminds me of my flying....you don't realize the weather change, but then suddenly the sun breaks from behind some clouds. When the Foz comes I'll wright again. |
I just got a brand new replacement Foz from Musical Surroundings. Mike (service) calibrated it personally, and sent me a new battery as well. It took about 10 minutes or so to get the azimuth perfect. Now that the cartridge/arm is set up, I'm going to monkey around with loading. I will return. |
I thought I'd enter another installment in my saga. The Foz is back, and I set up the azimuth for my new cartridge. From the beginning, I didn't think much of the new Ortofon Windfield. I came from a Benz LPS and the Windfield was not even in the same league. As it broke in it got better and better, but even after a month or so (waiting for a new Fozgometer) it didn't capture me. I have a VPI 3D arm..and Harry gushed over this cartridge who really made be get it. I reviewed every parameter of setup, but loading....today, I worked on that. Harry told me that 500 ohms is what he uses and recommends, so naturally that is how I set it up. I was uneasy about something, and didn't know what. I called Ayre and spoke to Michael...a guru with this stuff. He told me that he would try 4700 ohms....no resistor in place. Ok, I did that and although it sounded better in many respects, it didn't have the magic I was looking for. OK...opened the Ayre preamp, and got in a 1000 ohm resistor and OMG what a difference. Here is magic in spades. The sound changed with the addition of resistance much like an arm reacts to damping. When you have too much damping, the sound just lays there....too little, and there is too much fuzz...not enough instrument placement...spaces between the notes are filled in. I Suspect that the Ortofon is still waking up, but I encourage you vinyl fanatics, to experiment with loading and not just select a value on a whim. Every system is different and you must experiment to find your prescription. |
TKetchum...you evidently got a good one, or mine was made on Friday, just before a holiday. The first week I had the car, the exhaust system fell off....I found a wire hanger and crawled under the car and wired it in until I could get it to the dealer. The hood was designed (or not, but this did always happened) ...when taking it out in the rain, water would splash under the car and be routed into the 4 deep spark plug recesses, which would ground out the electrical system, and the car would stop. I had to carry a turkey baster to suck out the water..would be good for a block or 2....also, my car had brakes made from components from Girling and Bendix which didn't quite fit...it would suck air every time you stepped on the brake. I remember riding to NJ from Lime Rock Connecticut using only the hand brake. I could go on..but you get the idea. |
I believe the Foz is a very worthwile tool, even though it hit the fan recently with negative reviews. The difference when properly done to eyeballing, or setting by ear is quite large. |
Nansk...make the difference as small as you can do it. Mine is exactly right....needed lots of time.. Every time you change the azimuth, you should check to see if the vtf was disturbed. Any raising or lowering of the back of the arm needs rechecking of all parameters including where the stylus sits on the alignment protractor. I know...very tedious.... |
Tom...I'm using a VPI 3D arm, and can tell you that when moving either counterweight or CounterIntuitive around the arm tube..even slightly, I can't prevent it from moving front/back..even a miniscule amount which changes VTF. I must check and check again all the parameters. ...and when adjusting the vtf, I must again check the Foz for its indication. When I'm doing this, it seems endless, but I eventually zero it in. White out indications et al, are way too broad and inexact for me. |
Tom...actually its very rewarding when you listen to the final results and how each of the parameters effect the overall sound. ...and you really only have to do the whole job once (until the next cartridge comes along..) |
