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Using Test LP - curious observations

I've been tremendously enjoying my Lyra Delos with the Classic for about 1.5 yrs now, and just recently remembered I had the Hi-Fi News Analogue Test LP and got the urge to test my setup.
Here are some of my observations that came as a surprise to me:
1) Anti-skate (Bands 6,7,8,9 on side one) - the cartridge "passed" the test on Band 6 without any anti-skate, but there was audible buzzing coming from the right channel at higher amplitudes. Applying anti-skate made NO difference whatsoever to the results, whether on setting 1, 2 or 3 (most anti-skate). I prefer the sound without anti-skate so this only seemed to confirm that applying anti-skate arguably does nothing to improve the sound and likely makes it worse. It also seems to shed some light on why Harry doesn't like anti-skate.
2) Azimuth (Band 5 on side two) - My preamp has a mono switch so this seemed pretty straightforward. According to the instructions, there should be minimal (if any) mono output if the cartridge was aligned perfectly. Well, there was certainly some output, which immediately worried me, but what really left me scratching my head was the fact that no adjustment appeared to correct it, or make a significant difference. I use the Soundsmith's Counter Intuitive to fine-adjust VTF and azimuth, and after about 2 hours of a wide range of adjustments in azimuth through the CI, it was virtually impossible to determine the optimal azimuth setting, i.e., the output seemed consistently the same regardless of adjustments.

Please free to comment, share your experiences or explain my curious results. Or are they not curious?
actusreus

Showing 5 responses by siranthony

siranthony
16 posts
 
Tony

What you have said makes perfect sense to me and my expeience. Really I don't see how you get around not having antiskate unless you drop to a very low VTF. Around 1g vtf probably needs very little antiskate.
siranthony
16 posts
 
I don't know what VPI does that makes anti skate sound worse with it than without it, but I find it is essential. I'm sure most feel the same way. I don't need a test record to dial it in either.

I don't have a test record but I can see how torture tracks could be mis leading. I tried setting up my Yatra to an album that was cut very hot. That album sounded great but the regular albums sounded heavy and dull. Maybe some carts can track everything and sound great under any circumstances. I dont have one of those.
siranthony
16 posts
 
Dougdeacon,
Thanks for your input. I am using an Origin Live Encounter mk2 (the dual pivot version). I am using the VPI headshell weight. I used the mint protractor to align the cart. I try to use as little VTF as possible and use antiskate to eliminate distortion in one channel. I'm not sure how many hours my Yatra has but I doubt it has 300 hours yet. I'm very happy with the this cart right now. It does have the sense of space that ZYX is known for. I just bought a Delos and I am listening to the Yatra more. To be fair I haven't set the Delos up on the new arm yet.
siranthony
16 posts
 
Nandric,
The spirals get smaller but the speed is the same everywhere on the platter. The only thing that should make a difference is the angle of the stylus as it crosses the record surface. Although I am no expert either, I am a building engineer.
siranthony
16 posts
 
Ok the entire record is going at 33.3 but the outer grooves do cover a longer distance each revolution. So the platter is traveling faster on the outer grooves. But the same amount of information is contained in one revolution on the inner and outer grooves. So there is more packed into a smaller space on the inner grooves. So antiskate would be the same. Thats my best guess anyway.
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