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VPI Classic Azimuth Seems to Change -- Normal??

I own the VPI Classic with a Classic 3 wand upgrade. The Classic 3 wand is stainless steel and incorporates Valhalla silver wiring. My carty is the VPI Zephyr. My set-up is pretty straightforward.

Here's what I noticed. I was checking aziumth and some other settings. I'm pretty sure that the azimuth changed when I moved the arm to the inner tracks. It was pretty stable in the middle and outer tracks. It seems that the Valhalla wire in some way is twisting the arm causing the change. To try and minimize the effect, I tried not to twist the wire, but to little effect.

Any thoughts, comments or suggestions?
bifwynne

Showing 3 responses by actusreus

actusreus
733 posts
 
Bifwynne,
How did you determine that the azimuth changed?
actusreus
733 posts
 
Bifwynne,

Slight changes in the azimuth are normal across the record as any warps, however slight, will alter the angle at which the cartridge interfaces with the record's surface. In my opinion, I'm not sure how realistic it is to expect to be able to maintain a perfect setting across the entire record surface. I set mine in the middle of the record and don't obsess about the rest of the surface. I'm also still not sure how you go about measuring the azimuth (did you use one, or different records, did you measure in the same spot, etc.?)

Perhaps more importantly, why on earth would you be messing with the Valhalla wiring when you have the anti-skate device on the Classic? The wire twist method is only for those VPI tables that don't have the anti-skate device, and for those owners who are just too OCD not to have any anti-skating applied. I actually removed the anti-skate thingy from my Classic as I found that it sounded best without any anti-skate (which Harry also suggests). Now you have hair dryers going to undo what was completely unnecessary in the first place. Oy vey, as Mike would say...
actusreus
733 posts
 
Harry prefers and recommends no anti-skating, and I, after listening for a year with anti-skating engaged as a principle, now also prefer the sound without anti-skating once I gave it a listen. Perhaps the rigidity of the tonearm wire provides enough anti-skating, I'm not sure, but I'm now in Harry's anti anti-skating camp.

Regarding the azimuth, did you try several records to ensure it's indeed the tonearm, not irregularities in the record? And most importantly, can you hear the variations in the azimuth?
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