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Setting Azimuth

Details:
VPI Scoutmaster
JMW 9 standard tonearm
Soundsmith Zephyr cartridge band new
Using a Fozgometer and Hi Fi News Test LP both also brand new
I'm measuring at the interconnects off the turntable.
I cannot seem to achieve a proper azimuth that will give even channel balance. The only adjustment on this tonearm is the counterweight which is weighted a the bottom so turning it side to side should effect azimuth. Only extreme changes are affecting channel balance. I changed the interconnects in case they were causing the problem, but I get the same results. The right channel is a few decibels louder no matter what I do to the azimuth unless I make an extreme adjustment which has the tonearm cocked to one side and obviously this is not correct.
arnold_layne
lanetim
23 posts
 
BTW, for your Scoutmaster, you can trade in your JMW9 arm for a Classic from VPI...I traded in mine for a Classic 3. You'll get a really nice kit with a template, drill bits etc. a wonderful improvement!
arnold_layne OP
141 posts
 
Lanetim,

That is a path I'm considering going down. Wasn't sure if the arm was upgradable. Now that I know, I may do that. I know they are busy moving to a new warehouse, so I'll ask them about it next week.
arnold_layne OP
141 posts
 
I did a few needledrops with my new cartridge. The channel imbalance is pretty obvious. Here is a screen shot of Sultans of Swing digital, then normalized evenly for both channels.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/asgj0r
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,372 posts
 
Actusreus.. I'm not against it, I just think its not necessary....like a belt and suspenders. It takes a few minutes to dial in the VPI arm...probably the same time it takes to install the Counterintuitive. If you change cartridges the device has merrit because you can repeat the setting for the cartridge needed after first having properly installed the cartridge, however, it would even be easier to simply have another arm properly set up with the new cartridge already mounted in it and replace the old arm with the new one, and plug it in. Again, if you like the CI, zei gazundt.
frank_sm
111 posts
 
How do you save these calibration files to your computer? For some reason they show up as quicktime files and I can't save them without buying a pro quicktime license.
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