Jimbos Audio ramblings

Education http://korfaudio.com/blog36

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Originally Posted by Wakefield Turntables

Yep, it's just another gadget to try and get the cartridge set up, there is no perfect way of setting the cartridge up, some things just make it easier than others.

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:thumbsup:

all you need is (according to korf) some sort of instrument or software that can measure total harmonic distortion (THD) and plot accumulated spectral traces.
so you have 2 experts stating the opposite to each other lol
ok so as your ears are the final arbiter id say try both and pick what sound best.

My azimuth set up is delivering spectacular sonics this evening so I am certainly not going to mess with it.:)

ah but just 1 more tweek might just be the ONE! :lol:

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Originally Posted by karma1967

ah but just 1 more tweek might just be the ONE! :lol:

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There's always one more tweak.:)

At the moment I am feeling if it aint broke why try and fix it?:lol:

Whatever sounds best, how hard can this hobby be?

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Originally Posted by Wakefield Turntables

Whatever sounds best, how hard can this hobby be?

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This is where the technical/measurements philosophy to hifi can get in the way of "real world" listening and how you perceive the sound from any change you make to a cartridge set up, turntable isolation, valves, room set up, equipment change, cables etc etc.

Does knowing something is technically perfect automatically mean it sounds perfect? No. Amplifiers can have high levels of distortion but still sound great. The VTA of your cartridge may not achieve 92 degrees but still sound great. Speakers can be positioned in numerous ways and can sound great to your own ears.

I suppose the theoretical perfect set up of anything is a good place to start but I have found my own listening preferences have often over ridden the ideal set up of many aspects of my system.

As you say Andy "Whatever sounds best " should be the mantra by which we put anything together or set anything up. I think our own individual hearing is definitely the best final arbiter.:)

Something is only theoretically perfect until it's proven otherwise, how can an imperfect science of setting up a hi-fi be perfect?

This hobby just goes round in circles, hence my very un-science based opinion of "whatever sounds best". :)

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Originally Posted by Jimbo

The VTA of your cartridge may not achieve 92 degrees but still sound great.

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I assume you meant the SRA, and not the VTA?

Otherwise I largely agree with your approach.