Jimbos Audio ramblings

[Jimbo]

I didn't think VTA affected Azimuth

[struth]

Azimuth is affected by everything sadly

[Jimbo]

Azimuth is affected by everything sadly

I will keep that in mind when I next have a fiddle!

[AJSki2fly]

Azimuth is affected by everything sadly

How? Azimuth in the context of a stylus is defined as a vertical centre line through it, looking at the front of it, and correct setting of Azimuth is so it is at a right angle to the record surface, or have I misunderstood something here?

Or is it that due to the geometry of an arm tracking across the record the angle of the head shell changes very slightly, so it may be spot in the centre of a LP but slightly out at the outer and inner edges? If this is the case then the difference to the Azimuth must be minute, and with a modern cut stylus I would have thought likely to have minimal significance?

[karma1967]

Sorry Jamie, I still don't get it, Azimuth as I understand it is the angle of the stylus in the groove, that is when you look at the cartridge/stylus from the front, setting the azimuth is getting the stylus perfectly aligned vertically at 90 degrees to the record, that's my understanding anyway. If you adjust VTA/SRA by raising or lowering the rear of the arm, it will change the rake angle of the stylus in the groove, in perfect world you want to get as close to 92 degree SRA as possible.

I found this very informative https://www.analogplanet.com/content...rake-angle-sra

and

https://www.originhifi.com/blog/3556...-Guide?q=35567

it changes because your headshell and cartridge are offset to the pivot point,because they are they are moving in an arc when the tonearm goes up and down .as you rightly say correct azimuth is having the sylus tip sitting perctly in the groove,im just saying that altering your sra/vta after this will throw azimuth out.
have a look on the wally tools site,top of the google search results.

[Jimbo]

How? Azimuth in the context of a stylus is defined as a vertical centre line through it, looking at the front of it, and correct setting of Azimuth is so it is at a right angle to the record surface, or have I misunderstood something here?

Or is it that due to the geometry of an arm tracking across the record the angle of the head shell changes very slightly, so it may be spot in the centre of a LP but slightly out at the outer and inner edges? If this is the case then the difference to the Azimuth must be minute, and with a modern cut stylus I would have thought likely to have minimal significance?

Michael Fremer would say absolute correct Azimuth is essential as it affects the stylus reading left and right channels. To get it bang on with no guessing it would probably best to use a Fozgometer.

https://www.mcru.co.uk/product/fozgo...h-range-meter/

[karma1967]

@ AJSki2fly
you have a pm

[struth]

Varying pressure can vary crosstalk. Sad but alas true. Also as carts, stylish and suspensions etc are all put together by hand so this adds another issue to azimuth testing, especially by sight.

[Jimbo]

Varying pressure can vary crosstalk. Sad but alas true. Also as carts, stylish and suspensions etc are all put together by hand so this adds another issue to azimuth testing, especially by sight.

Then a Fozgometer would be the only absolute way knowing you have achieved perfect Azimuth.

[struth]

Certainly will be one tool. There used to be a system called ..'someyhing'.magic..or magik. Need to look it up. It was a pc program and some tools that did everything under the one banner. Might not be going now tho.
The frog would be a good help I think. Azi is usually set close first then is set bang on after the others. Don't forget anti skate as it has an affect on stylus pressure etc both vertical and sideways