A funny thing happened on the way to azizmuth again

Posted by rocky raccoon on March 4, 2009 at 15:26:44

Well I noticed a little while ago whilst using the Benz (square fronted body) that the azizmuth on my arm looked out of kilter - by a smidjun.

Now everybody knows that you can't adjust azizmuth on rega arms... or can you ?

So, I made two holes in the middle of a 1 cm square, 10 cm long aluminium rod and bolted it to the headshell of the rega, purpendicular to the arm. Lowering this directly onto the platter the error is multiplied by the distance from the headshell in both directions - so you can easily see the error - with the arm in the middle of the platter. In my case, the bar was closer to the platter on the spindle side and higher at the rim of the platter. It was a small difference but measureable (think feeler guage).

Now this doesn't get you anywhere unless you happen to have a gyrodec and you put 3 two mm thick foam rings under the plastic spacers which raise the armboard. With the rod still attatched to the headshell you can tighten the bolts on the armboard until the rod is exactly paralell with the platter in the axis of the arc across the record(since there are three bolts) thus regulating the azizmuth. One third of a turn on a bolt makes or breaks it so it's pretty damned fine !

Well, Victor said (see FAQ) that the only way to measure azizmuth is channel separation (rather than channel balance) and that's exactly what I got. Better channel separation and better everything that goes with it. The effect of having better and more equal stylus contact on both sides of the groove seems to be rather like getting the toe in on your speakers right. You get that 'room is a pair of headphones' effect - if you know what I mean. You also get the separation and the soundstage you paid for.

VK said that if you can't measure channel separation then getting the headshell flat with relation to the platter is the next best thing and by golly he's not wrong ! It's a PIA as you have to set up the entire rig from cartridge to VTA but it's well worth the bother.

This is what happens when you clean your records properly. Issues like azizmuth suddenly become the next priority. God forbid I start adjusting VTA with every record.

Best regards,

rr

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Topic - A funny thing happened on the way to azizmuth again - rocky raccoon 15:26:44 03/4/09 (3)

another way - beach cruiser 10:56:43 03/5/09 (2)

Thanks bc - rocky raccoon 23:00:45 03/5/09 (1)

hissing sibilants - beach cruiser 01:03:04 03/6/09 (0)

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