Vinyl Asylum: Azimuth - do it the correct way by Victor Khomenko

***Hi Jon, You helped many of us with our excelent article on SRA a couple of weeks ago. I was wondering if you had and could share similar advice on properly setting up azmuith? BTW some cartridges, my Ruby HO for one, doesn't allow me to play a mono record, invert the signal on on channel input, and adjust for lowest output.

It is good that it doesn't, because setting the azimuth this way is totally incorrect. What you accomplish that way is getting identical outputs from both channels - a trivial proposition having nothing to do with good azimuth adjustment. You really should set the asimuth for best channel-channel separation, and that takes a bit more effort.

The best way to do it is by using a test record with separate groves for left and right channel full scale tone. Play the left channel tone and measure the signal in the RIGHT channel. Record the number. Play the right channel tone and measure the signal in the LEFT channel.

You should try to set your cartridge so that those two residual signals are smallest possible - this way you get the best stereo separation.

In many cases you will have large discrepancy between two channels - maybe -30dB in one channel vs. -20 in another. Then set it so you get the best you can without being too lopsided.

Best of luck,

Victor.