Arm/Cartridge Resonance

Vinyl Asylum

Welcome Licorice Pizza (LP) lovers! Setup guides and Vinyl FAQ.

I recently reinstalled my AT-OC9ML/II and decided to measure Arm/Cartridge Resonance using the Hi-Fi News Test Record. Actually, I decided to record the tests and transfer them into my computer so I could look at the waveforms in Sound Forge. By doing this, I discovered something very interesting. The voice announcements do not represent the actual frequencies very accurately.
I also discovered that my AT-OC9ML/II mounted in my SME V tonearm has a vertical resonance of 9-Hz and a lateral resonance of 7-Hz. These are considerably different that I previously thought from using the frequency voice announcements. This means that my cartridge has a compliance of about 16-mm/N based on a 10.5-g effective mass tonearm and a 9-g cartridge including mounting screws.
To give you an example of just how inaccurate the voice announcements on the Hi-Fi News test record are, I measured the frequencies visually in Sound Forge and compiled a table below. I adjusted the speed of my turntable very accurately by timing revolutions of the platter so that its speed was accurate to between 0% and 0.04% fast. I made absolutely certain it was not going even the least bit slow. Be advised, this is the old Hi-Fi News test record. I donâ€™t know if the new one is any better. Perhaps someone who owns one can make some measurements.
Best regards,
John Elison

PS. I couldn't measure the lowest frequencies because a cartridge will not respond to frequencies below its resonance frequency.

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Kimber Kable

Topic - Arm/Cartridge Resonance - John Elison 18:49:51 11/9/06 (8)

That's consistent with my findings - Howard K 19:17:39 11/10/06 (0)

Fascinating! Thank you. - Enophile 12:16:46 11/10/06 (0)

Have you measured other test tones? - Garth 03:18:09 11/10/06 (4)

Re: Have you measured other test tones? - Werner 04:40:20 11/10/06 (2)

I have about 20 various test LPs and none are warped, not even a little bit. - Garth 04:52:51 11/10/06 (1)

Re: I have about 20 various test LPs and none are warped, not even a little bit. - John Elison 05:31:43 11/10/06 (0)

Re: Have you measured other test tones? - John Elison 04:20:34 11/10/06 (0)

That is interesting John.... - tubesforever 00:12:36 11/10/06 (0)

You can not post to an archived thread.