The importance of VTA, SRA and Azimuth - pics

[tima]

Cartridge alignment seems, in part, to be about positioning a three dimensional object in space. When we talk about it here we are using far more words than pictures. For me, it is important that descriptions of the alignment/adjustment process be very easy to understand and to do so using words whose meanings are obvious. A description can be lengthy if it is clear and easy to follow without a lot of mental processing required to go from words to either a picture in your head or to correspond those words with the cartridge itself.

Zenith.

Looking at a dictionary definition of Zenith: 1) "the point on the celestial sphere vertically above a given position or observer." 2) a highest point or state; culmination." Okay - that seems reasonably clear. But it does not seem to correlate with talk about a phono cartridge as a three dimenstional object in space.

More definition: "the zenith angle is the angle between a point of interest and the zenith - the point directly overhead. In a three dimensional coordinate system, the zenith is the axis perpendicular to horizontal plane." I for one do not see the connection to a cartridge or a stylus on a cantilever. (Terminology can almost seem closer fit to what is now called stylus rake angle. - but don't get bogged down with that.)

I don't care much for the term either. Since very few people are talking about it right now (though I think it will be common knowledge amongst vinylphiles in the near future) perhaps we can coin a better term. I'm open to suggestions.

I too am open to alternative terminology. What I'm about to write is not a criticism but an example of what I see as part of the issue.

I looked at the instructions for using the original Wally Tractor, part of which describes getting the cantilever lined up exactly with a scribed line on the tool. Quote: "The cantilever MUST be located as an extension of the center line." The Wally Tractor instructions (which are generally quite understandable) do not include the word "zenith". So Wally (or JR) did not need that word to instruct on cantilever alignment.

When you talk about zenith (zenith error, zenith tolerance, etc.), what is the object of your sentence?

Are you talking about the yaw axis of the cantilever relative to a line on your tractor of choice? Or the yaw axis of the stylus tangent to the groove? Or something else entirely?

The response was in terms of 'zenith error' (and 'tracing error') It does not seem effective to understanding, imo, to describe what we're talking about in terms of of how it can be wrong! I gather this is your offered definition of zenith error: "... the two-dimensional angular deviation from perpendicularity between the cantilever and the groove contact edges of the stylus when the stylus is viewed with its apex (technically, "vertex") aiming directly at the viewer."

Richard Mak (AnalogMagik) writes: "incorrect zenith angle will result in an incorrect alignment geometry even though the cantilever may be aligned correctly to the gridlines of your template." He describes 'zenith angle' as "...whether the diamond is mounted straight on the cantilever, or is it off-axis." That seems clear.

I conclude that talking about 'zenith' itself is not helpful. Talking about something we call 'zenith angle' is talking about ... what? ... a line bisecting a stylus front-to-back that is ... what? ... parallel to the sides of the cantilever? Someone can probably say this better or more eloquently; perhaps 'the stylus is mounted straight on the cantilever.' Of course in the term 'zenith angle', the zenith word adds nothing, imo. Zenith becomes almost a proper name, at best a shorthand for: the angle of the stylus on the cantilever.

To do what the Wally Tractor was partly aimed at, getting the cantilever lined up, or beyond that, getting the stylus lined up requires changing the Yaw Axis of the cartridge in the headshell, that is twisting the mounted cartridge left or right. The former is possible, and I'd say expected; the latter is not possible visually without expensive tools.

Can someone say the sonic difference for a given cartridge with a 1 degree stylus mounting error versus a 5 degree stylus mounting error?

All of this is over-wrought given the cost of hi-end moving coils. For cartridges greater than say, $6k, cartridge makers should provide certification that a given cartridge is within 2 degrees of correct stylus alignment. I wonder what would happen if people started sending cartridges back - "this stylus is too far out of alignment." /rant

 

[Solypsa]

For the end user: I dont see the point in using multiple words for the same action iow you can only twist the cart left or right to change what we used to call 'alignment' and we may now call zenith. The end user cannot change the angle in which the stylus is mounted to the cantilever ( nor can the cart makers...they can however measure and grade ) as this is done by Namiki/Ogura/Gyger. So simply you twist the cart. Now your object of attention can be the cantilever ( a bit easier ) or the stylus ( much harder ) but you still perform the same action - twist the cart. No?

 

[tima]

For the end user: I dont see the point in using multiple words for the same action iow you can only twist the cart left or right to change what we used to call 'alignment' and we may now call zenith.

For me, it is important that descriptions of the alignment/adjustment process be very easy to understand and to do so using words whose meanings are obvious.

Yes, we agree.

Alignment and twisting the cartridge make sense and it's easy to grasp. Guild speak is obscure and off-putting to new vinylists who want to learn.

 

[airbearing]

I would be very interested to know how they determined the proper amplitude for a 1kHz signal to replicate the coefficient of friction of an "average" amplitude groove with musical content. I know how it could be done, but it requires a laboratory setup and some experimentation. Perhaps there is a simpler way I do not know of.

Actually, it IS possible to correct for the +-5 degree zenith tolerance that at least one high-end stylus/cantilever assembly manufacturer had the guts to admit to. (I have shared that link in this forum before.) Unfortunately, measuring zenith error needs a very expensive microscope and a good deal of training to remove distortions caused by illumination and polarization. I've been doing this for the past year in my lab. I am, however, working on an alternative for everyone else who does not have a microscope that costs the same as a nice car. Once the zenith angular error is known, the WallyZenith offers the ability to correct for it. Most headshells offer 4.5 to 5.0 degrees of correction but I have seen multi-thousand dollar cartridges with more error than 5 degrees that I had to condemn.

You could probably get "in the neighborhood" of a cartridge's zenith error with a basic high-school level microscope (not a USB) but you couldn't reliably measure the angle at all due to microscope telecentricity error and other problems with focus stacking.

So, I don't think I understand your comment that "All experiments in compensating cause too much collateral damage in other variables." I assume you are referring to zenith error compensation.

I invite your thoughts.

One other thing: your usb scope is angled upward so the measurable facets of the stylus are obscured from view by the platform edge. Check out our webinar for more tips, but you could wait for the WallyScope that is just a couple weeks out from release and it will give you far better resolution, magnification and control.

Dear J.R.

I do understand you approach and it is very thankful that you are giving hints and advising us users regarding the Zenith.

In case you are confronted with a Zenith error everything is too late .
There is only one chance do return your cart to the seller (cartridge builder) and ask for a correct build cartridge. It is your money and you have the right to get good quality.

How do you detect if you have a Zenith error? You need at least a 800 to 1500 magnification and the picture in 3D quality, not only a side image. This will cost the user 3500 USDollars buying the appropriate tool. Ask in your neighborhood if there is anyone who would invest such an amount on Zenith error detection? I suppose you will find no one!
In a simple but not completely sufficient approach you may look at the needle from below to get a first indication. Of course if the sound is not good it might be one (!) of the reasons.

what to do? (My answer above still stands!).
You asked me about the consequences when the user “works on correcting the Zenith“.
We should not forget that some needles are glued or fixed hard -pressed into a fitting grill-onto the cantilever.
By turning the needle to the right or the left side (who wants to do this???) by correcting the Zenith or Jaw you are changing the breakdown torque or an angulated (offset angle) pivot tonearm - and thus the resulting side forces. You are changing the pressure onto the inner grove wall - and the resulting skating force.

Let me illustrate with a car example. You bought a car and you are finding a problem on the lane groove/ lane track. It is the responsibility of the car producer to deliver a good and exactly working car, it is not a problem of the car buyer, the user - us! You will return the car and ask for correction. Or would you work on this issue? Ask for tools to correct it? I guess not.

The positive side of our discussion is we should build up awareness at the cartridge builders not delivering lousy quality like a Zenith error.

all the best from a user who experienced many topics like this, experimenting a lot.
E.

www.AudioCirc.com

 

[J.R. Boisclair]

Guild speak is obscure and off-putting to new vinylists who want to learn.

This one hit home for me. I really don't want to create an "uninviting" and exclusivist hobby. At the same time I have to walk the line of being accurate. I'm sure I can find a better way with the help of people like you. @tima , @Solypsa & @airbearing - your responses are all very helpful to me. I am aware of the need to get the video animations done so people can see what I am referring to. I am working with some CAD specialists right now on this since surface-defined animation is beyond my level of experience in 3D CAD. I can see the crazy mechanical gyrations an out of alignment stylus makes on my 1000:1 scale model but filming this has problems of shadows and perspective. I'll need to make the animations for it to be effective. Working on it!

The Wally Tractor instructions (which are generally quite understandable) do not include the word "zenith". So Wally (or JR) did not need that word to instruct on cantilever alignment.

This is true. I wrote the original WT instructions for Wally - (complete with some missing "the" and "a" articles to have his voice come through the written word.) There was no need to discuss zenith error as the matter of the stylus' contact edges not being in proper alignment to that which we CAN see (cantilever) was an unnecessary complication at the time.

However, it can now be measured (for a lot less than @airbearing has suggested, but still more than my car costs) and as we dive deeply into the mechanics of the impact of improper zenith on the stylus' action through the groove we are seeing ways to "measure" the alignment error that does not involve a microscope. However, there are several very important provisos to making these "measurements" be effective, useful and not likely to cause endless frustration and uncertainty. (Multivariate tests are generally quite deceiving unless you can be certain you've first removed the "noise" via some univariate testing and correction.) The solution is forthcoming. In the meantime, the soon to be released WallyScope (rentals will be available!) can get you "in the neighborhood".

To do what the Wally Tractor was partly aimed at, getting the cantilever lined up, or beyond that, getting the stylus lined up requires changing the Yaw Axis of the cartridge in the headshell, that is twisting the mounted cartridge left or right. The former is possible, and I'd say expected; the latter is not possible visually without expensive tools.

The WallyZenith offers a way to compensate for "zenith error". Further, if you can see through a decent objective lens microscope (USB is hopeless) and can see that the contact edge is, say, erred clockwise you can then know which side of the WallyZenith to begin experimenting with (using ONLY 33rpm records and innermost musical tracks that have plenty of spatial information and high frequency content. Orchestral codas are great for this.)

Can someone say the sonic difference for a given cartridge with a 1 degree stylus mounting error versus a 5 degree stylus mounting error?

Not sure what you are asking?? If you are asking whether someone can visually see differentiation between a 1 and 5 degree error I'd say that is pretty easy. Again, I have an idea for users of the WallyScope to use a visual aid/drawing as a means to "estimate" what their zenith error is after FIRST giving attention to proper scope setup/alignment.

I wonder what would happen if people started sending cartridges back - "this stylus is too far out of alignment."

So far, manufacturers are honoring returns of my client's cartridges, but I have the benefit of exact measurements to share with them. More pressure is being added by the public on the manufacturers as this comes to light. Cartridge manufacturers have been ASKING for improved tolerances from their vendors for some time now but have not met with much success.

So simply you twist the cart. Now your object of attention can be the cantilever ( a bit easier ) or the stylus ( much harder ) but you still perform the same action - twist the cart. No?

Exactly. Once you know how many degrees your zenith angle is in error and in which direction, you use the WallyZenith to re-align the cantilever to the proper radial lines with the two null points and two points of maximum angular error (these last two points are VERY important to use, IMO, because they train the user to see what 1 degree of error looks like AND provide confirmation that you did a good job at the null points.)

In case you are confronted with a Zenith error everything is too late .

If you know what you have as far as the error is concerned AND it is not more than 4.5 to 5.0 degrees in error (the typical limit headshell screw slots offer to revolute the cartridge) than it is correctable. The WallyZenith gives you the target to make that correction.

You need at least a 800 to 1500 magnification and the picture in 3D quality, not only a side image.

Actually, I work at 280x to 370x optical to get the measurement. I zoom in digitally to around 1200x only to lay down my measurement lines. If these seem low to you that is because USB microscope manufacturers play very loose with their specs. Ignore them all. What we should be concentrating on is receptor size. Generally, the bigger, the better.

By turning the needle to the right or the left side (who wants to do this???) you are changing the side forces and by that a relocation of the breakdown porch. You are changing the Antiskating and the pressure onto the grove forces.

This is most definitely not correct but is a commonly held belief. Skating force has absolutely nothing to do with offset angle. It is a function of a geometrical configuration called Effective Moment Arm. See HERE (be sure to look at the download file) and HERE.

The positive side of our discussion is we should build up awareness at the cartridge builders not delivering lousy quality like a Zenith error.

Bingo! At some point, I will tabulate my measurements of the many big-buck cartridges I've seen and share how poorly - on average - they are assembled. I had one $7 cartridge recently that had just come back from factory inspection but yet it had such an incredibly low rake angle (the cantilever's VTA was around 14 degrees) that the ass-end of the cartridge hit the record almost 1mm before the stylus could make contact with it! It needed 7 degrees of correction. Totally, completely unacceptable.

 

[airbearing]

Dear J.R.
i corrected my numbers, sorry. and added some better explanations. Was in a hurry, sorry

best
E.

 

[J.R. Boisclair]

I should add that we should EXPECT some variation from perfection on the alignment of the stylus and coil assembly. +-2 degrees is acceptable on all three parameters, IMO.

When cartridge manufacturers begin measuring each cartridge and offering the "key" to each specific cartridge to achieve alignment perfection on our own end during the setup process and within those tolerances then it would be a fair world and we could all feel comfortable with spending our $$$ on such equipment.

The next step is to get the recording engineers to see the opportunity in tightening up tolerances at the cutterhead stylus as well. Two of the three cutterhead stylus alignment parameters have a very obvious alignment goal (zenith = collinearity to radial line and azimuth = perpendicularity to lacquer) and rake is has a small range of acceptability. Do they realize how much more our fine-line contact styli can get from the groove if they are properly aligned to meet the same alignment as their cutterhead's stylus???? Wouldn't attention to our efforts during their production be a selling point for their product???

Maybe they do it already? If so, they aren't letting us know about it.

By the way (I like to drop bombshells every now and again): I often see "fine-line contact" styli that are not contact lines at all but are actually CONE shaped contact edges despite the fact that the published specs for the cartridge say they have low single-digit micron minor radius profiles. I suppose their "minor radius" is a measurement at the very tip of the cone?? Crazy, huh?

 

[Solypsa]

The next step is to get the recording engineers to see the opportunity in tightening up tolerances at the cutterhead stylus as well. Two of the three cutterhead stylus alignment parameters have a very obvious alignment goal (zenith = collinearity to radial line and azimuth = perpendicularity to lacquer) and rake is has a small range of acceptability. Do they realize how much more our fine-line contact styli can get from the groove if they are properly aligned to meet the same alignment as their cutterhead's stylus???? Wouldn't attention to our efforts during their production be a selling point for their product???

Maybe they do it already? If so, they aren't letting us know about it.

I am not sure what you are asking of the mastering engineer?

 

[tima]

Can someone say the sonic difference for a given cartridge with a 1 degree stylus mounting error versus a 5 degree stylus mounting error?

Not sure what you are asking?? If you are asking whether someone can visually see differentiation between a 1 and 5 degree error I'd say that is pretty easy. Again, I have an idea for users of the WallyScope to use a visual aid/drawing as a means to "estimate" what their zenith error is after FIRST giving attention to proper scope setup/alignment.

I am asking about relative sonic differences between two cartridges where one cartridge has a 1° stylus mounting error and the other has a 5° stylus mounting error, but otherwise the cartridges are identical.

Here, sonic = audible sound

I expect few in any can answer the question. Not a challenge, just wondering if those with an interest in this topic experience the actual prize.

Or use whatever error numbers offer a sufficient divergence to make a difference in what we hear.

Don't get me wrong - I'm all in favor of theoretical or practical perfection in cartridge construction as well as the pursuit of such via adjustment/compensation post-manufacture. But it seems reasonable to have some idea of where can one set expectations for going through the time, effort, obsession and cost. Granted there is satisfaction in just knowing one's cartridge set-up is optimal. Should I expect better sound and what is that like?

I've been doing vinyl for a while and by my recollection what the general high-end vinyl life-style folks are and have been pursuing is a top notch alignment, in the traditional sense: Alignment, Azimuth, SRA, Anti-Skate. The interest, largely led by tool vendors, in assessing stylus mounting error is relatively new, as well as the possibility of adjusting to overcome such error. Is this the 'final frontier' in cartridge setup?

I appreciate the efforts of those bringing knowledge and instruments in pursuit of optimal cartridge set-up. As Wally used to say: Enjoy analog music forever!!!

 

[J.R. Boisclair]

I am asking about relative sonic differences between two cartridges where one cartridge has a 1° stylus mounting error and the other has a 5° stylus mounting error, but otherwise the cartridges are identical.

Here, sonic = audible sound

I expect few in any can answer the question. Not a challenge, just wondering if those with an interest in this topic experience the actual prize.

Or use whatever error numbers offer a sufficient divergence to make a difference in what we hear.

Don't get me wrong - I'm all in favor of theoretical or practical perfection in cartridge construction as well as the pursuit of such via adjustment/compensation post-manufacture. But it seems reasonable to have some idea of where can one set expectations for going through the time, effort, obsession and cost. Granted there is satisfaction in just knowing one's cartridge set-up is optimal. Should I expect better sound and what is that like?

I've been doing vinyl for a while and by my recollection what the general high-end vinyl life-style folks are and have been pursuing is a top notch alignment, in the traditional sense: Alignment, Azimuth, SRA, Anti-Skate. The interest, largely led by tool vendors, in assessing stylus mounting error is relatively new, as well as the possibility of adjusting to overcome such error. Is this the 'final frontier' in cartridge setup?

I appreciate the efforts of those bringing knowledge and instruments in pursuit of optimal cartridge set-up. As Wally used to say: Enjoy analog music forever!!!

Try it for yourself! Rotate your FINE LINE CONTACT stylus cartridge in the headshell to its maximum point of rotation. That will be about 4.5 to 5 degrees. Put on a 33rpm record (not 45) and listen to an innermost track. Let us know what you experience.

We can calculate how much a fine line contact stylus that has a given zenith error travels vertically in a purely horizontally modulated groove. We can see this in action with scale models too. Your question as to whether we can hear it is a very fair one but I’ve no need to tell you what our clients say because you can give it a go yourself!

pay attention to changes in soundstage dimension, imaging specificity,, high frequency decay and overall sense of coherence. Well recorded orchestral music is perhaps the best to use for this test.

 

[tima]

Try it for yourself! Rotate your FINE LINE CONTACT stylus cartridge in the headshell to its maximum point of rotation. That will be about 4.5 to 5 degrees. Put on a 33rpm record (not 45) and listen to an innermost track. Let us know what you experience.

We can calculate how much a fine line contact stylus that has a given zenith error travels vertically in a purely horizontally modulated groove. We can see this in action with scale models too. Your question as to whether we can hear it is a very fair one but I’ve no need to tell you what our clients say because you can give it a go yourself!

pay attention to changes in soundstage dimension, imaging specificity,, high frequency decay and overall sense of coherence. Well recorded orchestral music is perhaps the best to use for this test.

Can I borrow one of your records?

 

[J.R. Boisclair]

Can I borrow one of your records?

If you are thinking the record could be damaged by revolving the cartridge, you certainly needn’t worry. If that were the case, we’d see records ruined regularly by poorly mounted styli - of which I see MANY. My data collection suggests that the average zenith error is about 2.6 degrees. Remember that Namiki has a published tolerance of +-5 degrees on the zenith! I’ve shared that link already.

 

[bazelio]

If you are thinking the record could be damaged by revolving the cartridge, you certainly needn’t worry. If that were the case, we’d see records ruined regularly by poorly mounted styli - of which I see MANY. My data collection suggests that the average zenith error is about 2.6 degrees. Remember that Namiki has a published tolerance of +-5 degrees on the zenith! I’ve shared that link already.

Agreed. How could a few degrees shift of the diamond in a groove cause any notable damage? The stylus is curved. It's not a chisel edge. Sure there are different contact shapes and you will see different wear patterns. The misalignment may cause a microridge to wear like a shibata, etc. But I don't see any damage occuring.

The 2.6 degrees is significant. It means that placing a diamond on a mirror and visually verifying it to be vertical to the best of one's ability, or aligning a cantilever to some grid lines and assuming the diamond itself is dead on are both insufficient. The AM tool has proven this to me empirically as well some time ago.

 

[airbearing]

dear J.R.

i am pretty sure that this is correct:


By turning the needle to the right or the left side (who wants to do this???) you are changing the side forces and by that a relocation of the breakdown porch. You are changing the Antiskating and the pressure onto the grove forces.

your answer, can you explain.

This is most definitely not correct but is a commonly held belief. Skating force has absolutely nothing to do with offset angle. It is a function of a geometrical configuration called Effective Moment Arm. See HERE (be sure to look at the download file) and HERE.


best
E.

www.AudioCirc.com

 

[J.R. Boisclair]

By turning the needle to the right or the left side (who wants to do this???) you are changing the side forces and by that a relocation of the breakdown porch. You are changing the Antiskating and the pressure onto the grove forces.

Hi @airbearing. When changing the size of the contact surface of the stylus by means of altering its azimuth angle, all you are doing is changing the surface area (MAYBE) but applying the same force to that new area. In other words, a one inch cube that has a mass of 1 gram applies the SAME force against its resting surface as a half-inch cube that also weighs 1 gram. The change in size of the object does not change the APPLIED force. It only changes the force over a fixed surface area. Since applied force did not change, skating force will not change.

Further, coefficient of friction is independent of surface area except when the surface area gets too small and begins digging into the material. One could argue that vinyl deflection is greater with smaller surface area but I am not aware of any studies that have shown that this effect is great enough under NORMAL PLAYBACK CONDITIONS to affect skating force.

 

[mtemur]

The 2.6 degrees is significant. It means that placing a diamond on a mirror and visually verifying it to be vertical to the best of one's ability, or aligning a cantilever to some grid lines and assuming the diamond itself is dead on are both insufficient. The AM tool has proven this to me empirically as well some time ago.

I agree with you and I want to point out zenith alignment issue that was addressed by some members here a couple of years ago which brought some clarification on the subject.

I’m using Analogmagik program to correctly align zenith too. For example I have a ZYX cartridge with a 1.8 degrees zenith error to CCW and AM is leading me to twist it to other direction. I’m using usb microscope for VTA and azimuth alignments and checking zenith error. I never come across or made a better alignment with usb microscope than with AM program.

Usb microscope is a great tool but it’s unavoidable to make 2-3 degrees error measuring vta. Trying to setup a dynamic system like lp playback with static measurements is not the best approach additionally the same rule applies to zenith and all other alignments.

I’m very tired of hearing “multivariate test”. It’s not a crazier approach to use software and test tracks to setup your cartridge than trying to setup/measure a dynamic system statically (dynamic vta measuring with usb is a long shot)

I own both and very handy on both procedures and my conclusion is AM is better period.
Please do not make assumptions if you have not tried AM. It requires a lot of practice to get meaningful results. It took me quite a while to understand what the numbers are telling. I‘m sure it will take less for you.

 

[mtemur]

By the way I would like to declare that I’m not selling AM software or any other stuff. I don’t know Richard Mak or any connections with any brand. I’m sharing my personal experiences. Additionally there is nothing wrong to sell HiFi equipment or own a brand. On the contrary it’s great. I’m just a user of hifi gear.

 

[J.R. Boisclair]

I agree with you and I want to point out zenith alignment issue that was addressed by some members here a couple of years ago which brought some clarification on the subject.

I’m using Analogmagik program to correctly align zenith too. For example I have a ZYX cartridge with a 1.8 degrees zenith error to CCW and AM is leading me to twist it to other direction. I’m using usb microscope for VTA and azimuth alignments and checking zenith error. I never come across or made a better alignment with usb microscope than with AM program.

Usb microscope is a great tool but it’s unavoidable to make 2-3 degrees error measuring vta. Trying to setup a dynamic system like lp playback with static measurements is not the best approach additionally the same rule applies to zenith and all other alignments.

I’m very tired of hearing “multivariate test”. It’s not a crazier approach to use software and test tracks to setup your cartridge than trying to setup/measure a dynamic system statically (dynamic vta measuring with usb is a long shot)

I own both and very handy on both procedures and my conclusion is AM is better period.
Please do not make assumptions if you have not tried AM. It requires a lot of practice to get meaningful results. It took me quite a while to understand what the numbers are telling. I‘m sure it will take less for you.

I'm glad you've found something that has worked for you! The goal of AM and WallyTools is the same but the approaches are clearly different.

I totally agree with you that rake needs to be measured dynamically. I have seen up to 2.25 degrees of difference on some cartridges between static and dynamic conditions. We use a dynamic approach to rake measurement which I have shared with USB microscope owners in the webinar we did last spring which is now posted on our website. I generally do NOT like USB microscopes as the resolution is too poor to get accurate results - which is why the WallyScope is soon to be released which has far greater resolution and control. Further, the process for measuring dynamic rake angle is much faster than shared on the webinar.

I understand you do not share my skeptical approach to multivariate tests. That's fine! In the case of azimuth, a multivariate test is unavoidable, but not so on rake and zenith. I am sure AM will allow you to improve your setup if you take the time to learn how to use it (WallyTools has a learning curve too!). I have written quite a lot on my discomfort with multivariate testing so no need to repeat the points here.

AM is a good thing! Tools like AM and WallyTools can only help audiophiles get more from the grooves. Analysis tools such as ours help the cartridge owners to know what they have. When more of them see how badly MANY cartridges are made (with respect to the stylus/cantilever mount) then more audiophiles can collectively force the cartridge manufacturers and their vendors to improve their construction quality. Our priorities are in the wrong place if we are chasing 0.32 degrees of tracing improvement by moving from 9" to 12" tonearms when the stylus/cantilever assemblies are made with a +-5 degree zenith error.

 

[bazelio]

I agree with you and I want to point out zenith alignment issue that was addressed by some members here a couple of years ago which brought some clarification on the subject.

I’m using Analogmagik program to correctly align zenith too. For example I have a ZYX cartridge with a 1.8 degrees zenith error to CCW and AM is leading me to twist it to other direction. I’m using usb microscope for VTA and azimuth alignments and checking zenith error. I never come across or made a better alignment with usb microscope than with AM program.

Usb microscope is a great tool but it’s unavoidable to make 2-3 degrees error measuring vta. Trying to setup a dynamic system like lp playback with static measurements is not the best approach additionally the same rule applies to zenith and all other alignments.

I’m very tired of hearing “multivariate test”. It’s not a crazier approach to use software and test tracks to setup your cartridge than trying to setup/measure a dynamic system statically (dynamic vta measuring with usb is a long shot)

I own both and very handy on both procedures and my conclusion is AM is better period.
Please do not make assumptions if you have not tried AM. It requires a lot of practice to get meaningful results. It took me quite a while to understand what the numbers are telling. I‘m sure it will take less for you.

Agreed across the board. And, of course there is a very non-zero margin of error in the setup of a USB microscope if it is to be used for making reliable and trustworthy measurements.

I'm just a little surprised that people find AM to have much of a learning curve. I don't. I think the learning curve comes in the form of developing the skill to make minute adjustments to the cartridge itself in order to affect positive changes in subsequent AM measurement sweeps. AM just gives you the measurements. What you do next has only to do with your own ability to adjust the device under test. It's that simple to me.

And, the ability to make measured changes to zenith using AM has been transformative for my cartridge setups. If a protractor, or Wally or anything else does not correlate to AM results, then I'm going to say the other tools or their users are flawed. Multivariate, multishmariate. AM, for me, has correlated to the most important barometer of all - my listening tests. (And I'm also neither a dealer nor friend of its designer.)

 

[tima]

I agree with you and I want to point out zenith alignment issue that was addressed by some members here a couple of years ago which brought some clarification on the subject.

???? Perhaps an actual pointer will help..