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Hi-Fi cartridges - setup procedures
I N T R O D U C T I O N
G E N E R A L C O M M E N T S
As we supply most makes of hi-fi cartridge we get asked questions from time to time about various issues regarding set up and care. To help newcomers to
this area we have published the following notes. These guidelines are of a general nature - we publish them only to be of help and although widely accepted
they are not formally authoritative - we cannot accept liability if you choose to use them and neither do we encourage the time consuming occupation of
answering queries surrounding the procedures outlined - these are best referred to the manufacturer of your specific hi-fi cartridge.
For those new or inexperienced to fitting hi-fi cartridges we would state that this is NOT difficult and much of the detail and perfectionism outlined below
is for those who like to experiment. We ourselves do not normally check azimuth, or vary tracking forces from the manufacturers recommendations - neither
would we worry if the arm was up to 3mm away from the recommended distance from the spindle - although all these details are audible they are generally
of a fairly low order, although tracking force and VTA are worth trying should you feel anything is lacking. If things seem complicated we would encourage
you not to be put off as it all becomes clear once you get started.
Before fine-tuning the set up as described below you should allow the cartridge to “run in” properly - at least 40 hours for some cartridges.
I M P O R T A N C E O F C A R T R I D G E S E T U P
Hi-Fi cartridges travel like a bobsleigh through the grooves of a record only a few thousandths of an inch wide. You hear groove displacements of the order
of a few millionths. (That’s like splitting a hair into one thousand pieces.) Every bit of motion or vibration allowed at this level can be heard enormously
amplified through your speakers. For this reason it is good to set up the turntable and arm correctly so that the audio cartridge can do it’s job properly. For
instance a turntable out of level can produce side forces on the pickup cartridge tip that will wear it more on one side than the other as well as have a slightly
degrading effect on the wear of your records.
L E V E L N E S S
When a turntable goes out of level, the platter bearing performance and the arm’s dynamics, specifically anti-skate, are negatively affected. So be sure your
turntable platter and tonearm mounting board are level - use a spirit level. If the platter is out of level, first adjust the surface that the deck stands on. The
suspension (in the case of a suspended sub-chassis design) may also need levelling if it has subsided over time.
H I - F I C A R T R I D G E S A L I G N M E N T
Alignment for hi-fi cartridges needs to be optimised in three different planes. However, it cannot be perfect in all three planes, so it must be optimised for an
overall best balance or compromise. The final authority should always be your ears and preferably over an extended period of listening time. Bear in mind
that each record is cut slightly differently. Here again, optimise for an overall balance of good sound over a wide range of records. The three alignment planes
are as follows. (Please note that it is the stylus, not the cartridge that is being aligned.)
Lateral tracking angle
Viewed from above, the hi-fi cartridges arcing movement across the record must maintain the stylus in the same relation to the groove as that of the
cutting stylus’s straight-line tracking; this is Lateral Tracking Angle, or Tangency. Apart from linear tracking arms this is always a matter of the best
compromise.
Azimuth
Viewed from head on, the stylus must be perpendicular in the groove so as not to favour one groove wall, and therefore one channel, over the other
wall/channel; this is Azimuth.
Vertical tracking angle (VTA)
Viewed from the side, the stylus must sit correctly in the groove, at the same angle as the original cutter; this is Vertical Tracking/Stylus Rake Angle.
VTA, however, varies from record to record. Therefore, this alignment must be set by ear, even more than is the case with the other adjustments).
