Cartridge alignment channel balance measurements?

No one I know uses channel balance to adjust cartridge alignment.

"Channel balance" means the relative strength of one channel vs. the other. If that's what you meant, it's unclear to me that measuring channel balance would be useful for adjusting any cartridge setup parameter.

"Cartridge alignment" usually means the combination of a cartridge's position along the headshell slots ("Overhang") and its angle in the headshell slots when viewed from above ("Zenith Angle"). Neither of these parameters affects channel balance in any meaningful or useable way.

Gross changes in Antiskating can sometimes affect channel balance, but measuring channel balance would be an ineffective method for adjusting that IME.

Azimuth angle (the angle the stylus makes relative to vertical when viewed from the front) effects inter-channel crosstalk. Many people, including me, have measured that to adjust azimuth and it's an effective method. Azimuth may also effect channel balance, but using that measurement to adjust azimuth would be far less precise than measuring crosstalk.

The other major cartridge setup parameters, VTF and VTA/SRA have no effect on channel balance that I'm aware of.

Doug

James1969,

When I adjusted azimuth with this method I used the Wally Analog Shop, same as Jtimothya. It works exactly as he described and you can DIY as he also described, subject to Dan_Ed's provision that you use a narrow bandpass filter centered on the frequency of the test tone. Without that, surface noise makes readings highly variable and difficult to interpret.

I actually haven't bothered with the Analag Shop for at least a couple of years. As the resolution of our system grew we learned to adjust azimuth by listening, just as accurately, faster and while playing music rather than test tones. Besides, our current cartridge, when properly azimuth-ed, produces crosstalk below the resolution of my multimeter. Using Wally's chart it's somewhere below 0.3db, which makes the whole rigamarole ineffective without investing in more sensitive equipment. It's easier to just play music and fiddle!

The thing to listen for is the tightest possible sonic images (from L to R). The narrower and better focused an instrument or vocalist sounds, the closer you are to minimal crosstalk. Intruments and vocalists with pure tones in the higher registers are best. Our hearing system is most sensitive to directional/spatial clues at higher frequencies.

BTW, I wouldn't say the measuring method isn't worth trying. You'll learn something, including how remarkably tiny adjustments to azimuth can have a measurable and audible influence. From your baseline starting position (which probably should be "stylus appears vertical while playing in the groove", not "headshell appears horizontal") changes of less than 1 degree will make a difference. Go very gently with this adjustment.

Best,
Doug