To LP Listeners: Fozgometer Experiences...

You can’t use the Foz to set the stylus tip unless you know that the internal structure of the cartridge is symmetrical with respect to the stylus tip. And if it is correct then the Foz should show you equal crosstalk in both channels when azimuth equals 90 degrees.  Otherwise the Foz will lead you to tilt the stylus tip in order to compensate for an asymmetry of the coils and magnets. Tilting the stylus tip with respect to the groove will cause distortion, aberrant stylus wear, and LP damage. That’s the point of the Korf articles. And for the Nth time, channel balance is not a goal at all when setting azimuth.

Apologies for being snotty in that last sentence. My bad.

You can look and adjust for everything and then decide on your own what settings sound best to you, on your system. Channel balance and azimuth are different settings. In my case, I don't have to make any adjustment for channel balance once I follow setting azimuth so I don't question my carts internal structure. As well when I check for crosstalk I don't need to make any further adjustments, as I get more than optimal measurements.

I recognize all carts are different and if you believe what JR Boisclair says that most carts he examines are off, then to me looking at all settings to get what you like sound wise seems to make sense. 

I think it is a fun exercise to use different tools to see what the end results sound like on your system.

josepad, I don't think you are following my argument, which is fine.  But the reason I cited the Korf articles on azimuth is because the articles contain drawings to illustrate their points, which together are more powerful than my words. The bottom line for me and Korf is yes, "all cartridges are different" if we are talking about how they are constructed.  Korf have described 3 possible outcomes of cartridge construction. If the cartridge is not perfectly constructed (2 of 3 possibilities), there are compelling (at least for me) reasons to set the stylus tip symmetrically in the groove regardless of how that affects crosstalk, which is what the Fozgometer measures.  So, since we are going to center the stylus tip regardless of crosstalk, the Foz is not needed.

@lewm 

I follow what you are saying 100% and I've read those 3 articles several yrs ago too. It's nothing groundbreaking, its all easy to understand the Korf scenarios. Foz does not measure crosstalk really, it measures channel balance by:

1. Giving you a reading for each channel using tracks 2 and 3 from the AP Test LP. You can play each and twist the arm to achieve as close to same reading as possible. This essentially puts the stylus at 90deg to groove or in the center however u want to describe it.

2. You can then play track 1 of the AP Test LP and check the channel balance, theoretically it should read ZERO.

If that is done, basically you are done with azimuth. If you find that looking at the front of the cart it is twisted way off center then you have an issue with the internal guts of the cartridge...live with it or send it back to mfg.

Measuring crosstalk is a different process, I noted how you can use the Foz to see what the unmodulated channel is reading, which should be ZERO but it usually never is, there is always signal crossing over. I use the process with a DVM to measure crosstalk but have never needed to make an adjustment, as I noted. I realize this is not the same for all carts but again, the user can decide if they want to adjust for it.

What I will never do is set azimuth by sight using a microscope, azimuth is an electrical setting. If the cart is built right, yes it should be perfectly 90 deg and the cart body should not be overly-tilted, again if it is live with it or send back.

What Korg states about arms (Rega) that don't have azimuth adjustment I agree with 100%, that kind of arm will never be on my table.

We are good....Cheers