To LP Listeners: Fozgometer Experiences...

@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 

I have used the Fozgometer and find it easy to use but find it only goes so far. You can read the posts above to get an idea why. In my setup work I use software tools which allow me to accurately optimize azimuth and several other parameters for best focus, balance, response, and low noise. My approach hasn't changed over the years, with just a few things added as technology has advanced.

Brian Walsh / TTsetup

This discussion further reinforces what a bargain microscopy analysis + Wally tools + having JR on the phone really is in the long run. 
Piece of mind, just enjoying the music.

I've used RTA analysis of a 1KHz sine wave on an LP. Some LPs have single channel tracks.

I examine the ratio of the off channel 1KHz signal to the in channel 1KHz signal. I perform this on both channels. Once I meet specs, I usually stop. Sometimes this leaves an imbalance in the off channel minima. If the values are both less than the spec for the cartridge, I consider azimuth optimized.

One can argue that I am not aligning the stylus. This may be be true. I won't argue. However, the method I use always produces extremely low distortion (<0.25%) with excellent channel balance. 

Visual alignment is very subjective, even with a mirror or some other mechanical tool. The resolution of the eyes of most people is not good enough to accurately set the stylus azimuth. This statement comes from years of doing visual alignment. 

Of course, all the other stylus/tonearm/turntable adjustments and alignments must also be optimized in order to obtain the results I achieve.

Kevemeyer, You note that "One can argue that I am not aligning the stylus."  I obviously agree. However, in fairness, Korf notes that cartridges from the best known mass producers are often perfectly enough constructed that setting azimuth by minimizing crosstalk is synonymous with setting the stylus symmetrically in the groove.  They specifically mention Audio Technica cartridges as an example. But my point would be that one cannot know in advance what is going on inside the cartridge body, so the best evidence is to check the stylus position AFTER setting for crosstalk.  If you can visually detect that the stylus is at an angle to the groove, I would and do re-adjust to get that right. Korf also say that cartridges from boutique producers of the high end are more often flawed in construction.  I personally had that experience with my Koetsu Urushi, which led to premature demise of the stylus after I set it up using not the Fozgometer but the Signet Cartridge Analyzer, following precisely the routine you describe using a Shure test LP. I had it re-tipped by Expert Stylus and am now listening to it with azimuth set following the Korf method.  Could be the re-tip was better than original, but in every way the Urushi sounds better than it ever did when it was set up using crosstalk as the criterion for azimuth adjustment.