Parks Audio #5 - Azimuth Alignment with the Puffin
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- čas přidán 30. 07. 2024
- Update your Puffin with the new V1.30 firmware:
www.parksaudiollc.com/firmware...
No calibration is necessary. This video shows how to use the Puffin's Azimuth test functionality with several popular test LPs:
1) Ortofon Test LP
www.discogs.com/Ortofon-Test-...
2) The Ultimate Analog Test LP
www.discogs.com/Analogue-Prod...
3) Tacet's Vinyl:Check
www.discogs.com/Unknown-Artis...
4) CBS Stereophonic Frequency Test Record STR-100
www.discogs.com/CBS-Laborator...
Cart in this demonstration is the Audio-Technica AT-VM95ML:
www.amazon.com/dp/B07JLYHFR9
I use the adjustable Jelco HS-25 Headshell:
www.jelco-ichikawa.co.jp/cn4/...
Bubble levels:
www.amazon.com/dp/B07NRG8HX6
These are 0.5 gram each. I sort out the good ones on a levelled surface (with a trusted level). Be sure to redo your VTA to compensate for the extra weight.
Probably do the fine azimuth adjustment as the last part of cartridge setup, with anti-skating and VTA first. Sometimes you need to first do a quick cart setup and the you go back and fine tune it.
Here's a great detailed overview of why we adjust azimuth:
Azimuth Alignment for phono cartridges ~ Part 1 ~ Peter Ledermann of Soundsmith
• Azimuth Alignment for ...
Azimuth Cartridge Alignment ~ Part 2 ~ Peter Ledermann of Soundsmith
• Azimuth Cartridge Alig... - Zábava
I've been asleep, just realised I need to load these recent updates! All hail the Puffin!
Thanks for a very informative video. Much appreciated!
The Azimuth separation values depends on the choice of Lo Cut frequency on the Puffin. With Lo Cut at 5Hz the separation values are worse than at 20Hz , due to low frequency rumble and groove noise. Setting the Lo Cut to 20Hz instead of 5 Hz improves separation with 8 db in my case.
Excellent advice. One can even make a narrow bandpass with a lo cut at 400Hz and hi cut at 5kHz for even greater separation numbers for this 1kHz test.
Parks Audio don't sell this anymore. They replaced this product with Waxwing.
This is brilliant in conjunction with the Tacet test record I bought, btw on my turntable and cart (ATVM540ml) it measured up to 33 on the right using the Tacet but I settled for around 29db on L&R and it sounds fantastic. Also the tonearm resonance test is great goes up in increments of 1db from 5 to 15hz.
Great numbers! The Tacet record also has a useful frequency sweep - check it out. 👍
@@parksaudiollc4697 I seen that but can't figure out what I'm supposed to look at on the Puffin.
@@andymill32 Sounds like I should do a CZcams video on this soon, then. Use Test:Sweep. You press Select/Arrow when the reference 1kHz signal comes on and then it measures the frequency and level compared to the reference. Then you right down the levels by hand and then can plot. I'll make up a spreadsheet chart.
@@parksaudiollc4697 Thanks Shannon, I ran the test but wasn't sure what it really meant, ie what do you do with the results, are some good or bad etc
@@andymill32 Good info. Will do a video for sure.
Very cool feature. To be clear though, minimal crosstalk or balanced separation does not necessarily mean the stylus Azimuth is optimal. Since the stylus can be at a different angle than the generator.
Exactly - that's why we want minimal crosstalk measurements to be balanced (between the two channels).
@@parksaudiollc4697 Yes, but that could mean that the diamond is sitting off angle in the groove, the crosstalk and Azmith stylus angle is not correlated necessarily, but as you say in the video, you have to decide whats you prioritize, sound or tracking.
Is it possible to make a video showing how it actually improves the sound quality and the playback of the record? Does it remove any cracks or pops from the record?
So is this like having a Fozgometer built in? Very cool.
Exactly! (Tips hat to Jim Fosgate.)
PARKS AUDIO, the closer the vinyl grooves makes the less/lower Azimuth Separation? Azimuth means the separation and isolation between the right channel to the left channel. The Azimuth is measuring the isolation between the L and R channels?
We need the L/R isolation of the media itself to be greater than the cartridge's own L/R isolation. If the vinyl only has 20dB of channel separation, then this will dominate the measurement.
@@parksaudiollc4697 But how do you find out what the cartridges own L/R isolation measurement? The spacing of the vinyl
grooves will determine also the L/R isolation?
@@waynegram8907 We need to use test records with excellent separation: Ortofon Test Record or the Ultimate Analog Test LP. These have high separation for Azimuth purposes. Then follow the steps documented in the video.
@@parksaudiollc4697 yes that is how you align the cartridge but what I'm saying is you can align the cartridge with a Ortofon test record that has 30dB of azimuth separation but when you play rock bands vinyl records that the grooves can be very close together because they wanted to squeeze as many songs onto one side of the record side A which the azimuth separation will be 10dB. What I'm saying is AFTER you have done azimuth alignment on a cartridge, try measuring various rock bands vinyl records to measure the vinyl groove azimuth alignment. How do you measure the vinyl groove azimuth alignment to know how much dB separation the grooves have?
@@waynegram8907 Email me via the website for more info, Wayne. There's channel separation at the mixing console, at the vinyl media (width of grooves as you mention), at the cart, at the preamp, etc. Let me know what you are trying to do, e.g. comparing different pressings, etc.
So your goal was to get the highest db output but not necessarily "perfectly'ish" balanced on both channels? Thanks for the video, very informative!
Exactly! It's a bit of feel and intuition. There are multiple variables involved and you don't want to overcompensate by seeking a perfect balance. Start with a mini bubble level (which will get you 90% of the way there) and try to not tweak much beyond that.
we have this machine and testing azimuth and antiskate does not change
Azimuth needs a test record with high separation, like those mentioned. What test record are you using and what are your separation results? Anti-skate was a prototype feature and isn't too useful and I've removed it from the Waxwing.
I think you've gone too far in the wrong direction