DaVinci tonearm and azymuth

For clarity, I think we all agree that shimming is sub-optimal. The method Thom and I described and the link I posted are a band-aid for a problem that shouldn't exist, at least not on pricey tonearms. Shimming works for azimuth but it also has sonic side effects in at least two areas:

MOUNTING RIGIDITY
The more rigid the coupling between cartridge and headshell, the more accurately cantilever movements are translated into electrical signals. Looseness in the cartridge mount slurs transient responses, reduces amplitudes, adds overhang to every note and raises the sound floor - slop, slop, slop.

The solution is self-evident: if you must shim for azimuth, use a rigid, non-compliant material.

ENERGY TRANSMISSION
As Larryi already described.

The precise sonic effects of altering energy transmission between cartridge and headshell will vary with individual components. Nevertheless, inserting two new material interfaces increases the frequencies that will be reflected back into the cartridge. That necessarily raises the sound floor.

Shimming's a reasonable band-aid, that's all.

And what Syntax posted! ;-)

The Danger Zone... so true... arrggghhh!

Interesting about shimming because Yip of the Mint LP Tractor has the following in his "best tips for customers (down the page a bit):

http://mintlp.com/best/bestips.htm

:) listening,

Ed

Istanbulu,

Your link to the Mint site raises another consideration -- whether azimuth should be set to optimize electrical performance or to physically align the stylus perpendicular to the record surface. Imperfections built into the alignment of the stylus with the generating element of the cartridge may mean that both cannot be optimized at one setting.

I personally align my cartridge optically, as per the Mint site because I am more concerned with minimizing wear/damage to the stylus and to my records than getting the last iota of performance out of a cartridge. I use a pair of high quality magnifying glasses for that purpose.

Dear Larry: IMHO the best way to " minimizing wear/damage to the stylus and to my records " is not hear/touch it ( kidding. ). The life is to short like not full enjoy your records because that trade off, at least for me.

regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Listen to Doug and Raul, and while you're at it, learn to play a musical instrument or to sing. This will help you to trust the most important component in your hi-fi system - the "ear-brain"

I spend more time in my conversations with customers on this topic of musical appreciation and how you approach setting up your system.

Most mainstream dealers/manufacturers would pose the following question to you: "who are you going to trust - the reviewers (and the specs) or your lying ears?".

I vote for training your "lying ears".

Take some basic music lessons. For the price of an interconnect, you can buy a keyboard or an imported guitar. A harmonica is even cheaper.

This will open up entire new worlds of musical enjoyment as you learn to understand how musical patterns unfold.

This azimuth thread is a prime example of my experiences of demonstrating azimuth setting to customers.

I'll demonstrate the process using a mono Ella Fitzgerald record. One particular cut I use is her version of "I Love Paris".

When everything is dialed in right, the distortion drops away, the bandwidth increases, AND her body takes on a robust, 3-D image - instead of sounding like an isolated cardboard cutout in space.

There's a sudden physicality in the performance when everything snaps into focus.

Some folks I demonstrate this to get it immediately.

Others (poor souls), notice an increase in surface noise, and think that the setting is off.

Guess what? You're picking up the noise from both groove walls, and yes ... a correct azimuth setting is ultimately about getting the stylus aligned orthogonally with the record.

The technical treatment of azimuth by Victor Khomenko is absolutely correct, and I even link to one of his Vinyl Asylum threads in the Tri-Planar section of my forum, but I'm having doubts about leaving that link in place.

Drawing attention to the theory runs the risk of taking people's focus away from what they're trying to accomplish. It serves those of us who are technically inclined, but most people begin to trust themselves and their ears less.

In your hi-fi travels, if you listen with musical values, you'll be a happy boy.

If you listen like an audiophile, you're doomed to misery.

You get to choose.

Cheers,
Thom @ Galibier