What are the 7 Alignment Targets for Proper Cartridge Set Up? | Fremer at FLIAX 2023

[@tzed2509]

What a fantastically well-done and easy to understand deep dive into cartridges, thank you SO much.

[@miguelbarrio]

Every single time I listen (or read) something from J.R. Bosclair I learn something new and important.

[@DanielHog13]

FOR EXAMPLE !!?

[@miguelbarrio]

@@DanielHog13 For example, the effect of VTA (not SRA) making a difference in the vertical tracking of the groove: moving up you get a faster rise than moving down. This is exactly the same effect as incorrect zenith affecting the lateral tracking of the groove. The net result of this issue is higher intermodulation distortion (IMD) and this is why AnalogMagik is such a powerful tool in optimizing zenith. VTA is harder to "optimize" because VTA and SRA are tied together, and getting SRA as optimal as possible is more important than VTA - you cannot optimize both separately. A cartridge with the correct SRA and steep VTA might be considered badly designed or manufactured.

[@NickP333]

@@miguelbarrioVery well described, explained, and said, Miguel. Thank you.

[@WAM-Engineering]

@@miguelbarrio I would argue that VTA is more important than SRA but I cannot prove it yet since no one has done any scientific research on SRA to date. (Stay tuned for progress on this by our research team) In any case, you could not possibly measure the distortion for changes to VTA and SRA using the same test track. Speaking of test tracks, if you read my latest blog article on my visit to Agnew Analog, you will see why there isn't a single test record that has been yet cut which offers us the certainty that it can be used as a geometric alignment tool with any reasonable degree of accuracy. Lastly, with distortion measurements, you are often not measuring what you think you are measuring. For example, when raising or lowering the tonearm to affect SRA/VTA, the distortion characteristics thrown off are heavily dominated by multiple vector forces changing in the arm/cartridge/record/gravity relationship. This is why shimming at the headshell offers the best and only way to hear optimal SRA/VTA. Even Leif Johannsen of Ortofon agrees with this as evidenced by the video of panel I was on at the Munich Show 2024. Another example: distortion characteristics of changing anti-skating are also dominated by second and third order phenomena and have nothing directly to do with ensuring the damper is symmetrically relaxed - which is the primary reason why we use anti-skating force at all, from which many other benefits derive, not the least of which is reduced likelihood of sibilance and mistracking. So, it is possible to have low distortion characteristics without the damper being symmetrically relaxed, thus: second order phenomena being measured, etc.

[@analoguecity3454]

Because of this video, I have a better listening experience! I always had my "anti-skate" set the same as the VTF! I set it back quite a bit more, and the Soundstage opened up before my 👂 ears! And a bit less "inner groove distortion"! Learn a lot!

[@hennievangalen3789]

Great presentation ! Never stop learning...

[@davidatrakchi2707]

As a turntable enthusiast with 50 years experience I must say that I found this presentation super beneficiary for me, very interesting and very well presented

[@mazeanalog-oy2zp]

Excellent presentation J.R.!!!

[@BedPanAlley]

I have purchased all of the Wally Tools (except the microscope) and sent in my carts to have J.R. analyze them. I’ve never had carts track and sound so good. I’m obviously serious about cartridge set up, and their tools were worth every penny. I am impressed.

[@bernardodon7501]

Awesome details beyond the standard procedure of mounting cartridges. Like an unlifted treasure which sleeps in the tonearm.

[@2fastdriving]

JR is a national treasure

[@dell177]

Thanks for a very informative video, there's a lot of great info here.

[@BedPanAlley]

In regards to hearing differences in SRA by adjusting the arm height: not only is raising/lowering the arm height changing the vertical tracking force, but it is also changing the overhang. Raise the arm, and you’re lowering the VTF and reducing the overhang and vice versa. Changing the overhang will also change the zenith angle. Possibly the azimuth too, but I’m not sure. That’s what people are likely hearing when they change their arm height to optimize SRA.

[@WAM-Engineering]

Yes, changing arm height changes a multiplicity of parameters, including the vector forces about the tonearm pivot points; something I think is poorly understood and appreciated in the industry. It is best to effect SRA and VTA changes (yes, they are separate things as mentioned in this video) at the cartridge, not the tonearm. This requires a very rigid corrective shim of the type we make by two different methods. Making such corrections at the cartridge and not the tonearm base avoids the results commonly bandied about (i.e., arm down gives more bass, arm up gives more high frequency clarity). The sonic results do NOT exhibit these commonly discussed characteristics when you adjust SRA and VTA at the cartridge mount location.

[@davidnguyen5028]

How important is the compliance between the tonearm and the cartridge?

[@WAM-Engineering]

It is important but there are many problems with the approach the industry has given it for the last few decades. There are multiple ways to test compliance so you need to know which method was used for your cartridge in order to apply an adjustment formula so it can then be used on one of the standard lookup tables you've seen. The problem is that few cartridge manufacturers give details on the method used for the test and few people know the results need to be adjusted depending upon the test used. Also, the 8Hz lower limit is too high, IMO, and needs to be lowered but I have some provisos on this claim. I will do a video about this in the future. These are just two issues on the system compliance issue. There are more but that will have to wait for after we've done more studies.

[@davidnguyen5028]

@@WAM-Engineering we are venturing into snake-oil territory, making a very minor factor into a perceived important issue.

[@WAM-Engineering]

@@davidnguyen5028 perhaps you can provide some rationale or even data to make such an aggressive claim. The WAM Engineering process deals only in measurable effects. We have used multiple analytical tools and processes to buttress the validity of what we find in the lab. Yes, not everything we can hear is measurable and not everything that is measurable can be heard but given the HIGH amount of consistency we have seen with client results, we are very comfortable what we are measuring is most certainly audible. In our opinion, if a performance improvement is audible, it IS important.

[@analoguecity3454]

Because of this video, I have better pl