• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Cartridge not parallel to Record?

kq6up

kq6up

Member
I have a BIC 981 and noticed that the cartridge is not exactly parallel with the record surface. It was hard to get a good image. I cannot
detect any stereo image issues whatsoever. Sound quality overall is good, but just wondering if maybe it could be subtly better if I
get this thing flat. There does not seem to be an adjustment with the headshell, but maybe I can loosen the two little screws that hold the
plug for the headshell, twist and retightened. The only other thing I can think of would be tiny shims on the cartridge. There is an
adjustment that rocks the headshell back and forth relative to the groove path, but this is side to side relative to the edge of the
record and the axis. What say you good folks?

-KQ6UP

Photo on 9-12-24 at 7.54 AM #3.jpeg
 
Register to hide this ad
Your picture (and maybe your post) makes it look like your concern is azimuth - the side to side parallism of the cartridge to the record. But the answers seem to address the front and back parallism of the headshell and cartridge.
Which is it, or is it both?
 
jrtrent said:
I had a BIC 960, not a 981, and I can only seem to find a manual written for the 980 and 960; these did have an adjustment screw for cartridge angle adjustment, but I don't know about the 981. Below is a link to a copy of that manual, and the cartridge angle adjustment process is explained on pages 7 and 8. The process involves the use of a plastic stylus gauge that shipped with the turntable. Hopefully your 981 will work similarly, or maybe you have or can find a 981 manual.

There are specific instructions about where to place the stylus gauge and that you need to make this adjustment with the auto/manual selector at the front of the headshell set to manual (M). The knurled locking nut at the right rear of the headshell needs to be loosened, then a small screwdriver is used to turn the adjusting screw that is just below the locking nut. Once the angle of the headshell is how you want it, tighten the locking nut.

archive.org

Bic Turntable Manual 1975 : BIC : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

A hardware manual for the BIC Model 980 and 960 Multiple Play Manual Turntables (record/LP player), from 1975.
archive.org
Click to expand...
That is how to adjust the rake not the azimuth. I may need to shim the cartridge with little washers, but I ordered a test record to test L/R balance. If it is balanced, there may not be a good reason to mess with it. It sounds pretty good to me.
 
Nat said:
Your picture (and maybe your post) makes it look like your concern is azimuth - the side to side parallism of the cartridge to the record. But the answers seem to address the front and back parallism of the headshell and cartridge.
Which is it, or is it both?
Click to expand...
It has an adjustment for rake (front to back). So no issue there, but I don't think there is one for azimuth (center to edge).
 
kq6up said:
That is how to adjust the rake not the azimuth. I may need to shim the cartridge with little washers, but I ordered a test record to test L/R balance. If it is balanced, there may not be a good reason to mess with it. It sounds pretty good to me.
Click to expand...
Yes, sorry about that. Your post here had not appeared yet when I edited my first, or I would just have left it alone. Little, thin washers are what I have used to correct azimuth, though I don't believe I ever had to do that with my BIC (I replaced it in my system over 40 years ago, and my memory is none too good anymore, anyway).
 
sometimes the record is slightly convex or concave ( depending on which side you're playing but not warped. That can add another hurdle to getting the angle of the cartridge body parallel to the record surface.
 
kq6up said:
That is how to adjust the rake not the azimuth. I may need to shim the cartridge with little washers, but I ordered a test record to test L/R balance. If it is balanced, there may not be a good reason to mess with it. It sounds pretty good to me.
Click to expand...
Note: it is crosstalk and not channel balance that correlated to azimuth. Ortofon test record is good for this.
 
Make sure you are looking at the cartridge while it is in the middle of the record and not the beginning since the slanted groove guard may make it appear that the cartridge in not parallel tp the record surface. If the cartridge is, indeed, not parallel to the record surface, side-to-side (azimuth) do try to loosen the two screws holding the coupler to the arm tube and nudge the coupler in the direction it needs to go. There isn't a lot of play here but there may be enough. If that doesn't work, the two allen head screws holding the arm tube to the gimbal can be loosened and the tube rotated to bring the headshell parallel to the record surface.

Also, be sure the cartridge isn't mounted crooked in the headshell.

Doug
 
Doug G. said:
Make sure you are looking at the cartridge while it is in the middle of the record and not the beginning since the slanted groove guard may make it appear that the cartridge in not parallel tp the record surface. If the cartridge is, indeed, not parallel to the record surface, side-to-side (azimuth) do try to loosen the two screws holding the coupler to the arm tube and nudge the coupler in the direction it needs to go. There isn't a lot of play here but there may be enough. If that doesn't work, the two allen head screws holding the arm tube to the gimbal can be loosened and the tube rotated to bring the headshell parallel to the record surface.

Also, be sure the cartridge isn't mounted crooked in the headshell.

Doug
Click to expand...
Thanks, Doug. I think it was indeed the guard that was not parallel. I got a new stylus and it looks fine. Channel difference is 2dB which is a tad high, but most likely the cartridge.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom