channel separation issue

[breese]

Hello, this is my first post here so be kind

My setup is a technics sl-1200 mk ii with a Shure M97xe cartridge. I recently upgraded it with a Jico SAS stylus.

So far I'm really happy with the Jico. The highs are much better without sounding too "bright", sibilants are much less harsh on some records I previously had trouble with and tracking is much improved, with no noticeable inner groove distortion.

However, in checking some things with the Hi Fi News test record, I listened to the tests for channel separation (tracks 4 and 5 on side 1 I think). When listening to the track that is left only, I'm hearing a good bit bleeding (crosstalk?) to the right side, whereas on the track that is right only, I hear hardly anything on the left side.

Is this likely the result of a bad azimuth adjustment? If so, should the cartridge be adjusted clockwise or counter-closkwise? I know there is another track on the record for testing channel balance with the out of phase right and left, but I haven't had a chance to play with this, so I'm not sure if channel balance is ok.

Are channel separation issues sometimes just a result of the cartridge design?

 

[steely]

So, you're hearing channel spillover on the HFN test record with the Jico stylus? Interesting. I had the same problem with the stock M97xE stylus, as discussed here: http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=349279

The replacement Jico SAS actually almost eliminated the leakage issue for me. Did you compare the stock N97xE to the Jico on those HFN test tracks?

Welcome to the AK forums!

 

[Doug G.]

Also, look very closely at the stylus relative to the record surface. Does it look like it's perpendicular?

Some people use a mirror on the platter and set the stylus on it. The reflection of the cantilever in the mirror should form a straight line with the actual cantilever.

This may not get things perfect electrically but it will be very close.

I've always just eyeballed it.

I also inspect the stylus and cantilever before the headshell is mounted to make sure the stylus is pointing straight and not off to either side and that the cantilever is centered. Making sure those things are correct gives you a good head start.

Doug

 

[breese]

Also, look very closely at the stylus relative to the record surface. Does it look like it's perpendicular?

Some people use a mirror on the platter and set the stylus on it. The reflection of the cantilever in the mirror should form a straight line with the actual cantilever.

This may not get things perfect electrically but it will be very close.

I've always just eyeballed it.

I also inspect the stylus and cantilever before the headshell is mounted to make sure the stylus is pointing straight and not off to either side and that the cantilever is centered. Making sure those things are correct gives you a good head start.

Doug

It looks perpendicular just by eyeballing it, but I'll see if I can try the mirror trick. The stylus and cantilever also look pretty straight to me after adjusting the overhang using the protractor that came with the Shure (I think it uses Baerwald?)

Can alignment or overhang affect channel separation or is it mostly azimuth?

Steely, I'll have to try the original Shure stylus to see if it still has the problem. I set that one up a year and a half ago and I didn't know that much about what I was doing back then and was just getting into what all the adjustments were.

Thanks to everybody for their replies.