Test record opinions

[ctjetta]

Not what records you test with- that's a whole 'nother thread.
I'm curious as to the different test records, (HFNRR, Shure, CBS, et al) as to which is your "best" or maybe just what features one may have that you find useful/preferable.
I currently don't own any, an over sight I wish to rectify.

 

[4-2-7]

I use my ears and my records, a test record can have you running in circles.

 

[Wolfie62]

How about for frequency sweeps and square wave response?

 

[MisterDK]

Not what records you test with- that's a whole 'nother thread.
I'm curious as to the different test records, (HFNRR, Shure, CBS, et al) as to which is your "best" or maybe just what features one may have that you find useful/preferable.
I currently don't own any, an over sight I wish to rectify.

I pick them up just to collect them, but most aren’t good for anything much. The only one I actually use is the Shure - ‘cause it has a blank area I used to use for playing with anti-skate settings. They’re really about useless for anything but collecting though.

 

[ctjetta]

I was just at "The Auction Site" to see what's available there and found a listing for the "HI-FI NEWS TEST RECORD | THE PRODUCERS CUT" test record. It appears this album was designed for the obsessive cartridge mounter. This appeals to me.
But maybe there a valid alternatives. Maybe the Shure?
It seems CBS created many versions; some of what I looked at obviously were for broadcast use.
Will continue to research. Still want opinons.

 

[jrtrent]

. . . Will continue to research. Still want opinons.

Thanks for asking the question. I've been playing and enjoying records for as long as I can remember and never owned a test record. Maybe some forthcoming responses will have me curious enough to try one. I know I have no interest in buying a used test record, but there are a few new ones to choose from at Needle Doctor.

 

[marcmorin]

I use the shure era 4 album, but only to check arm/cart resonate frequency and amplitude of frequency. Generally what I've found in most used test albums is they're pretty beat up in the 'listening for bells, flutes, etc." sections to be of any use.

 

[gusten]

My old trusty DIN records.

 

[tnsilver]

I was just at "The Auction Site" to see what's available there and found a listing for the "HI-FI NEWS TEST RECORD | THE PRODUCERS CUT" test record

idk about 'producers cut' but I got the standard HFN analog test LP and it's proven it self time after time. It got all the tracks you need even if you're not anal about alignment. Very useful RF testing tracks, azimuth settings and bias tracks.

Generally what I've found in most used test albums is they're pretty beat up in the 'listening for bells, flutes, etc." sections to be of any use.

Exactly. So is my JBL "sessions" record. Other than the very cool Hoyt Axton 'Captain America' track - it's pretty useless for any serious hi resolution listening tests.

 

[Johnny B]

What Marc said. I use the Era IV to check resonant frequencies. It really helped me understand compliance. And I was able to ballpark the unpublished effective mass of my tonearm by checking a couple of cartridges and working backwards on the VE calculators.

I also have a Realistic test record that I use really quickly to make sure I didn’t screw anything up when I wire up a new cartridge. It’s got a decent set of L/R/phase check tracks.

But then I go off of those pretty quickly and play some music.

 

[JoeESP9]

I use the Shure Era IV LP and the Stereo Review SR-12 LP to help set up and adjust a cartridge. I use mostly D2D and 45RPM LP's for final tweaking..

 

[Doug G.]

To those poo-pooing test records (and I don't mean those who have just never tried any), they are meant as a base line for determining a cartridge's performance and are very useful for that. You can discover which frequencies your cartridge can reproduce, tracking ability, the onset of distortion at various frequencies and recording levels, etc.

Why wouldn't anybody want to know that stuff?

I don't go for the recent tendency of eshewing, completely, scientific tools for evaluating audio equipment. Human ears are notoriously unreliable.

Doug

 

[Doug G.]

Oh yeah, if possible, you always want to buy a new test record unless you know the history.

Doug

 

[4-2-7]

To those poo-pooing test records, they are meant as a base line for determining a cartridge's performance and are very useful for that. You can discover which frequencies your cartridge can reproduce, tracking ability, the onset of distortion at various frequencies and recording levels, etc.

Why wouldn't anybody want to know that stuff?

Because most of them are for a given cartridge and setup of the day, that hardly works for todays cartridges. Do you not think if it was truly valuable and people buying $1000 and up MC cartridges today and $5000 arms, $10,000 tables. There would be some new test record put out by, Lyra, Sumiko, Dynavector, Ortofon and Clearaudio? Sure there is a couple new test records by AP and Stan Ricker

https://store.acousticsounds.com/d/...imate_Analogue_Test_LP-Turntable_Set_Up_Tools



https://www.musicdirect.com/best-analog-accessories/cardas-frequency-sweep-burn-in-lp-version-2



And really these are just as full of bullshit as all the the ones that come before them.

The Sweep Cuts Will Recondition Your Entire System
Updated for 2010! The best reason to buy this Cardas Test LP is the burn-in and revitalization tracks.We guarantee that your analog front end will sound better after playing the demagnetization tracks, and the test tracks ensure everything is in optimum operating condition. This is an essential LP to own!

The Cardas Frequency Sweep and Burn-in Record is a unique tuning tool for system set-up, diagnostics and maintenance. Produced by George Cardas and mastered by Stan Ricker. The "Sweeper", in addition to the standard tones, includes relative and absolute polarity checks, vocal channel identification and frequency sweeps that ultrasonically clean the cartridge stylus and degausses the entire system. The Sweep LP also includes locked, pink noise grooves that repeat endlessly, blank plateaus, even a sync label to check platter speed. All on a 180 gram pressing with a smiling Stan cover.

 

[4-2-7]

I'll say it, test records are for noobs that are unsure they are setting up a table or system right. While it might help if your cartridge matches the test record most of them will push you around in changing something that should be left alone.

Set the table and cartridge up as their instructions state and play music on the records you have. Listen for things like distortion, sibilance on many records to rule out a bad mastering. Then make adjustment accordingly with VTF, VTA, Anti Skate and Azimuth. And don't expect every record to sound perfect because they are all different and thats not your fault, or the records fault it's just the way it is. It can be many many variables that a given record does not sound it's best on your setup. It can be you phono stage loading doesn't like your cartridge, it can be the records got a hot mastering that your stage and system doesn't like, there are things a basic system can not adjust for. But a different mastering of the same title might sound perfect.

Yeah don't chase your tail, get most of your records to sound good when playing, that's the best one can do.

 

[c_dk]

Both Audio Technica and Shure made test records for the trade, Shure made home user demonstration discs that offered test tracks to highlight technology they felt important.

Obviously if you are setting up 30-40 turntables a week you are looking for ways to be consistent, with repeatable results so a few for the trade test records, a device like a Shure CPEC that provided some access to test procedures were very important. A osciliscope, VTF gauge and alighnment protractor like the Dennison completed the package of tools needed.

I have yet to find a single modern test record to replace my AT and Shure test records.

 

[Doug G.]

Well, I am not talking about the ones making fantastic claims of somehow "fixing" your system (I agree that's all nonsense and I also believe a lot of the Cardas stuff is fantasy). I am talking about the ones that have basic engravings of various levels of various frequencies (such as the CBS series, etc.) to test how well any cartridge will track them. Those basic tests are valid as universal. Crosstalk and distortion tests are also valid.

Cartridge manufacturers use ( or used to, anyway) these records in designing cartridges and there is no reason to not use them to evaluate a cartridge in the field, especially if there is a perceived problem.

Admittedly, I rarely use my test records anymore but I will pull one out if there is any question about distortion being caused by the cartridge or record.

Doug

 

[FluxT]

The only test record I own is an old Command “Stereo Checkout” disk from the early 60s. Pretty primitive. Just has frequency tones from 10k down to 30k, channel balance at 100% modulation and -10dB, stereo separation, and a silent groove for detecting rumble. Other side is just selections from Command LP’s like “Persuasive Percussion” and “Provacative Piano”. Nothing terribly informative, especially at its age. Found it in a dollar bin and bought it for the novelty value.

I’d be inclined to buy a proper test-LP as a curiosity if they weren’t so expensive. It can be kinda neat to plot out speaker responses and see what’s going on with them, and maybe correct for serious aberrations, but with cartridges and preamps, I’m more of a “if it sounds good, it is good” kinda guy.

 

[ctjetta]

Because most of them are for a given cartridge and setup of the day, that hardly works for todays cartridges

Taking into account you're not in favor of test records in general, I see your point where new test records are more applicable to newer cartridges. What about all those vintage cartridges in active use? Per your argument one should use an older, period test record then?

 

[danj]

I have the Shure Era IV, the Stereo Review test record and the Micro Acoustics test record. All three have their strong point but I have found the MA record most useful.