Test Record

[REDone]

What would people recommend for Test Record (Not Music) ??

Anyone tried both?

Cardas around £15 $30
HiFi News Test Record around £25 $50

Others???

 

[pbda]

Are you looking to test your turntable? If so, the old Shure "Audio Obstacle Course" LPs are available cheaply on the used market; that's what I use to set up my TT.

 

[REDone]

Thanks yes
I want to test turntable / cartridge alignment test as well overall system

I have A CD for system so importanceis the TT

 

[hakaplan]

I have only used the HiFi News record to test for resonance, i.e. tonearm/cartridge match, and I can tell you that the test tones frequencies are inaccurate. The ones on the Shure obstacle course record (Era IV and later) are accurate.

 

[REDone]

I have only used the HiFi News record to test for resonance, i.e. tonearm/cartridge match, and I can tell you that the test tones frequencies are inaccurate. The ones on the Shure obstacle course record (Era IV and later) are accurate.

Is that the new version Hi Fi News?? It has been reworked by the "Cartridge Man" so I expect is better now

But Thanks I will investigate the Shure

 

[hakaplan]

Is that the new version Hi Fi News?? It has been reworked by the "Cartridge Man" so I expect is better now

But Thanks I will investigate the Shure

No, it's the new version. For cartridge alignment it might be fine--but the test tones for resonance testing are definitely off.

 

[blue_lateral]

I have only used the HiFi News record to test for resonance, i.e. tonearm/cartridge match, and I can tell you that the test tones frequencies are inaccurate. The ones on the Shure obstacle course record (Era IV and later) are accurate.

What does Era IV and later mean? :scratch2:


John

 

[rulerboyz]

I'm seeing mostly Era III and earlier on ebay at the moment.

 

[markd51]

Era IV means later intinerations-versions of the Shure Test LP.

One difference of the Cardas Test LP, there's a demagnetizing Track for MC Cartridges. Even though I have this LP, as well as the Hi-Fi News, and Shure Test LP, I'm not so sure how well the demag sweep is, but it's doubtful that it in itself can be a detriment. Mark

 

[REDone]

Just ordered the 1V Shure Trackability Test .. £15.00 +pp from UK ..hope it is what I need .. if it isn't look out for an E Bay sale after Xmas

NB £10 cheaper than the HiFi News

Many Thanks

 

[Pappas3278]

I use the Shure IV Trackability Test record and...it's what you want. Great test record.

 

[Holst]

I have the Shure III record, it's a thumbs up. I love how the bass drum track can make the house move.

 

[REDone]

Thanks .. all comforting news so far can't wait for it to arrive & play with it .. though I expect it will give me some headaches with adjustments

 

[REDone]

Era IV means later intinerations-versions of the Shure Test LP.

One difference of the Cardas Test LP, there's a demagnetizing Track for MC Cartridges. Even though I have this LP, as well as the Hi-Fi News, and Shure Test LP, I'm not so sure how well the demag sweep is, but it's doubtful that it in itself can be a detriment. Mark

Would that demagnetizing track cause problems with MM Cartridges should it be used ??

 

[REDone]

Update

1V Shure Trackability Test TTR 115 ... It arrived before Xmas but just had the chance to play side 2

Playing this on a standard Connoisseur BD1 with Shure M95

I also received the right alignment protractor so as far as my eyes tell me eveything is as it should be & the sound has been improved a lot

Thought I would report back on findings

Interesting to play as it showed a very very slight imbalance between volume on Left & Right Channels & my amp does not have a normal balance control .. (it is underneath ) Nor does it have any volume stages marked out.. so I have a little fiddle to do (assuming my ears are not the problem)

Tracking force set at 1 gram on a shure M95 Encore .. On side 2 the resonance test showed the Connoisseur arm capable of playing the whole of track 5 without jumping.. oscillation started at 8Hz, was worse at 10Hz & got better at 12 Hz (equating to 8Hz) .. I would be interested to compare results to what others have found on their decks / arms

As an experiment I did try damping the arm with a thin ring of blue tack 1/3rd way down the arm & adjusting the tracking force to 1 g .. but it was actually worse

Still have a slight annoying sibillance so I am about to adjust tracking force to see if there can be any improvement that way.

 

[UpsideThe Head]

As an experiment I did try damping the arm with a thin ring of blue tack 1/3rd way down the arm & adjusting the tracking force to 1 g .. but it was actually worse.

Not a good idea. I have seen a thin wrapping of teflon tape around 1/2 of the tonarm used by some folks with good results though. Its much lighter and damps well.

 

[REDone]

Not a good idea. I have seen a thin wrapping of teflon tape around 1/2 of the tonarm used by some folks with good results though. Its much lighter and damps well.

Yes I was following what another person did with a Stogi Arm but in this case it didn't work though I did think of ptfe tape & might give this & teflon tape a try

 

[hakaplan]

1V Shure Trackability Test TTR 115 ... It arrived before Xmas but just had the chance to play side 2

Playing this on a standard Connoisseur BD1 with Shure M95

I also received the right alignment protractor so as far as my eyes tell me eveything is as it should be & the sound has been improved a lot

Thought I would report back on findings

Interesting to play as it showed a very very slight imbalance between volume on Left & Right Channels & my amp does not have a normal balance control .. (it is underneath ) Nor does it have any volume stages marked out.. so I have a little fiddle to do (assuming my ears are not the problem)

Tracking force set at 1 gram on a shure M95 Encore .. On side 2 the resonance test showed the Connoisseur arm capable of playing the whole of track 5 without jumping.. oscillation started at 8Hz, was worse at 10Hz & got better at 12 Hz (equating to 8Hz) .. I would be interested to compare results to what others have found on their decks / arms

As an experiment I did try damping the arm with a thin ring of blue tack 1/3rd way down the arm & adjusting the tracking force to 1 g .. but it was actually worse

Still have a slight annoying sibillance so I am about to adjust tracking force to see if there can be any improvement that way.

Tracking force for most high end M carts, including the M95 is 1.25g--that may explain the silibants. Also, I always considered the resonant frequency to be the peak, in your case 10Hz. Am I wrong?

I'll test the M95 on my Pioneer (S-arm) decks this week and report back. Your tonearm looks like lower mass and should be a good match with the M95.

 

[REDone]

Tracking force for most high end M carts, including the M95 is 1.25g--that may explain the silibants. Also, I always considered the resonant frequency to be the peak, in your case 10Hz. Am I wrong?

I'll test the M95 on my Pioneer (S-arm) decks this week and report back. Your tonearm looks like lower mass and should be a good match with the M95.

Cheers Howard
Yes 10 Hz seems the peak I've currently set force at 0.75gram

Have a Good New Year

 

[Micropassatman]

I just received a sealed copy of the Cardas Frequency Sweep and Test Record. How exactly should I use this to setup my cart?