All Things Vinyl, April 28-May 2, 2008

by Oliver Amnuayphol

If you've been reading "All Things Vinyl" for sometime or know a bit about turntable setups, chances are you're probably aware that, in most cases, installing a high-quality phono cartridge at the front end of your vinyl-spinning rig can yield huge improvements in sound quality. I previously wrote about the benefits of a quality cartridge in the February 11-15, 2008 of "ATV" so I won't go into detail about that here. Suffice it to say that, if you're choosing a separate cart for whatever reasons, you can't just bolt cartridge to tonearm and expect great results: for the best sound--and most importantly, the least wear--from your cherished licorice pizzas, every cartridge must be properly aligned for geometrically correct contact with your vinyls.

Unfortunately, the number of dealers who have the know-how or inclination to do this for you are slim indeed; if you know one, count your lucky stars! But if not, you'll have to align the cart yourself, paying extra special attention to five important parameters: Overhang, azimuth, VTA (vertical tracking angle), VTF (vertical tracking force), and anti-skate. Not an easy task, to be sure--so it's a good idea to know the ins and outs of such a feat and to equip yourself with the right tools for the job. And while I love to endlessly wax poetic about the joys of vinyl, I've got limited space (and time!) to do so; check out Audiophilia's superb guide to setting up your cartridge here. If you're more of a visual person, I'd highly recommend "21st Century Vinyl: Michael Fremer's Practical Guide to Turntable Set-Up"--a must if you're serious about getting the most music off vinyl discs. And on that note, here are some other set-up goodies that should be in every vinyl lover's toolbox:

--DB systems alignment protractor ($49): A long-standing favorite for accurate cartridge alignment on the cheap, nothing beats the value of this protractor card from DB. It's super easy to use--quick alignment of your cartridge in just three steps. Less time fussing and more time listening? Amen DB, amen. 

-- Shure SFG-2 Stylus Force Gauge ($25): This simple and highly effective tool for measuring tracking force has been around since before I was born, and for good reason: it's by far the most cost-effective way of setting accurate tracking force for any cartridge out there. Cheap, durable, and easy to use--what's not to like?

--Hi-Fi News Test Record ($45): Chock-full of various turntable optimization tracks, this LP has been the long-running standard for setting correct anti-skate and azimuth and even has a cartridge/arm resonance test track. With over 17 tracks designed to help optimize your rig, the gains in performance will far outweigh its modest cost.

--Feickert Universal Protractor/alignment tool ($250): This beautifully built, dead-accurate gauge allows you to absolutely dial in the overhang and alignment for any tonearm/cartridge combination, making this the perfect tool for those with chronic upgradeitus or anyone who swaps cartridges on a regular basis. Expensive, yes; but if you have a top-tier vinyl playback system and want to get all the music you paid dearly for, consider this premium tool absolutely mandatory.

Next week: some more new hardware and software releases.