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Cartridge manufacturer specification |
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Godra
Senior Member Joined: 29 Apr 2016 Location: Mont-Royal Status: Offline Points: 179 |
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Posted: 28 Oct 2018 at 8:42pm |
Hi everyone, I was playing around this week-end with Adjust+ from
Dr.Feickert. This software makes it possible to graph the frequency response of
your cartridge. I tried it with my Clearaudio virtuoso V2 (MM) and I was
surprised to see that the bass response isn’t flat at all.There is a 5 db boost
at like 40 hertz and then it gradually goes to 0db at 1000 hertz. From there
the frequency response is flat to 18khz. At first, I thought that it my be a faulty adjustment on
my part. I’ve tried to readjust the cartridge and the graph keep the same shape every time. So at this time I think that
the cartridge might be designed like that. This situation made me think about
the fact that a lot of cartridge manufacturer just publish something like the minimum
and maximum frequency response of the cartridge, but they don't specify the
possible variation (ex :+/-2 db). The only exception I know of is Ortofon. Also, just out of
curiosity, how many people have been able to match the published specification
of their cartridges ? I am actually quite close to the published specification,
but that was really hard to achieve. What is your experience on this ? I am also curious about how the manufacturer arrived at those numbers knowing that cartridge are made by hand. Edited by Godra - 28 Oct 2018 at 8:48pm |
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Clearaudio Performance DC with Clarify tonearm + Virtuoso V2, Tannoy Legacy Eaton, Accession MM and BAT VK300Xse
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Richardl60
Senior Member Joined: 04 Nov 2014 Location: Yorkshire Status: Offline Points: 1468 |
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There was a post December 2010 but not sure if the answers your question, sorry
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Godra
Senior Member Joined: 29 Apr 2016 Location: Mont-Royal Status: Offline Points: 179 |
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Hi, are you referring to this thread: '
Edited by Godra - 28 Oct 2018 at 10:03pm |
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Clearaudio Performance DC with Clarify tonearm + Virtuoso V2, Tannoy Legacy Eaton, Accession MM and BAT VK300Xse
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Fatmangolf
Moderator Group Joined: 23 Dec 2009 Location: Middlesbrough Status: Offline Points: 8960 |
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I agree the specs are usually broad and stated differently by different manufactorers. I have tried measuring the frequency response but it's hard to measure consistently as the mechanical stuff like SRA, resonance due to mass/compliance, could all affect the frequency response for different cartridges. So could the electrical loading of course. |
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Jon
Open mind and ears whilst owning GSP Genera, Accession M, Accession MC, Elevator EXP, Solo ULDE, Proprius amps, Cusat50 cables, Lautus digital cable, Spatia cables and links, and a Majestic DAC. |
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Godra
Senior Member Joined: 29 Apr 2016 Location: Mont-Royal Status: Offline Points: 179 |
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Yeah, it's pretty hard to measure frequency response consistently. When changing cartridges, from time to time, I can get different reading, but it's always in the same range. I would really appreciate if reviewers in magazine would at least take the time to test if the manufacturer specifications are met or exceeded. This week-end I installed my Ortofon 2M bronze after a one year hiatus. This cartridge exceeded the published specifications by 3 db for the channel separation at 1khz (29 vs 26) and the channel balance was 0.2 ( versus the 1db).
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Clearaudio Performance DC with Clarify tonearm + Virtuoso V2, Tannoy Legacy Eaton, Accession MM and BAT VK300Xse
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Graham Slee
Admin Group Retired Joined: 11 Jan 2008 Location: South Yorkshire Status: Offline Points: 16298 |
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Hi Raphael, it's manufacturing tolerance because of all the variables. Also that there won't be as much standardisation of measurement for cartridges as for say amplifiers, there being vast quantities of amplifiers being made compared with cartridges. The more expensive the cartridge you'd expect a tighter tolerance, and that might be the case, but there will still be inconsistencies such as on wire thickness, magnetic strength and precision of assembly. One manufacturer might think it best to understate, whilst another might overstate. It's the same with amps and preamps where one combination of components could yield an incredible measured specification, yet the same values, same sources of components etc, on another day might produce less impressive measurements. We all have to err on the side of caution, some more than others.
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That none should be able to buy or sell without a smartphone and the knowledge in how to use apps
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Godra
Senior Member Joined: 29 Apr 2016 Location: Mont-Royal Status: Offline Points: 179 |
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Hi Graham! Thanks for the explanation. It is really informative. Yesterday, I went on Ortofon web site, they have several web pages (The measurement test chain, Quality control of the test chain) explaining their quality control process and they also give details on the equipment they use. They really are thorough...
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Clearaudio Performance DC with Clarify tonearm + Virtuoso V2, Tannoy Legacy Eaton, Accession MM and BAT VK300Xse
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