Which Test Record?

[chiagerald]

http://store.acousticsounds.com/images/as201JPG/STESTRECORD.jpg vs http://store.acousticsounds.com/images/as201JPG/AAPT-1.jpg

Hi! Thinking of getting a test record to help zero in on my turntable adjustments... Looking at the above two test records... which is a better buy? Any other test records recommended from forumers? :rolleyes:

[Kent Teffeteller]

Hi,

I like Mobile Fidelity's GeoDisc and Telarc's Omnidisc for tone arm setup. The Hi-Fi News Test Record is superb and I love the CBS Broadcast Test Record.

[Tony Plachy]

http://store.acousticsounds.com/images/as201JPG/STESTRECORD.jpg vs http://store.acousticsounds.com/images/as201JPG/AAPT-1.jpg

Hi! Thinking of getting a test record to help zero in on my turntable adjustments... Looking at the above two test records... which is a better buy? Any other test records recommended from forumers? :rolleyes:

I have long used the HFN&RR test record and I really like it. I just got a copy of the other one, it is still sealed and I hope to finish my TT tune up that I started 3 weeks ago :sigh: and try out the new test record. If I ever get there I will post back.

[TONEPUB]

I've been collecting a whole bunch of them! Look for an article one of these days!

[adhoc]

So.. they're all good?

What the heck does a 'test' record do anyway? I can understand azimuth testing, but otherwise...?

[MikeyH]

So.. they're all good?

What the heck does a 'test' record do anyway? I can understand azimuth testing, but otherwise...?

The function varies .. some come from equipment manufacturers, some come from magazines, some from record manufacturers.

It is deemed important in engineering to have a 'reference' - something that everyone in a discipline can do or use that is the same or nearly the same across the discipline. The CBS test records are for radio station phonograph set up, and contain precision frequency bands for the most part - these are for setting up your custom RIAA preamps, and getting the same levels out of all your turntables.

The audiophile ones, IIRC starting seriously with the UK HFS69 from Clement Brown and the Hi-Fi Sound magazine, offer really useful tracking tests for setting VTF and 'bias' (sidethrust correction). The US magazine test discs emulate this sometimes, but add fluff like 'audiophile quality music' that sometimes isn't.

Ortofon have some very good ones that were made for broadcast use again.

The Shure discs - that have come out with each V15 since the V15/II - are often found. These have pretty good tracking tests but are really about the 'Our Shure can do this - see what happens when your cartridge meets our bass drum at +12dB' part of testing.

I'm pretty sure the new Hi Fi news one emulates the vertical/horizontal multiple level 300Hz bands of the second HFS 75 test disc, which really gives your setup a work out (the medium level 300Hz band is repeated at outer, centre and inner radii. That *really* sorts out your inner groove distortion)

For those that don't have one, the single frequency bands at 300Hz as used on the HFS and HFN discs are the easiest things to set up for basic tracking. Mistracking is very easy to hear (though the bands do wear out eventually) and you can arrive quickly at a tolerable 'non record chewing' VTF and sidethrust setting. Whether this is the best musical result for your system is for the advanced user. (it wasn't until I had a $5000 player with an MC that I got into the nuances of 1/20g steps in VTF to adjust the musical perspectives, with help and advice from my dealer..)

It's worth pointing out that only the HFN and Ultimate Analogue are in print now at all. For the rest you gotta search and take chances.

[DaleH]

I got the Ultimate Analogue and it has a nice azimuth adjusstment that works well with a scope.

I dont think the antiskate is of much use as it wont push either of the cartridges I've tried to distortion. I guess it will tell you if you have a really bad adjustment or a bad cartridge.

The riaa sweeps are nice but the resonance sweep only goes down to 10hz and is vertical cut only

I don't have the Hi Fi News record but it sounds like it has better antiskate tracks and an alignment guage if you need one. The Ultimate Analogue is worth it for the azimuth alone for me.

ps- ware the heck do I get an IMD tester for the VTA test?

[Tony Plachy]

I got the Ultimate Analogue and it has a nice azimuth adjusstment that works well with a scope.

I dont think the antiskate is of much use as it wont push either of the cartridges I've tried to distortion. I guess it will tell you if you have a really bad adjustment or a bad cartridge.

The riaa sweeps are nice but the resonance sweep only goes down to 10hz and is vertical cut only

I don't have the Hi Fi News record but it sounds like it has better antiskate tracks and an alignment guage if you need one. The Ultimate Analogue is worth it for the azimuth alone for me.

ps- ware the heck do I get an IMD tester for the VTA test?

Dale, Welcome to SHF. :wave: What type of scope do you have and where did you get it, I have often toyed with the idea a getting a small scope myself (I have also toyed with the idea of getting a stereo zoom microscope for inpecting records and still do not have one :sigh:). I would email John Atkinson at Stereophile to get a reccomendation on an IMD tester, I have no idea if we ar etalking serious money though.

[DaleH]

Hello Tom,
I have a Sencore Auto Tracker SC3100 that I puarchased new about 15 years ago, but I just got around to hooking it up to the rig. It's ben a lot of fun spinning test records and measuring the results on the scope. My Well Tempered RP has infinatly adjustable settings.

I also just picked up a stereozoom7 on ebay. Very cool toy.

Dale

[Doc Sarvis]

I would not be without the HFNRR test record, for the anti-skate tracks on side two. Makes short work of setting the proper VTF/Anti Skate combination.

[DaleH]

Sorry Tony, I got your name wrong in my post above and can't edit it now.

Back on topic, I would get the HFNR first especially if you dont have a lot of test equipment. The UAT lp is the best one I have but I now I want the HFNR and should have gotten it first.

Dale

[chiagerald]

Thanks for the reply guys! Very helpful...based on these comments, I would probably get the Hi-Fi News Test record first... :)

[LeeS]

Tony,

How did the Analogue Productions Test LP turn out? Do you still like the HFNRR best?

[Tony Plachy]

Tony,

How did the Analogue Productions Test LP turn out? Do you still like the HFNRR best?

I agree with Dale, start with the HFNRR and then if you want add the AP. The AP is best if you have test gear.

[LeeS]

Thanks Tony. :)

[audio]

I don't recommend test lps at all. I suggest using a standard protractor/force gauge and fine tuning the setup by ear with records you play in a real-life environment. Using the heavily modulated passages on a test lp presents a totally unrealistic tracking obstacle course to which the end result is a table that is tweaked inappropriately with too much anti-skate force applied.

[Tony Plachy]

I don't recommend test lps at all. I suggest using a standard protractor/force gauge and fine tuning the setup by ear with records you play in a real-life environment. Using the heavily modulated passages on a test lp presents a totally unrealistic tracking obstacle course to which the end result is a table that is tweaked inappropriately with too much anti-skate force applied.

Mikey Fremer also commented about this at HE 2007, however, his recommendation was not to use the highly modulated passages. I have never found that setting my anti skate force for the worse passage has any effect on the sound of an ordinary recording

[OcdMan]

I don't recommend test lps at all. I suggest using a standard protractor/force gauge and fine tuning the setup by ear with records you play in a real-life environment. Using the heavily modulated passages on a test lp presents a totally unrealistic tracking obstacle course to which the end result is a table that is tweaked inappropriately with too much anti-skate force applied.

Mikey Fremer also commented about this at HE 2007, however, his recommendation was not to use the highly modulated passages. I have never found that setting my anti skate force for the worse passage has any effect on the sound of an ordinary recording

I'm sure that fine-tuning your setup by ear is the best way to go. However, short of using a microscope (and knowing what to look for), a test record can tell you if there is something not quite right with the stylus. I had a Shure V15VxMR that played absolutely fine with regular music but it displayed some quirky problems when given the run through with the Hi-Fi News and CBS test records. Well, I sent it back to Shure and they took a look at it and it turns out that one side of the stylus was slightly deformed compared with the other side. In the end, the replacement stylus sounded a little better and also exhibited lower harmonic distortion with test tones. Had I not given the defective stylus a work out with the test records I would've been stuck with something substandard and, although it sounded fine, who knows what it might have done to my LPs in the long run.