Vinyl Turntable test parts

[Valvepower]

Hello,

Whilst I’m here...

As you have a W&F meter, you, probably have a test record, but if not the 1K and 300Hz tones on a test record are useful for checking levels and tracking.

Having a test LP enables you to check levels and other aspects which if you were to have to report back to a manufacturer it will help with fault finding if there should be a fault somewhere.

The HiFi News HFN001 is good. You can also pickup reasonably priced HiFi sound HFS69 and 75, which do a decent job, and can be found at jumbles, fairs and meets. There are some Shure and CBS LP’s as well, but slightly more scarce .

Depending on how in depth you want to get, but a ‘calibrated’ (equalized) preamplifier with a known gain is worth having for checking levels and driving test gear on the bench.

Some test LP’s (I think the B&K) with sweep tones have the RIAA 75uS EQ switched off and having a preamplifier with a switchable 75uS EQ could also be useful – but you’re getting into serious stuff here.

Regards
Terry.

[knobtwiddler]

Note that all modern test records have anomalies. You will want a handful of different ones. The HFN record has a few known quirks in terms of channel balance. It was cut by the legendary engineer Sean Davies (in a single day, hence the quirks - it's remarkably good for something cut in so little time). I chatted to him about it. He told me that back in the day, the likes of Ortofon spent 6-figure sums on making test records. I have friends who cut vinyl for a living, and they refuse to make test records, as it's a labour of love that's a money bonfire. One of them tells me he plans to make one before he retires. It's the pinnacle of the art of cutting (and processing). The HFN is a good general purpose one, but I doubt it comes close to specialist types cut by B+K or Shure in the 70s - they would've been cut with budget!

[Valvepower]

Hello,

Hopefully this is still on topic.

I’ve attached an article (in two parts) from a 1982 HiFi News magazine on the alignment of cartridges using a distortion meter. This dates back to 1982 and the design of meter could be seen as slightly out of date with modern low-cost frequency tracking distortion meters, however it makes interesting reading.

I know JLH’s work is seen as a bit marmite, where you either agree or disagree with his views.

Yeah, making test records is a nightmare! I did look in to cutting an LP with one of the cutting guys in London – we ended up with an Audio Precision 515 generating a myriad of test tones using an inverse EQ file function in the AP to compensate for the response of the lathe and the playback chain.

Mind you I got to learn a lot about the audio electronics in the Neumann VMS80 in the process!

For me the best swept tone test LP’s are the B&K QR2009 and JVC TRS-1004.

Regards
Terry

[HECTOR63]

Hi Folks so many thanks for all the replies Im in AWE of such fantastic information and facts and figures with this subject matter and very great thanks to all.Its all being followed upon and shall post update when shopping list hits the Market for some purchases later this month.Special thanks for the mirror advice that's certainly a clever take on that issue and shall be given trial in passing

[Valvepower]

Hello,

You may well already have a copy, and I apologise if you do, but the Audio Technicians Bench Manual by John Earl (Gordon J. King) is worth locating as this has a decent chapter on Disc Playing Equipment Tests.

Terry

[knobtwiddler]

The trouble with the FR sweep records I've tried is the speed of the sweep. Even with an analogue meter, the sweep goes at such a rate that it's difficult to pinpoint exact peaks / dips. You can use a software logging function, but there tends to be update lag. I have several modern AAs (AP, R+S etc), but none of them make it particularly easy. Audiotester.de is a free / shareware programme that is used by the DIY community, and in some ways is better than a standalone analyser costing $$$$$

[HECTOR63]

Originally Posted by Valvepower

Hello,

You may well already have a copy, and I apologise if you do, but the Audio Technicians Bench Manual by John Earl (Gordon J. King) is worth locating as this has a decent chapter on Disc Playing Equipment Tests.

Terry

Many thanks Terry-trying to locate but long out of print-

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...&creative=6738

Anyone have one they might want to sell on? Pdf due to page count I guess is a no show aswell.

[HECTOR63]

Originally Posted by knobtwiddler

The trouble with the FR sweep records I've tried is the speed of the sweep. Even with an analogue meter, the sweep goes at such a rate that it's difficult to pinpoint exact peaks / dips. You can use a software logging function, but there tends to be update lag. I have several modern AAs (AP, R+S etc), but none of them make it particularly easy. Audiotester.de is a free / shareware programme that is used by the DIY community, and in some ways is better than a standalone analyser costing $$$$$

Many thanks-shall look that Audiotester up I recently posted an advice of a kind of W&F one too and that works well on the PC when I havent my trusty Kenwoods to hand

[HECTOR63]

https://www.ortofon.com/test-record-p-707

This seems quite a good start and reasonably priced as brand new

[HECTOR63]

https://snvinyl.co.uk/epages/eshop94...Products/AAPT1

Looks like worth a punt aswell.

[HECTOR63]

Just got this from a ColleagueGuess that's me in earlier years

[Mike G8GYW]

On the subject of test records, I have one of these lying around that you are welcome to have. It's only been played a couple of times but I no longer have a turntable so can't vouch for the quality.

http://feickert.org/index.php?id=4&L=1

Mike

[HECTOR63]

Mike many many thanks for the offer and yes pleaseIf you can post a PM and details to pay you P&P by Bacs if that's okay and anything toward the record itself be happy to take that and its a start

[Valvepower]

Hello,

I was talking to a friend and mentioned the Audio Technicians Bench Manual and the chapter on turntables, and he commented it sounds interesting and would like to have a copy. Because of this I’ve scanned the pages for him and also put them on the forum.

There are 15 pages split into 3 lots to get them to fit on the forum file upload.

Regards
Terry

[HECTOR63]

Terry

thanks for the information,this looks like one heck of book if these are just the articles on TTAbsolute must have from now onso shall be hoping to find the full book soon,but this is immensely helpful at this stage whilst I start to gather pace with shopping list from records and alignment parts.Then its onto some turntables for checking out and see what's what.

[Mike G8GYW]

PM sent.

Mike

Originally Posted by HECTOR63

Mike many many thanks for the offer and yes pleaseIf you can post a PM and details to pay you P&P by Bacs if that's okay and anything toward the record itself be happy to take that and its a start

[HECTOR63]

Hi Mike

many thanks PM replied to and thanks again for the Record