Q. How can I achieve the best stereo separation (Eroica H in particular)?
First the cartridge must be correctly aligned for overhang and zenith using a good quality stylus protractor. Then it must be adjusted for VTA by raising or lowering the arm height. This will ensure the lowest distortion figure possible as it plays the whole record from start top finish. This may well fix the problem on its own and the Eroica H is quite forgiving if the set up is not quite perfect due to its Gyger 2 stylus profile.
The cartridge zenith is important for good stereo imaging because it affects the phase alignment of the cartridge and this is something that you can adjust on every arm. Correct zenith is having the cantilever exactly tangential to the record groove at the tracking null points. If you place the stylus on a the protractor at one of the null points, sight along the cantilever and make sure it lines up with the parallel lines on the protractor – do not use the sides of the cartridge body for this but use the actual cantilever.
For stereo separation it is also vital to have the cartridge azimuth set at exactly zero degrees. It is not every arm that can be adjusted for azimuth as the mounting point is very often fixed, but if there is adjustment for this it would be worth experimenting by first adjusting the head shell so that it is exactly level and then trying it 1 degree either side of this point. This will very likely increase stereo separation to a maximum ( about 30 dB or so). If the head shell is of the detachable type it is probably not level anyway - We always need to adjust our Technics with a spirit level each time we attach a new cartridge and this can be achieved merely by twisting it slightly. Other arms such as SME will have an Allen key adjustment but sadly most Linn and Rega arms cannot be adjusted.
On a final note, when compared to a CD its worth bearing in mind that the maximum stereo separation achievable from any LP with any cartridge is only about 30 - 40 dB
Related Articles
Eroica HX / H - Q. What are the differences between the new Eroica HX and the old Eroica H?
Answer: The main difference is that the traditional square core armature which will be found on many traditional MC cartridges produced today and which we used in the Eroica H, this has been exchanged for a modern cross-shaped pure iron armature core ...Q. Is the offset angle and VTA (vertical tracking angle) the same thing?
Answer: Please be aware that these are two different parameters. The offset angle of the arm is the angle between the straight line joining the arm pivot and the stylus tip and that parallel with the sides of the headshell or mounting point on the ...EROICA - Q. Will a Goldring EROICA cartridge be compatible with my Naim ARO tonearm?
Answer: Unfortunately the EROICA has a tip to mounting bolt distance of about 11mm, so I'm afraid that it would not be compatible with a Naim ARO tonearm. The ARO was designed for LINN 3 point mounting cartridges such as the Troika, and luckily LINN ...Eroica H/LX - Q. What's the static and dynamic compliance of these cartridges?
Answer: The Eroica H/LX have an average static compliance of 18 mm/N and a dynamic compliance of 10 mm/N at 10 Hz which makes them compatible with tonearms of an effective mass of between 8–30g . As the cartridges are hand built, both these figures ...Q. What is the importance of the VTA (vertical tracking angle)?
Answer: Although the record player stylus’ job is to faithfully trace the record groove, this is made more difficult because it is not the same size or shape as the cutting stylus which originally made the groove in the first place. Partly, this is ...