Digital Microscope and vinyl setup

[topround]

An interesting read.
I have seen this done in person and it is amazing to see so close up. So many fun things can be done with that digital microscope besides tweaking your setup to perfection!
And it does make a sonic improvement

http://www.analogplanet.com/content/how-use-usb-digital-microscope-set-92-degree-stylus-rake-angle-sra

[richidoo]

I was just an hour ago reading about this in May Stereophile review of Lyra Atlas where Mikey used the microscope to discover why it always sounded too bright, rake was +2 degrees in the stylus mounting itself. His Lyra Titan was tilted the opposite direction by a couple degrees. He observed that common sense adjustments of VTA would never overcome the large tolerance in SRA, and parallel to record surface was wrong for his Atlas. The microscope revealed that common sense settings weren't enough to reach the correct setting for his own particular styli mounting angle tolerances.

[topround]

I think it is just incedible that they can manufacture all these stylii with all those different shapes! It is almost on a microscopic level! Having them attach these diamonds with an exact degree of rake seems to me ...impossible

I think a great deal of luck is involved!

The microscope allows us to see deeper and fix those problems we could never see with the naked eye, it also eliminates the guess work

it also makes a cool Xmas gift....fun for the whole family!

[JBryan]

Another must-have suggestion for precise TT setup is a machinists level. I have a dozen or so levels of all types and prices but none were very accurate. With the machinists level, I am finally confident that my TT, platter and arm are indeed level. The drawback is that its a PITA to level anything as the slightest adjustment dramatically moves the bubble so I tended to overshoot the target but you get used to it.

Starrett makes some nice ones, I got the 12" but would suggest the 8" or maybe even the 6"....

http://www.amazon.com/Starrett-98-8-8-Inch-Precision Machinists/dp/B0002FUO7M/ref=pd_sbs_indust_1

[richidoo]

JBryan maybe this angle gage would work on some TT setup jobs:

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=17206&site=ROCKLER

It shows angles to 0.1 accuracy. It can't find level, but it can show angles away from a reference.

Mikey's recommended USB Microscope: http://www.amazon.com/Dino-Lite-Digital-Microscope-measurement-function/dp/B000P43IQY

[rollo]

Cool Mikey, good info here. Thanks JB as well never even considered that.


charles

[mgalusha]

Another must-have suggestion for precise TT setup is a machinists level. I have a dozen or so levels of all types and prices but none were very accurate. With the machinists level, I am finally confident that my TT, platter and arm are indeed level. The drawback is that its a PITA to level anything as the slightest adjustment dramatically moves the bubble so I tended to overshoot the target but you get used to it.

Starrett makes some nice ones, I got the 12" but would suggest the 8" or maybe even the 6"....

http://www.amazon.com/Starrett-98-8-8-Inch-Precision Machinists/dp/B0002FUO7M/ref=pd_sbs_indust_1

I'm with you on this, I picked up the 8" version and the Starrett will move end to end and my bubble level not at all for the same amount of adjustment. I used 20tpi brass threaded rod for the adjustment in the footers, so it's fine enough to dial in fairly easily. 

[richidoo]

A USB microscope is now available from Parts Express for $45. It looks very similar to the Dyno-Lite scope that Fremer wrote about, maybe they are private labelling it for PE? The price is only 20% of Fremer's unit.

Up to 200x mag, up to 1200x1600 resolution.

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=360-510

[BobM]

I think it is just incedible that they can manufacture all these stylii with all those different shapes! It is almost on a microscopic level! Having them attach these diamonds with an exact degree of rake seems to me ...impossible

I think a great deal of luck is involved!

From what I understand, some cartridge manufacturers who have various levels of cartridges at different price points really only distinguish between the low $ and high $ cartridges based on their tolerances. The design and materials are the same but the higher priced one just meets a higher quality tolerance. This makes sense given what you say above.

Wonder if that Parts Connexion scope is small enough to get close to the stylus and focus correctly.

[richidoo]

Wonder if that Parts Connexion scope is small enough to get close to the stylus and focus correctly.

Parts Express not connexion  

It focuses down to 10mm, but with 200x you don't need to be very close. Fremer's article is shooting from a few inches away. Even 100x mag should be enough to fill the screen with the cantilever.

The user reviews complain about the flimsy stand compromising the ability to focus at high mag. But at 50x it's good enough, that's enough to measure cant. angle and inspect the stylus.