The Best Tool for Analyzing Cartridge and System Performance
Ortofon’s Test Record is designed to allow you to verify your stereo hi-fi system in the most natural audio surroundings at home. The Test Record contains special test signals developed for analyzing cartridge performance as well as its interaction with your tonearm and turntable.
Before testing your cartridge, please verify the hi-fi system’s functionality. The left speaker should be connected to the left amplifier channel and vice versa. Both speakers should work in phase and be optimally positioned in the room.
The Test Record is designed to be played through your system with in-built RIAA equalization. Volume control is recommended to be set at a moderate signal level.
Please refer to your turntable and tonearm’s instructions for correct installation and alignment. Adjust your tonearm to be parallel to the record surface, set Vertical Tracking Force and anti-skating according to the cartridge’s recommended technical data and adjust stylus overhang.
Each side of the 33-1/3 rpm stereo test record consists of 15 tracks which have been cut from 1-4 and 5-15. Below is a description of the tracks included on the test record, their function, and benefits and/or instructions for use.
1-4 Frequency Sweep – A Tool For Checking Frequency Response
There are several factors which can affect frequency response, including cable capacitance, cartridge loading, tracking force, and worn parts. Because of this, it can be difficult to achieve perfectly flat frequency response. Sometimes by making small compromises in the cartridge loading, a better overall frequency response can be achieved. Considering the above, the signal must be clean throughout the sweep.
5-8 Reference Tone For Testing Channel Output
With this standard reference signal, you can check the correctness of the left and right channel connections, channel balance, and speed of the turntable.
9-14 Tracking Ability Test, 315 Hz Lateral Modulation
These tracks contain a 315 Hz signal, recorded at increasing pick amplitudes of 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100 micrometers. Please refer to your cartridge’s tracking ability value specified in the technical data sheet. Your cartridge should be able to track the actual level without audible distortion. Inability to track can be heard as a departure from a pure tone or a sputtering and intermittent tone. To determine if it is one or both channels, the balance control can be utilized. In case of differing tracking ability in the left and right channels it is probably necessary to readjust the anti-skating correction of the tonearm. If both channels fail to track properly, then vertical tracking force should be increased until no further improvement of tracking force can be obtained.
15. Square Wave Form 2.7 msec Duty Cycle 3:7
When monitoring the output of your cartridge with an oscilloscope, you will see a square wave located precisely above each other if the connection from the cartridge is correct.
After Completing the Test Procedures
After successful completion of the above test procedures, you can consider that your cartridge is optimized. However, the human ear is very sensitive to difference in tone distortion, which depends on the stylus condition and record wear. To maintain optimal sound reproduction and to minimize wear on your records as well as on your stylus, Ortofon recommends the following procedure before and after you play a record:
- Remove dust carefully from record surfaces by using a fine antistatic brush or cloth before every use.
- Remove dust from the stylus before and after playback of each record
- In order to keep electrical contacts clean and to lubricate the knurled nut on the tonearm, Ortofon recommends occasionally a light spray of contact cleaner like DeoxIT ®Gold G-Series into the tonearm socket.
It should be noted that some phono equalizers may generate some tone distortion, which cannot be referred to the cartridge.
