I am fortunate to have received this new 'off-set head shell' made by Ralf aka Straight Tracker. Firstly, I must thank Ralf for responding to my tone arm problem and then spending time to make a highly precisioned head shell based on the required measurements.🙂
The Problem:
My 12 inch ebony tone arm is straight zero off-set and whilst a love the timbre and organic tone it creates it does often have a problem in the inner grooves. I was worried about groove wear/distortion. Sometimes I would hear distortion in the inner grooves and could not listen. I could not relax and enjoy the music. 🙁
I devised a system where I could slide the tone arm base at about the middle groove in order to realign the arm for best play at the inner grooves. I did this for a while – but the problem was that I kept having to get up from my chair every 10-15 minutes to slide the arm or change the LP to the other side. So my enjoyment reduced from having to do this as I could not fully relax. I was also worried that I might forget to realign the tone arm. 🙁
A solution
So I considered adapting the tonearm headshell to become an off-set tone arm. I had previously tried making an ebony off set headshell myself. I did this by hand using a dremel. It was very rough and whilst I managed to achieve the approximate correct off-set angle my head shell did not couple well with the end of the tonearm. It seemed to have more problems than the original straight headshell and I really didn’t like the sound either.
I was quite dismayed and depressed about about the situation so I decided to post up my problem on a thread.
Ralf responded and kindly offered his help and expertise to solve my problem (and depression). I gave Ralf my Zyx 1000 Airy 3 and tonearm measurements.
Ralf’s new headshell arrived on Friday. I was immediately excited as it is a very high precision workmanship. See attached photos. Last night I attached the headshell to the tonearm. Its a perfect fit. The Zyx cart screws fitted perfectly. The tone arm end slipped perfectly, snuggly into the 'Ralf Headshell'. I set up the tone arm using my DB Systems protractor. I managed to set up the 'Ralf headshell' quite easily and it sits perfectly into the Lofgren A null points. I adjusted VTA, VTF and azimuth. I must say that the azimuth adjustment was much easier than my old headshell. The Ralf Headshell rotated smoothly around the tonearm end. It was almost pleasurable. I gently tightened the tiny grub screws. Half-turn was enough.
OK, I was now ready for the moment of truth. Turned on the system and let warm up for a few minutes while I did a little tidying and choosing a vinyl. I usually start of with some gentle vocals and then progress to orchestral and some classic rock. Tonight, my plan was to advance to some of my most ‘difficult' lps.
1. Stacy Kent – In Love Again
Wow! An immediate sweet sound that was stable. Beautiful mid range and high frequencies dancing into my ears. This recording does not really have a prominent bass line but certainly the any deficiency in the lower frequencies would be apparent in the middle and upper frequencies.
Ok, I was starting to relax. But I was still anticipating the middle and inner grooves. But I had to remind myself that this was an off-set headshell and it is a perfect fit and it is set up accurately. The rest of the LP played smoothly and was sweet from beginning to end. I was smiling.
2. Casandra Wilson – Night til Dawn – Blue Note
I love this recording and I the rich dark colours and timbre of Casandra’s voice. Its also got mega imaging of the percussion instruments. Now I was starting feel like I was heaven as the sound I had dreamed of was becoming a reality. The voices and instruments have presence. The imaging is accurate and spectacular. The drums have density and impact and immediacy like Mohammed Ali could stinging the air.
I don’t understand all the science to a high level – but I have ears. I am a musician and I love organic sound that captures the timbres of real voices and instruments.
3. Rite of Spring – Monteax and Paris Conservatoire Orch – RCA Living Stereo
This is a difficult piece to record and I was so delighted with the dynamics – sound stage – timre and it was alive. That’s a major test. The powerful bass frequencies were palpable and the timps resonating through the room.
4. Mozart Requiem – Dunedin Consort – Linn Records
This a truly marvellous recording. Sometimes the high frequencies have caused some problems. But I have to say they that high vocals (in forte passages too) were smooth with the air in an excited but controlled state.
5. Handel Messiah – Dunedin Consort – Linn Records
Again a truly magnificent recording. A little more ‘natural’ than the Requiem. The Hallelujah Chorus is tricky as it also crescendos and goes higher and higher in pitches. The headshell – tone arm combo performed beautifully again.
Conclusion:
The goal to adapt a straight zero off-set tonearm to an off-set arm has been successful. My arm is perhaps quite difficult to design a headshell for because it is a very small mass, made of ebony and needed to be very precise workmanship to make.
I am grateful to Ralf for helping me to love my system and experiencing the music to the fullest level of enjoyment. I can zone out for a full side of an LP and know that I am in heaven.
🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂
Kind regards, Bob
The Problem:
My 12 inch ebony tone arm is straight zero off-set and whilst a love the timbre and organic tone it creates it does often have a problem in the inner grooves. I was worried about groove wear/distortion. Sometimes I would hear distortion in the inner grooves and could not listen. I could not relax and enjoy the music. 🙁
I devised a system where I could slide the tone arm base at about the middle groove in order to realign the arm for best play at the inner grooves. I did this for a while – but the problem was that I kept having to get up from my chair every 10-15 minutes to slide the arm or change the LP to the other side. So my enjoyment reduced from having to do this as I could not fully relax. I was also worried that I might forget to realign the tone arm. 🙁
A solution
So I considered adapting the tonearm headshell to become an off-set tone arm. I had previously tried making an ebony off set headshell myself. I did this by hand using a dremel. It was very rough and whilst I managed to achieve the approximate correct off-set angle my head shell did not couple well with the end of the tonearm. It seemed to have more problems than the original straight headshell and I really didn’t like the sound either.
I was quite dismayed and depressed about about the situation so I decided to post up my problem on a thread.
Ralf responded and kindly offered his help and expertise to solve my problem (and depression). I gave Ralf my Zyx 1000 Airy 3 and tonearm measurements.
Ralf’s new headshell arrived on Friday. I was immediately excited as it is a very high precision workmanship. See attached photos. Last night I attached the headshell to the tonearm. Its a perfect fit. The Zyx cart screws fitted perfectly. The tone arm end slipped perfectly, snuggly into the 'Ralf Headshell'. I set up the tone arm using my DB Systems protractor. I managed to set up the 'Ralf headshell' quite easily and it sits perfectly into the Lofgren A null points. I adjusted VTA, VTF and azimuth. I must say that the azimuth adjustment was much easier than my old headshell. The Ralf Headshell rotated smoothly around the tonearm end. It was almost pleasurable. I gently tightened the tiny grub screws. Half-turn was enough.
OK, I was now ready for the moment of truth. Turned on the system and let warm up for a few minutes while I did a little tidying and choosing a vinyl. I usually start of with some gentle vocals and then progress to orchestral and some classic rock. Tonight, my plan was to advance to some of my most ‘difficult' lps.
1. Stacy Kent – In Love Again
Wow! An immediate sweet sound that was stable. Beautiful mid range and high frequencies dancing into my ears. This recording does not really have a prominent bass line but certainly the any deficiency in the lower frequencies would be apparent in the middle and upper frequencies.
Ok, I was starting to relax. But I was still anticipating the middle and inner grooves. But I had to remind myself that this was an off-set headshell and it is a perfect fit and it is set up accurately. The rest of the LP played smoothly and was sweet from beginning to end. I was smiling.
2. Casandra Wilson – Night til Dawn – Blue Note
I love this recording and I the rich dark colours and timbre of Casandra’s voice. Its also got mega imaging of the percussion instruments. Now I was starting feel like I was heaven as the sound I had dreamed of was becoming a reality. The voices and instruments have presence. The imaging is accurate and spectacular. The drums have density and impact and immediacy like Mohammed Ali could stinging the air.
I don’t understand all the science to a high level – but I have ears. I am a musician and I love organic sound that captures the timbres of real voices and instruments.
3. Rite of Spring – Monteax and Paris Conservatoire Orch – RCA Living Stereo
This is a difficult piece to record and I was so delighted with the dynamics – sound stage – timre and it was alive. That’s a major test. The powerful bass frequencies were palpable and the timps resonating through the room.
4. Mozart Requiem – Dunedin Consort – Linn Records
This a truly marvellous recording. Sometimes the high frequencies have caused some problems. But I have to say they that high vocals (in forte passages too) were smooth with the air in an excited but controlled state.
5. Handel Messiah – Dunedin Consort – Linn Records
Again a truly magnificent recording. A little more ‘natural’ than the Requiem. The Hallelujah Chorus is tricky as it also crescendos and goes higher and higher in pitches. The headshell – tone arm combo performed beautifully again.
Conclusion:
The goal to adapt a straight zero off-set tonearm to an off-set arm has been successful. My arm is perhaps quite difficult to design a headshell for because it is a very small mass, made of ebony and needed to be very precise workmanship to make.
I am grateful to Ralf for helping me to love my system and experiencing the music to the fullest level of enjoyment. I can zone out for a full side of an LP and know that I am in heaven.
🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂
Kind regards, Bob
