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Probably the first job to do is to make sure that the cartridge is aligned properly in the headshell. I had originally aligned mine using a very basic cartridge protractor that I had got with one of my previous turntables. The one that comes with the HFN test LP is far more sophisticated and actually uses three techniques: a 'universal technique', a 'Linear offset technique', and a 'two point technique'. |
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I chose the 'two point technique' which it states is for 9 inch tone arms which my Rega 250 is. Slipping the protractor disk over the centre spindle on the platter, I placed the tip of the stylus carefully on one of the two positions indicated. And straight away, I could see that the alignment was out, so, loosining the bolts that secure the cartridge to the headshell, I adjusted it until it was parallel to the lines on the protractor. I then checked the alignment using the other position and made another minor adjustment before finally tightening the bolts. The first job done, painlessly and straight forward! |
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So to the LP itself. One thing that I found odd at first is that the tracks do not progress from one to the next as with a normal LP. You play one track and then have to position the arm to play the next one. When you think of it, this is a sensible method as you may well need to make an adjustment before going onto the next test track. I know in the past, I have spotted something that needed correcting but then forgotten to do anything as the next track had started and I focussed on that. OK, it's only a small point but I think that it illustrates just how much care and thought has gone into the HFN test LP. |
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The first track on side one is the usual channel identification test. I almost skipped that, after all the web master of Decibel Dungeon doesn't need to check that he has his cables and wires connected properly. WRONG - in my rush to connect up the turntable I had got my left and right hand channels crossed. If you haven't got this correct, it may affect some of the other tests so the moral is, don't skip the basics! |
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Track (or Band as it is called on the HFN LP) 2 checks that the phasing is correct. Don't worry if you don't understand these terms as they are all explained clearly on the sleeve notes. In fact, the first five tracks of the LP are all to do with checking the channel balance. Just go through them one by one, read the notes and you will soon understand what you should be listening for. |
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The last four tracks on side one are concerned with getting correct BIAS adjustment. There are four tracks that make things progressively harder for the arm/cartridge to follow the groove. By doing that, it is easier to adjust the BIAS control on the arm rather than try and get it correct on the 'hardest' track. Again, don't be put off by the terms used. These tests are basically a matter of you listening to a sound coming from the loudspeakers and then making an adjustment. The more that you do this, the easier it becomes to hear the differences in the sound that tell you when something is right or wrong. |
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Side two of the LP has tests of tracking ability, cartridge/arm resonance, cartridge alignment, residual system noise and a full-range system check. Again the notes on the sleeve tell you what you should be listening for (or looking for with the cartridge). |
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In conclusion, I found this test LP to be easy to use and after using it found that I had further improved my turntable set-up. Not bad when I had thought that it was OK before! So I can thoroughly recommend this test LP. But this isn't the end of the story.... |
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One thing that I now noticed was a lack of bass. I listened to a few different albums to confirm this and then set about rectifying it. I found that I needed to adjust the tracking weight. I find that the easiest way to do this is to add small amounts of 'Bluetack' to the top of the headshell. When I have got the correct weight I then adjust the actual tonearm counterweight. The bass returned but I could now tell that it was a bit on the soft side so I decided to take a look at the turntable mat. |
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Off came the mat that was cut out from one of those non-slip materials sold to go on draining boards etc. Someone had written to me a while ago saying that they had found that material to give poor bass quality. On went a thick rubber mat from an old Sony turntable and the bass firmed up but the timing seemed to have gone astray. Next I tried 12 small squares of self-adhesive cork, stuck in a circle either side of a circular piece of paper. This was by far the best sound that I had heard coming from my turntable so I continued the experiment by making up another mat using the same method but with two rings of the cork in the fashion of the famous 'RingMat'. This produced a further improvement, so much so that I became totally addicted to listening to my LP collection for the rest of the day (well it was Christmas). |
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No doubt, the experiments will go on but I am indebted for the Hi-Fi News test LP for not only helping me improve myturntable system but also re-igniting my enthusiasm for that part of my hi-fi system. If you have a turntable, I thoroughly recommend an investment in the HFN analogue test LP, it really does make a big improvement.
Copyright © 2002 Decibel Dungeon - Author Nick Whetstone |
