Azimuth Adjustment
Azimuth adjustment lets you change the cartridge’s sideways tilt, judged from the front, so its stylus—the needle—can sit upright in the record groove.
A Yes value means this adjustment is available. It does not give an angle or confirm that the cartridge is correctly aligned. Azimuth differs from arm-height adjustment, which changes the front-to-back angle involved in vertical tracking angle (VTA).
Azimuth Adjustment — Tonearm
The mechanism may rotate the headshell—the cartridge mounting piece—or the arm tube. Packing one side with a shim does not count as a built-in adjustment. If the feature is not mentioned, treat it as unknown rather than No. On a turntable supplied with an arm, check that fitted arm’s specification.
Follow the arm manufacturer’s procedure. Lift the stylus clear of the record before turning the adjustment, then lower it to check the result as instructed.
Sources
- RPM 9 Carbon manual — azimuth and VTA — Pro-Ject Audio Systems
- Signature 10 manual — azimuth adjustment — Pro-Ject Audio Systems
- Cartridge setup FAQ — azimuth and VTA — Ortofon