Problems with Fozgometer

[mtroo]

I have a VPI Avenger TT with the JMW 12 3DR tone arm and an Ortofon A95 cartridge. I have just purchased a Fozogmeter and installed the battery. However, when I turn it on, not plugged into anything, the Center channel and Right channel lights both light up. I unscrewed the 4 screws, removed the back and it still has Center and Right lit up.

I hooked it up to the RCA outputs from my Preamp and increasing played track 2 of the AP Test LP. Nothing. Increasing the gain made no difference. The needle would not budge.

I purchased the meter from Acoustic Sounds and I will call them tomorrow. If there is an easy fix, I will proceed with that. But, my understanding is the new meters are calibrated out of the box. And, there is no mention in the manual how to trouble shoot my circumstances.

Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks.

[vintage_tube]

Just a quick search revealed this -- you can further investigate it (add the missing characters)

ht..s://www.analogplanet.com/content/fozgometer-owner-alert

Best sir,

Bob

[mtroo]

Originally Posted by vintage_tube

Just a quick search revealed this -- you can further investigate it (add the missing characters)

ht..s://www.analogplanet.com/content/fozgometer-owner-alert

Best sir,

Bob

Wow, Bob. That was the quickest reply ever.

To my understanding, this addresses calibration if the meter reads other than zero when you turn on the meter. My problem involves a light that should not be lit.

Plus, $300 for a voltmeter that then needs to be calibrated brand new out of the box does not make me feel warm and fuzzy.

[vintage_tube]

Here are some more files -- may not relate your issue -- but you can deduce that on your own & if pertinent, save the file (add the missing character)

htt.://www.musicalsurroundings.com/FozgometerCalibration/

If it is acting up as stated, I'd ask for a replacement. Their customer service is first rate.

Best

Bib

[jdandy]

Tim.......One thing I noted from your post, the Fozgometer connects to your tonearm leads from the turntable, not to the preamp output.

[vintage_tube]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Tim.......One thing I noted from your post, the Fozgometer connects to your tonearm leads from the turntable, not to the preamp output.

I forgot to tell Tim I was turning it over to 2d level support -- (that be you, Dan). Call center work sucks.

Best Sir,

Bob

[jdandy]

https://www.audioaficionado.org/show...er+calibration

[mtroo]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Tim.......One thing I noted from your post, the Fozgometer connects to your tonearm leads from the turntable, not to the preamp output.

Dan,
For low output cartridges (<0.3 mv) the manual instructs one to hook up the Foz to the outputs of the preamp. Or, I think in my case, the E03.

Maybe I misunderstood?

[tima]

Originally Posted by mtroo

Dan,
For low output cartridges (<0.3 mv) the manual instructs one to hook up the Foz to the outputs of the preamp. Or, I think in my case, the E03.

Maybe I misunderstood?

Given you probably have a flawed unit, source connection won't matter. :-) Hopefully A-S corrects that quickly. And you should not need to calibrate when new out of the box. I checked the calibraton on mine after three years and it was only a teensy bit off. And fwiw, mine did not care for rechargeable or lithium batteries but no broader report on that from here. One more note before the subject at hand - when in use, keep the Fozgometer and cables away from other electronics such as line stages, phono stages, etc. - basically anything with a power supply. If too close these can lead to unpredictably distorted readings.

Whatever the cartridge output, given a properly working Foz, I suggest first trying it connected directly from the tonearm cable. Avoiding any sort of gain avoids possible differences in output voltage caused by the device providing the gain. If your LOMC directly won't work and you take the output from, say, a preamp, you might check the output voltage from each channel to see how well those match, and use the unit's balance control to adjust appropriately.

Overall, it works pretty well and its certainly easier than doing the maths yourself for each reading with just a voltage meter. I do wish the lines on the meter were thinner.

And for good measure, you can check azimuth by ear. Use a female vocalist with clear enunciation at center stage. If her voice splays left and/or right, adjust to get her mouth as small, as tightly focused, as possible.

[mtroo]

Originally Posted by tima

Given you probably have a flawed unit, source connection won't matter. :-) Hopefully A-S corrects that quickly. And you should not need to calibrate when new out of the box. I checked the calibraton on mine after three years and it was only a teensy bit off. And fwiw, mine did not care for rechargeable or lithium batteries but no broader report on that from here. One more note before the subject at hand - when in use, keep the Fozgometer and cables away from other electronics such as line stages, phono stages, etc. - basically anything with a power supply. If too close these can lead to unpredictably distorted readings.

Whatever the cartridge output, given a properly working Foz, I suggest first trying it connected directly from the tonearm cable. Avoiding any sort of gain avoids possible differences in output voltage caused by the device providing the gain. If your LOMC directly won't work and you take the output from, say, a preamp, you might check the output voltage from each channel to see how well those match, and use the unit's balance control to adjust appropriately.

Overall, it works pretty well and its certainly easier than doing the maths yourself for each reading with just a voltage meter. I do wish the lines on the meter were thinner.

And for good measure, you can check azimuth by ear. Use a female vocalist with clear enunciation at center stage. If her voice splays left and/or right, adjust to get her mouth as small, as tightly focused, as possible.

Tima,
Thank you. To clarify, in my case I would use my Esoteric E03 phonostage IF after trying to hook it up directly from the tonearm proves to be insufficient?