CLEARAUDIO TRACKABILITY TEST RECORD

The Trackabillity provides information on the sampling characteristics of your tonearm / cartridge combination. The higher the value achieved, the better the relevant tonearm / cartridge combination is to scan difficult groove modulations without distortion. Amplitude accurancy +- 0.1 dB

Media: 180 g Vinyl

Tracking Ability Test

If you ́d like to learn more about the tracking abilities of your tonearm-cartridge combination, this test is a perfect tool. We cut a 315 hz signal and increase the amplitude in steps of 10 (1 = 0.001 mm) from 50 to 100. The higher the value, the better your tonearm-cartridge combination should be able to track even heavily modulated grooves without audible distortion.

Please make sure that your turntable is pefectly leveled, the azimuth and vertical tracking angle are properly set (We recommend using the Clearaudio Azimuth Optimizer).

Start this tracking ability test by using the minimum recommended tracking force (antiskating set accordingly) and gradually increase both values until your cartridge is tracking 80 in both channels. Attention:

Do not exceed the manufacture ́s recommended maximum tracking force to prevent any damages. Keep in mind your records more than a marginally raised value would do.

If there is more distortion in one channel than in the other, please vary the antiskating force until both channels sound equally clean. Once the test signal begins to distort in both channels, the tonearm and cartridge are no longer able to track the grove correcty.

It is a very good result if a cartidge tracks 80 without distortion. The test signal of 90 and 100 are extrem amplitudes, which never show up in cutted music signals but if tracked by a cartridge it indicates a safety margin.