Shure Phonograph TTR-101 User Guide

NO.

33%

f

TTR-101

‘“AN

-

STEREO THE TRACKABILITY TEST RECORD

AU

10

OBSTACLE

OURSE”

1

\

\

ABOUT THIS RECORDING

This recording is unique. Its purpose is to demon- gross distortion and noise. (See other side of this
Strate a heretofore neglected factor in phono pickup sheet for further details
design-namely, the ability of the pickup to stay in
contact with the groove modulations Over a wide Most cartridges should be able to effectively track the
range of frequencies and intensities; in other words, mildest level at their rated needle force, but only a
to track the groove.

Recording engineers have known for many years that
the tracking ability of pickups is the main factor in
determining the dynamic range of the records which
they may cut. Sometimes, tracking demands may be

so

severe as to make some recorded passages unplay­able. The needle will simply jump to the next groove‘
or, mistracking may be
note to buzz, a bell to sound leaden or cymbal
clashes to resemble sandpaper sheets rub6ed together.

We’ll explore tracking demands in this record by re­producing a number of musical
mild recorded level, then at progressi;ely higher re­corded levels. As the recording level increases, the
velocitv* of the stvlus increases enormouslv. Eventu­nllv, ekn thc best-stylus cannot follow the wildly un­dulnting grooves and mirrrncking mkc9 place. It may

3

bu only

momrnrary ”click,” or 3 severe, sustnincd,

so

subtle as to cause a pian;

sounds

first at a very

SIDE

This side

stereo effect, rather, the sarne soitnd

R E

C

0

R

D E D M A TE R I A

BAND 1-INTRODUCTION

A

completely self-explanatory introduction to the NOTE: BEAD ”GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS”

recorded material that

BAND 2-ORCHESTRAL BELLS

The most severe high frequency trackability
on this record.
tones are well within the singing range, and are sound of
not really very
corded harmonics (particularly the higher
have

so

much

rry

ng

to

actuallyexceeo 25cmlsec

BAND 3-DRUM AND CYMBAL

The drum-roll
may be disregarded. This band

test

BAND &ANTI-SKATING BAND

Place the stylus midway

It

toward the edge. The anti-skating
be adjusted
rapidly

BANO 5-BASS DRUM

This

test.

you hear
not
cially the loudspeaker)

because of the low frequency vibrations. needle

BAND 6-SILENT GROOVES

These grooves are unmodulated and

tests

rema’n

warning” for the upcoming cym,bal sound and

for

mistracking of strong transients. wood-block striking simultaneously. The

should not “skate”

in

either direction.

is

an excellent low-frequency trackability Thc sound should be smooth---especially

Make certain that the mistracking sound beginning

is

to

some object or piece of furniture (espe- thereafter. The sound

for

hum, rumble and surface noise.

is

recorded

in

both channels sitnrrltaneoirsly.

I,

follows.

Even

though the fundamental Judge the sound of

loud

even

at

level

enerrrv

‘n?nc

serves

that the

stvlus

groove.

siylus

(!)

at

10,000

only as a lead-in and The

is

in

the wide blank band. This should be considered on1y.a rough indica-

in

toward the

so

that the

tone

arm

does

due

to

the record and cartridge, and mistracking

in

the room rattling about noticeably resonant.

test

four, the

ones)

has

“fits”

velocities

Hz

(CPS).

an

excellent

center

force

should adjustment follow the instructions provided with

not move your tone arm or changer. This test isexplained,on

serve

truly exceptional pickup will track the 4th level with­out breakuu. Each level is 4 db or
the precedhg one, and consequently the 4-stcps en­compass a total increase of
corded levels are

so

great that it seems a near miracle that any car­tridge could successfully track level 4-but the V-15
Type

I1

Improved does
a Shure-SME Tone Arm with a professional quality
turntable, With other equipment, the V15 Type
Improved may also track level 4 at
depending

Side 1 is designed to test tracking ability at very high
and very low frequencies and is recorded in both
channels. Side 2 has single channel stereo tests for
1,000 cycle level, channel balance, phasing and track­ing ability using several musical instruments.

*

on

the quality of the other equipment.

Velocity perpendicular to the groove.

I.

will

he

heard corning froin both speakers.

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR

ABOVE THOROUGHLY BEFORE LISTEN-

ING

FURTHER.

Listen

to

the sound of the bells at the first level.

re-

or tion of skating force compensation. For precise

as Ideally, you should “hear” silence from these

rasping, knocking” sound.

papery,” pulled-apart sound at the initial cymbal
stroke. There may be a “tick,” or a sound like a

berant “tail” of sound

the recording. The sound of the

grooves.

level

first

indication

of

is

will

actually jump the groove

on

trackability.)

58%

higher than

400%!

so

high and the velocity increase

so,

It

does

not

levels 2,

1.

Mistracking sounds like a

of

mistracking

is

the drum stroke. First

a rattle at the stroke and shortly

will

In

Actually the re-

and well at 1% grams

1%

or 1% grams,

create the

3,

and 4 against the

is

a “sand-

is

immaterial.

effect

on

this band.

rever-

at

usually unaffected.

test

be deep, harsh and

severe mistracking, the

in

11

the

of

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

0

DO

NOT PLAY THIS RECORD WITH A levels

MONOPHONIC CARTRIDGE. your ear may have been “conditioned” to improper

Use only a stereo cartridge, Set tracking
lightest recommended force. Sometimes, increasing

the force (but never above the recommended maxi- mistrackin&
mum) helps trackability. Avoid repeated playing of

this record with low
high

frequency

erased by the groove-deforming

0

All four recorded levels of 3ny one instrument tracking

llave

been taken

Silme

rccordecl

h:lve been increased electronically at the head Prcsslngs. damaged record grooves, loudspeaker

-thc balance of the recording eauinment. settings. breakup
etc.. remain exactly the same for all’four levels.

limitei-s and compressors were taken out of the
record-cutting circuit.

0

You

are urged to keep a “score chart” of the car-

tridee. (See below.) Audio “memorv” is demonstrablv

too‘limited to be felied upon in th&e precise tests.

0

ALWAYS compare the sound of levels 2,
against the
any instrument

c

sound

trackability

characteristics

from

intensity.

of level

should

of

action

identical

The levels

1.

The

be the way that the -other

cartridges

the

sound

force

to

because

record

will

of

tapes

on

of level 1 of

be

the stylus,

of

tile

the record have, blamed this mistracking distortion on poor

All

~~

3,

&

4

SIDE

This side

bands

is

recorded in stereo; band

6-9

incorporate the sanre instruments as bands

one,

sound.

This is especially important because

timbre, etc., by many, many years of hearing vari-

ous

Of

these

recorded

0

Insofar as each instrument is recorded alone, mis­tracking distortion
this record.
eral instruments are usually playing at once, the mis-

pinpoint. but be assured it exists.

0

won’t track well at its minimum rated tracking force.

If

so.

however,‘ you will have to pay the price
record weal and shorter stylus life.

e

arms are not necessarily accurate. It is recommended
that you acquire a separate gauge, such as the Shure
SFG-2 bration Stylus

In

a commercial recording, because sev-

Of

any one instrument may be harder to

Or

a

host

It is possible that your present stereo cartridge

it Drobablv will track better at a heavier force:

The built-in calibration adjustments

of

your Force tone Gauge, arm. to double check the cali-

instruments

is

easy for the ear to isolate

Of

Other

reasons.

distorted

In

the past you may

on

in

some tone

2.

both channels; bands

2-5

2-5,

but

left channel; and

in the right channel.

RECORDED MATERIAL WHAT TO LISTEN FOR

BAND I-CHANNEL BALANCE AND PHASING

Enables you
cording describes exactly what

BAND 2-LEFT CHANNEL
BAND 6-RIGHT CHANNEL

and mid-range- mistrackingl
note that the tones of the electric organ
virtuallv

BAND 3-LEFT CHANNEL
BANO 7-RIGHT CHANNEL

The piano,
because of its wealth of overtones, makes

excellent

BAND &LEFT CHANNEL

BAND 8-RIGHT CHANNEL ACCoRoloN

The accordion

of

its many harmonics and lack of an initial at- organ. There

tack or stroke (the sound

BANO 5-LEFT CHANNEL
BANO 9-RIGHT CHANNEL

Combines many of the difficulties

and string instruments.
trackability tests
Actually some commercial recordings of harpsi-

chords mistrack far worse than this example

(even

when other

time.

to

check your system. Voice on

“oure”

with

..

never

mid-range trackability

to

the point of sustained gross distortion)

instruments

verv

an easy instrument

is

well

suited

in

the middle

to

effective test

ltis

few

transients.

to

our

“swells”

Excellent

are

playing at the

listen

for,

ORGAN

inferesting-to

‘IANo

to

test.

tests

because

up.) sound-and not always during the “loudest”

of

percussion Effect of mistracking

instrument for initial plucking attack. Fuzzy, smeary sounds

to

high ranges. throughout are other common symptoms

re-

etc.

for

low

are

record Mistracking effect can be heard as a buzz,

an

same

NOTE: READ “GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS”

ABOVE THOROUGHLY BEFORE LISTEN-

ING

FURTHER.

Comoare the sound
Ikvel’~nlf,mber
buzzy hummy, fuzzy tone, particularly
closink chord. Listen also for false internal dis­sonan&

in

crackle or rattle
each tone. Notice especially the attack of the
closing chord. The
playing together, very slightly
tune.

Mistracking has an effect,:imilar

sections.

harpsichord mistracking.

of

levels

2,

3,

1.

,First

effect

the closing chord.

in

the initial “attack” portion of

effect

is

often a tearing-apart’’ of the

is

and 4 against These bands constitute an

of mistracking

can be like two pianos

out

of

to

a “knocking”

time

the

by

on

greater

is

in

the

and

electric

in

the

J

--.

a

of

HOW

Rule one in comparing cartridge trackabilitv is

For

A-B test would be ideal for comparing cartridges, but this takes expensive equip­ment and precise setups. We recommend that
Simply grade the cartridge
bands. (See “Scorinr Table.”) Then vou can commre one cartridee aeainst an-

D&C-Drum and Cymbal

PRODUCED

The Development Engineering Department
SHIJRE BROTHERS

TO

“KEEP

one thing, Gidio memory-is amazingly-short

OB-Orchestral Bells

BY:

SCORE”

“0,”

“S.”

“X.”

BD-Bass

INC..

Orum

~=~l~~~ic

222

OF

CARTRIDGE TRACKABILITY

DO

NOT TI

RUST TO MEMORY.

. , .

even among “experts.”

011

or

Organ

use the chart at the right.

‘4’

for its ability to track various

A-Accordion
H-Harpsichord

An

of

HARTREY A VENUE. EVAN.FTON. II.IJNOIS

SCORING

S-Mictrarkc

kCracKles

Considerably

TABLE

Sliehtlv

60204

SIDE

1-MONO

V-15

,

SIDE 2-STEREO

Left

Channel Right Channel

see other side for information

Tvne

II

Imnroved

Suner-Track

on

the Shure

CartridPc!

what the critics

say

about

V-

I5

the

Type

11

Improved:

The results of performance tests on the Shure

V-15 Type

Laboratories were published in
of

Stereo Review.

They said

I1

Improved by Hirsch-Houck

a

of

its trackability:

recent issue

“The ‘trackability’ score for the V-15 Type II
Improved is by a comfortable margin the best
we have measured to date.”

In describing its tone burst response, they
said

:

“Tone burst response, using the Stereo Re­view SR-12 test record, was perfect
highest frequencies

.

.

.”

UP

to the

And of its sine wave response:

“.

. .

Tracked the heavy bass bands on the
Cook Series
the

30

child
duces a visually perfect sine wave
cartridge we have tested that has done

60

test record at 0.75 grams, and

cdsec, 1,000

101

test record at 1 gram.. . (and) pro-

Hz

bands of the Fair-

-

the first

so.”

And finally, describing its total performance,
Hirsch-Houck said the Shure
Improved was

“As

neutral a cartridge as we have heard

:

V-15

Type

I1

. . .

unstrained, effortless, and a delight to listen
too.”

. . .

highest trackability

at

the lightest tracking forces

THE

now

The world-famous, computer-designed Shure V-15 Type
ability phono cartridge heralded a new epoch in high performance car-

tridges. Now, Shure has

mid-frequency range of the V-15 Type I1 without affecting its redoubt­able treble

frequency passages can be tracked at super-light, record-saving forces!

WHAT TRACKABILITY MEANS TO YOU

&

The “secret”
the hyper-complex record groove up to and beyond the theoretical

cutting limits

frequencies, but across the entire audible spectrum-and at light track­ing forces that are below both the threshold of audible record wear and
excessive stylus tip wear.

THE SHURE V-15 TYPE I1 IMPROVED GIVES
SUPERIOR TRACKABILITY AT LIGHT FORCES

No

off-the-dealer-shelf samples of all makes and many models of cartridges)
can equal the Shure V-15 Type I1 in fulfilling all
a High Trackability cartridge-both initially and after prolonged testing,
especially at record-and-stylus saving low tracking forces. The Shure
V-15 Type

the majority

in the recording industry have brought about
records which require 1 gram tracking force in order to fully capture the
expanded dynamic range of the recorded material.

THE PRACTICAL EFFECT OF IMPROVED
BASS TRACKABILITY

Where, in the past, you may have been required to increase tracking
forces to track heavily modulated bass drum, tympani, organ pedal,
bassoon, tuba,
out increasing tracking force, without bass flutter,
means that you can reduce 1% gram tracking force to
gram to

YOU CAN IMPROVE YOUR PRESENT V-15 TYPE I1

You

Type I1 by using the VNISE IMPROVED stylus listed at right. Look
for the word “Shure” in red letters on the stylus grip.

This chart depicts the new performance specification of trackability.
Unlike the over-simplified and generally misunderstood design param­eter specifications of compliance and mass, trackability is a measure

of

in actual practice many records are produced which exceed these theo-

studied and the greater its distance above the grey area, the better the

...

with improved trackability in the bass and mid-frequency range

improved the trackability of the bass and

. . .

so

that even recordings with very heavily modulated low

YOUR RECORDINGS

of

High Trackability is to enable the stylus tip to follow

of

modern recordings-not only at select and discrete

cartridge that we have tested (and we have repeatedly tested random

of

I1

Improved “Super-Track” Cartridge is capable of tracking

of

records at

or

piano passages, you can now play these passages with-

34

gram for records with high velocity bass material.

can attain this superior bass trackability with your present V-15

TRACKABILITY AS A MEANINGFUL SPECIFICATION

total performance. The chart shows frequency across the bottom, and
modulation velocities in CM/SEC up the side. The grey area represents
the maximum theoretical limits for cutting recorded velocities; however,

retical limits. The smoother the curve

trackability. The trackability
shown by the top (solid black) lines.

3/4

gram!* However, state-of-the-art advances

of

of

the Shure V-15 Type

a

growing number

or

the individual cartridge being

V-I5

I1

Super Track-

the requirements of

of

IM

distortion. This

1

gram, or 1

11

Improved is

TYPE

*SPECIAL

%
%

quality automatic turntable arm capable

Trackability at 1 gram tracking force using a Shure/SME Arm:
28 CM/SEC at 400 Hz 30 CM/SEC at
35 CM/SEC at 1,000 Hz 22 CM/SEC at 10,000 Hz

Frequency Response: From 20 to 25,000 Hz
Output Voltage: 3.4 mv per channel at 1,000 Hz at 5 CM/SEC peak

Channel Separation: Over 25 db at 1,000 Hz
Channel Balance: Output from each channel within 2 db

Stylus: VNI 5E Bi-Radial Elliptical Stylus, Diamond Tip.

Tracking Force
Recommended Load Impedance: Nominally 47,000 ohms (per channel).

Input,Capacitance: 400-500 Pico-Farads per channel, including tone arm
Inductance: 720 millihenries

D.C. Resistance: 630 ohms
Terminals: 4 terminals (with
Weight: Net weight-6.8 grams
Mounting: Standard
MODEL V-15 TYPE

MODEL VN15E IMPROVED ELLIPTICAL STYLUS
MODEL V-15 11-7 SUPER-TRACK CARTRIDGE WITH
MODEL VN7 STYLUS-,0007” DIAMOND STYLUS

NOTE:

gram tracking requires not only a cartridge capable

gram, but also a

.0007 Inch (18 microns) frontal radius;

,0002

,0010

VN7-,0007 inch diameter, spherical stylus

Can be used
frequency response.

wiring.

CARTRIDGE

fits V-15 Type
,0007’’ SPHERICAL STYLUS

fits V-15 11-7 Cartridges

high

quality manual arm (such as Shure

SPECIFICATIONS

velocity

Over 17 db at 500 to 10.000 Hz

Inch (5 microns) side contact radii;
Inch (25 microns) wide between record contact points

3/4

to 1% grams

up

to

70,000 ohms with almost inaudible change in

loop

%

inch (12.7 mm) mounting centers.

11

IMPROVED SUPER-TRACK

I1

improved, V-15 Type

(improved)

-

V-15

TYPE

II

(IMPROVED)

of

effectively tracking at

of

tracking at % gram.

5,000

pinjack for 3-terminal connection)

11,

or

V-15 11-7

(1

SME)

Hz

GRAM)

or a high