Two VTA adjustment questions

[eyeteeth]

I've got a couple tweaks and inexpensive tools on their way to me to hopefully add a little to performance.

One tweak is a replacement mat. I will undoubtably need to adjust the VTA, which will be my first time. I am basically trying to get the arm as parallel as possible to the record? Also I thought I'd do the adjustment with a 180 gram record in place as a compromise between the lesser weights and 200 gram records.

Are these sound strategies?

 

[GWN]

Yes, the parallel arm will get you in the ballpark (hard to do with a tapered tube tonearm ala Rega). You can fine tune by ear. Depending on the style of the cartridge another method is to ensure that the front of the cartridge is perpendicular to the record surface (works well with Grado, Denon, etc.). I also use a 180gr record to set VTA.

 

[Rob N]

SME arms are easier to get parallel because they have horizontal lines on the side of the arm tube

 

[Anders]

The vertical tracking angle of the stylus should be the same as for the cutting stylus. There is a standard for the cutting angle but the actual angels vary a little between records. Moreover, the thickness of records vary as you mentioned. So you cannot get this absolutely right. But getting the arm parallell to the record is a good start.
It is rather easy to adjust the setting by ear. Too much bass and you have to heighten the tonearm, lower it if it is sounding too thin.

 

[eyeteeth]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anders Too much bass and you have to heighten the tonearm, lower it if it is sounding too thin.

Nice tip...thanks.