[jimmers]

VTA (or SRA?) important.
Or ...
http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/vta_e.html

 

[Mike Foley]

Whenever I change cartridges I make sure that the arm is parallel with an average record, and leave it at that. Life is too short to adjust VTA each time one switches from standard LPs to 180gm pressings. Some people actually do that. They either have better hearing than me (probably correct), or need to relax and just enjoy the tunes.

 

[FLTWS]

VTA (or SRA?) important.
Or ...
http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/vta_e.html

That too!. But CD's only with Yggy simplified my music listening life.

 

[Kn1nJa]

=

Winders AFTER meeting me!!!!

As a former radiologic technologist, that is some really fine work. The alignment is absolutely superb (especially given how bad the fractures were). Bet that wasn't a quick surgery.

 

[rkw]

Whenever I change cartridges I make sure that the arm is parallel with an average record, and leave it at that. Life is too short to adjust VTA each time one switches from standard LPs to 180gm pressings. Some people actually do that. They either have better hearing than me (probably correct), or need to relax and just enjoy the tunes.

Supposedly it depends on the shape of the stylus too. Conical shape being less sensitive to VTA than higher resolving elliptical stylus.

 

[Pandahead]

Whenever I change cartridges I make sure that the arm is parallel with an average record, and leave it at that. Life is too short to adjust VTA each time one switches from standard LPs to 180gm pressings. Some people actually do that. They either have better hearing than me (probably correct), or need to relax and just enjoy the tunes.

That assumes everything was manufactured perfectly. If the cantilever is off a little and the insertion of the stylus off a little it can easily add up to a few degrees. Best to check with an optical (use your own eye) or USB microscope (small investment) to see exactly how the tip (of your possibly large investment) settles in. A little tedious to do, but with enough magnification it's plain as day. It takes a surprising amount of height adjustment to to go from say an 88 degree angle to a 91 degree angle.

So adjusting for 180 gram vinyl? I'm not touching that one! But getting the stylus in the groove correctly can make a cartridge that you thought sounded good (and paid for) sound way way better if it's off. It's easy to hear and worth doing. And probably/possibly a different return for your effort for different types of cartridges(stylus shapes). Also given time the suspension of the cantilever may settle a little.

 

[Mike Foley]

That makes sense @rkw .

My cartridge is an Ortofon 520II mm, elliptical stylus, and it is more fussy about setup than some budget cartridges I’ve used in the past. A more revealing turntable and arm would also highlight any shortcomings in setup, but as I don’t own a Caliburn I shall not worry about that.

I do fancy trying Sol, but unfortunately it’s not suitable for my system. We have a cat !

 

[artur9]

That Sol arm is one gorgeous piece of engineering. TT porn at it's shiny best!

Talking about DSP etc, would an analog EQ make these speakers sound better than a MiniDSP based solution? I have a personal dislike for MiniDSP products.

 

[wink]

Why not have a separate arm for each cartridge you want to use.? Set up once and forget............
...and, sorry about your wallet.....

 

[bosiemoncrieff]

The 62 Tristan is en route from Australia. And maestro jimmy has been formally suspended.

 

[Baldr]

My last request to Conrad was an easily adjustable VTA adjust which is right behind the pivot on the back of the arm member of the plinth. A simple twist of a knob allows VTA adjust by eye, level, or ear while the record is playing (or not) with no danger of skipping or record damage. Thick records are easily compensated for on the fly. A careful examination of the arm reveals the needle can and should remain on a vertical plane from the counterweight center through the pivot. This keeps the arm from rocking on record warps, a common problem with unipivots. Also the pivot height is at an optimum position for stability vs. tracking force variation with record warps. This prevents/minimizes the wobbly feel of unipivots, which are the least mechanically constrained of any tonearm design.

 

[slefty]

My last request to Conrad was an easily adjustable VTA adjust which is right behind the pivot on the back of the arm member of the plinth. A simple twist of a knob allows VTA adjust by eye, level, or ear while the record is playing (or not) with no danger of skipping or record damage. Thick records are easily compensated for on the fly. A careful examination of the arm reveals the needle can and should remain on a vertical plane from the counterweight center through the pivot. This keeps the arm from rocking on record warps, a common problem with unipivots. Also the pivot height is at an optimum position for stability vs. tracking force variation with record warps. This prevents/minimizes the wobbly feel of unipivots, which are the least mechanically constrained of any tonearm design.

Thanks! Having the arm designed for easy adjustment is significant, especially at the lower cost end of the spectrum (it is expected and common in higher priced arms). I don't get fussy about changing VTA for every album, but do make sure it is correct on average for the cartridge installed.

I'm always surprised at how often I check people's turntable setups and find either VTA or overhang set very far off. I recently checked out a friends table (from a decent reputable company) that came with a "pre-aligned" cartridge, and though it was set fine at the inner null point, it was way off on the outer null point (Stevenson alignment). Took about 15 minutes to line it up perfectly (I brought my own protractor with me) and there was far less audible distortion, even over his relatively budget oriented system.

 

[Pietro Cozzi Tinin]

And maestro jimmy has been formally suspended.

As he should be long ago.

 

[EricDH]

As he should be long ago.

Well that is one of the biggest (and most embarrassing) questions about this #metoo movement: how is it possible that all those organizations have been accepting such behavior all that time?

 

[Pietro Cozzi Tinin]

Well that is one of the biggest (and most embarrassing) questions about this #metoo movement: how is it possible that all those organizations have been accepting such behavior all that time?

Abuse in all it's forms is what our world is built on alas.