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Advice on setting VTA

I have set it before, but not exactly certain if I’m going about it the right way. I am generally setting it by eye, eyeballing the botton of cartridge body to get it as parallel as possible, sometimes using a 3x magnifier to assist.  I have also in the past used playing cards as a reference for some cartridges, so I have something to fall back on. Generally using the cards stacked at the tonearm base, similar to using feeler gauges. I’ve read that using an index card on top of record can be a good way to set it due to the parallel lines on the card. My question is what am looking at to get parallel? The bottom of tonearm, top, or the bottom of cartridge? The tone arm is a carbon fiber/aluminum 9 inch pro-ject. It does appear to have a slight taper towards the headshell end of arm.
128x128audioguy85
dwette
183 posts
 
I use this to make sure the arm is parallel then adjust from there.

http://aaudioimports.com/ShowProduct.asp?hProduct=81

Damn! $85? I have one of these. Got it on eBay for about $5. 😳
dwette
183 posts
 
I don't get too hung up about VTA, but I do have dynamic VTA adjustment. I find settings each for 200 gr, 180 gr and older thinner records. Spend some time listening/adjusting (a tad tail down with my DV XV-1S) and note the position for each record weight. I dial that in for each record I play which is easy. 
avanti1960
1,487 posts
 
setting the headshell level is a great baseline starting point since most cartridges are designed to sound their best at that position.  i use a small bubble level on top of the flat part of the headshell while the stylus is in the groove.  make sure the plinth is level and that vtf temporarily compensates for the weight of the level.  
run it this way and adjust to taste, raising slightly if the sound is muffled or bass heavy, lowering slightly if the sound is bright or edgy.  rsise or lower in 1/2 mm increments and note your original height and your adjusted heights using a log book.  
good luck, you will get there!
vinylvalet
906 posts
 
The analogmagik system is "A Scientific & Repeatable Method To Calibrate: Speed, Wow & Flutter, Azimuth, VTA, VTF, Anti-skating, Loading, Gain, Vibrations & Resonance Frequencies." to quote from their website.
petg60
1,486 posts
 
hi,
what you want to achieve is correct or very close SRA.
There is not correct or wrong VTA depends from cantilever position and how stylus is attached onto it. You may discover in the end that back of tonearm is high or low. My practice is to align the cantilever and stylus first and then search for the magic spot with VTA/SRA.. Do not forget that tracking weight is also in the equation and not a minor point of alignment. If bass is fast, tight, high positioned in picture then it is almost done.
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