Tonearm Parallel?

I own a Sound-Smith Paua II on a VPI Prime Signature with JMW Uni-Pivot. Thought I had the cart and arm zeroed in but just had the opportunity to have J.R. from WAM Eng. install the dual pivot and correctly set up the cart. All I can say is WOW. You don't know what you are missing until you hear your TT/arm/cart properly set up. Fine Line styli require very careful alignment to sit into the grooves properly. I'm not trying to promote WAM but in my experience I now am convinced that without the proper set-up tools your cart is probably not performing at it's best. The geometries involved are in the sub-micron range. It's not something you can do by ear.

@yogiboy I have the same tool. Works great!

The late , brilliant AJ Conti of Basis Turntables said that he thought that being obsessed w/ “perfect” VTA was mostly a waste of time because records can be different thicknesses & can be cut to different depths too. And this was a man OBSESSED w/ precision & details! He 

His turntables & tone arms have stood the test  of time are amongst the very best available. I’ve had my 2500 & Vector 4 arm for 20 years, changed the belt & cartridge once & still sounds excellent & only recently has digital music sources truly competed vs. it. 

I assume that the angles mentionned with the cartridge instructions will be achieved when the tonearm is parallel. 
 

now every cartridge has a different height, mostly between 17 and 19 mm. As i swap cartridges regularly i would have to optimize with every swap. Which i am too lazy. 
 

I read values of 4 to 8 mm for the tonearm to be raised which sounds enormous. Other statements are ‚slightly, higher  at the bearing side. 
 

I will give it 2-3 mm.

FWIW, I always start with top of headshell parallel to platter surface and if necessary adjust up or down in tiny increments (<2mm typically) if need is perceived. And yes you can do this by ear.