P.S. correction
Setting the VTA for a 180gr record and using the mat for the lower weight records.
VTA my compromise in setting
I installed a new Audiomods Classic Six tonearm replacing a 37 year old Rega RB300 . During install I had to make a decision on where to set the VTA since it has to be locked in . I settled on using a 160gr record for my compromise , this being only a little lower than many of today's 180gr and slightly raised for most of my 50's , 60's and 70's collection . This leaves my few 200gr and those 100gr to 120gr RCA dynaflex records very compromised .
For those who have the option to lock your setting in where did you decide to compromise ?
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@vair68robert, set the arm for 180g. Play a 160g record and then play it again with a 1mm paper makeshift mat. See if you can hear a difference. . |
For the first time in a while I agree with mijostyn. And testpilot. I have very expensive cartridges and on-the-fly VTA adjustment. I also rely upon the amazing Brian Walsh to set up my tables. I have had the pleasure of having him to my home five times. Not once has he counseled me to adjust VTA depending upon the thickness of each record. Nor would I. The quality of the pressing far outweighs the importance of optimum VTA/SRA for each recording. Life is short. If you are so OCD as to desire to achieve optimum SRA for every record, good on you. It is a noble goal for sure. To draw an analogy, I know people who can not stand the thought of driving a dirty car for a single day. Or even driving a car with a dirty windshield. I once knew a guy who would get down on hand and knees with a toothbrush and detergent to scrub the tile grout in his kitchen immediately after hosting a dinner party. His wife divorced him, go figure. To each their own. Each of us needs to decide how to live and what is important and what is not. Sorry for playing armchair psychologist and life-coach. |
My Grado cartridge is quite sensitive to slight variations in VTA. Prior to Grado (started using Grado 20 years ago) slight VTA variations were not an issue with the Sure V15 III's I used from the mid 70's thru 1986. Decks have all been Thorens/SME combos with the exception of a stock TD165 that I purchased to experiment with (most of the popular online mods of 20 years ago were tried). My most used shim "mat" is a thin/floppy Fripp and Eno import LP that I purchased around 1977/78. It incurred a bad scratch early on but for some reason (?) I hung onto it. As an experiment try a thin LP as a "shim" mat to see what it does. DeKay |
I played a 180gr , then a 145gr same title , then I made a paper mat just less than 1mm placed it under the 145gr , I could not hear a difference . So I agree with you about what little or no difference there can be , Thanks for advising me to do a test to hear for myself , so a compromise setting at 160gr seems to be just right . I came to this by following Peter Ledermann's advice given on his videos . My question was for those of you who can adjust your VTA but have to lock it in where do you set yours ? I do not have a dial or a micrometer , my TT has a spring suspension , I have to raise and lower by hand and then lock it at that height .
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