Eminent Technology ET-2 Tonearm Owners

Last time I did an extended cartridge optimization session for a customer (SME arm), we extensively tweaked the tracking force and bias (.. ;-) by ear.
Start at the lower end of the tracking force, and prepare small balls of Blue-Tak at 0.1 gram, measuring them with a precision scale 0f 0.01 gram resolution.
By adding them (side by side and not pushing them flat) you’ll find a spot where the sound starts to feel slightly compressed, slower and too creamy (= too high tracking force / too low VTA), instead of dynamic, fast and a bit dry.
Go back to one mini-blob less and do the same with mini-blobs of ca. 0.01 gram.
It’s surprising how audible this is. It’s worthwile to start with finding the best VTA, do the weight optimization, go back to VTA and do the weight thing again. The weight adjustment and VTA interrelate *somewhat*, but they are not the same.
*Check the lateral balance=calm free floating in the middle, when adjusting VTA with the ET adjustment!*
Otherwise you introduce a major variable, while tuning a subtle, important factor.
It’s not a real hassle. But it’s ear opening.

vpi, the VDH MC1 was my first "serious" cartridge purchased more years ago than seems possible. It came back to me upgraded to "Special" status (free of charge) after its third (!) trip back to the Nederlands for retipping. Always liked that cartridge and still do and I agree with your description of its sound relative to Lyra’s. What you describe as "upfront" I hear as simply the fact that it produces individual images which are larger than what I experienced with the two Lyras that I have had and in a generally smaller soundstage. Loved its realistically full midrange tonal balance.

I have done a lot of back and forth with my aluminum and magnesium wands and have come to the conclusion that, theoretical or technical "best" considerations aside, which wand is best is very system and taste dependent. I much preferred the magnesium wand with that cartridge as I found that the aluminum wand tended to take the sound still more in the direction of larger individual images in a smaller soundstage than the magnesium which offered better defined and slightly smaller individual images in a broader soundstage. The magnesium also tended to give a better tonal balance. The aluminum, to my ears, had an overall darker midrange but with more prominent upper frequencies and a slight sense of discontinuity between the two. Again... in my system. Just some possible food for thought. Btw, not as precarious as it may seem if one is careful, but try removing the shell off of the cartridge. Easy to do and the improvement in sound is not subtle. Regards.

Apologies to the Dutch for misspelling The Netherlands 😔

No worries frogman. I have known a few Dutch and I think they do spell it "Nederlands". ;)

Dave

@frogman 
Pretty remarkable we are hearing the same subtle differences between arm wands with the VDH.  Guess my 73 year old ears aren't as bad as I thought.  The focus of individual instruments in space (particularly piano) don't seem quite as sharp with aluminum but I was able to sharpen it with VTA.  My setup requires me to listen rather near field and the aluminum wand does push things a little further back in the stage.

 I wondered if the VDH case was removable but prior experience prevents me from being that brave.  If you recall, removing the case was a tweak many performed on the Lyra Clavis with the warning that removal dangerously exposed the cantilever.  I removed my Clavis case and enjoyed the improvement for about a year before snagging a shirt sleeve in the cantilever while dusting the table and sheering it off.  Hence, my cowardice.

@pegasus 
I have been setting up with small changes to VTF and VTA being conscious of the interrelation.  I haven't been quite a meticulous as your tiny blue ball method :) but using very small increments.  It certainly improves the setup.  I'm finding that, so far, in my setup, the VDH seems to like the high end of recommended VTF range and, like the Delos, almost level VTA.

Thanks to all for tips and observations!
Harry