Thoughts on VTA......

One big issue with my present Nottingham arm is setting azimuth, it is really a bit hit and miss due to design of it.

I may start looking for a VTA OTF arm to try on this TT.

effischer

Also, I respectfully disagree that overhang is changed by changing VTA with arms that feature VTA OTF adjustment. The whole point of VTA OTF is to raise or lower the entire arm assembly with respect to the surface of the vinyl. This includes the arm pivot and the stylus, so that geometric relationship doesn’t change.

Clearly, changing VTA changes overhang. That is basic Pythagorean  geometry. Of course, the overhang will remain constant if you are able to precisely adjust arm height to compensate for various thicknesses of LPs. But if you are adjusting VTA by ear on the fly, what determines to your ear that you've reached the ideal arm height? Is it achieving the perfect VTA? Or is it achieving the perfect overhang?

Two things you can't cheat with vinyl play.

1) Physics and 2) the Record Pressing Plants.

PHYSICS (the obvious one)

Raise VTA ....you lower VTF and alter other set up parameters.
Lower VTA....you raise VTF and alter other setup parameters.

RECORD PROCESSING PLANTS. (not so obvious)

There were / are no standards for the vertical angles the records are cut at (the included angle).
American plants angles are different from European plants.
Each time the cutting stylus is replaced (every 10 hours?) the new one goes in a little different than before. 8^0

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What to do ?
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If with one average setting your vinyl rig does not allow you to hear these differences, or it does not bother you too much.... consider yourself BLESSED ...enjoy your records.

If however you hear differences even with same thickness records (different included angles) ....and...maybe..... suffer from a little Audiophilia Nervosa...... there are at least four things you can do from my personal experiences over the years. 
  
1) make the necessary adjustments after VTA changes.

2) acquire a preamp with adjustable on the fly "Gain". Lower gain for bright records and vice versa.
  
3) acquire an amp that allows for on the fly gain changes.

4) acquire a tonearm that was designed with VTA changes in mind and allows you to make these VTA changes, with ease, and not affect any other setup prarameters. FWIW - One tonearm only - exists - that I am aware of that has this capability. ET 2.0, and ET 2.5. They are protected by patent.

If there is another tonearm let me know.  

Cheers

Enjoy your records.

I used to do it by ear then I got a micro meter on the fly mod for my12" Jelco and well now I wonder how I managed with out. makes it much easier and faster IMO, same results in the end. as for changing for thickness I really can’t tell the difference in that small of a change, with a 12" arm anyway. that’s on a VDH cut tip as well.

I'd like to see the math on the stylus angles change vs thickness changes of records be it 180 ect. 9"-10" 12" go. 

I set my arm level and lowered  it until I got the perfect tight bass I was looking for.. took me 2 hours my first time! Lol