Developing A List Of Tonearm Candidates For A SOTA Turntable

@dover, that's really interesting. Thank you.

@mijostyn, it's hard to believe you ever nap!

@dover 

"Please note that you are not "adjusting VTA" for the thickness of records, you are trying to correct the VTA for the variation in thickness of each record."

There is enough question of the need for adjustment / correction or at least the amount of adjustment / correction, lets not split hairs over two statements which amount to the same thing. You are adjusting the VTA from what it was because of  change in the thickness of the record you want to play.  But you are only correcting it if you are without doubt that the angle you are setting it too is exactly the correct one. 

@wrm57  Actually no I was responding to @neonknight question of what I did on VTA.  Which I was giving a why rather than just an answer.  With regard to your point on horizontal and noting the caveat yes if the angle of the arm is set to the same each time then the horizontal distance would not vary.  But, with a two or three L,M,H as I described it then there will still be variation to the horizontal from LL to LH, LM to HM and LH to HH. So my point was only there is still going to be a range of tracking forces if using a 2/3 point setting without adjustment to the counter balance. Is it a variation that is enough to make a difference. It sounds as if if it would for some be far too much as they can hear an angle difference of 0.004 degrees.  Which when I have not seen a spec that reads below 0.1 of a degree is impressive to hear significant differences.

@wrm57 Even robots have to recharge their batteries once in a while:-)

Please pardon my horrendous mistake. I was not referring to VTA. I was referring to SRA. Stylus rake angle is far more specific than vertical tracking angle. VTA depends on the stylus being mounted perfectly which is not the case in, I would guess, 75% of the cartridges. It is like setting SRA by making the tonearm parallel to the record. These methods of setting SRA are easier to see, but there are simple magnifiers that will get you close enough as long as you know where the contact line is. The magnifier that comes with the SmarTractor is perfect. They should sell it separately.   

@dover That is a very valid point. I should have noticed that. A tonearm with vertical bearings that are not perpendicular to the offset angle is a deal killer, the reason being that azimuth now changes with elevation, over warps and with different record thicknesses and as far as I know there is no down side to offsetting the vertical bearing

Your ears are only going to notice a difference in SRA when you are already far off the mark. While it is true that some old records have odd angles, they are also very deficient in sound quality for other reasons and are of historic value only. I would not be concerned with trying to optimize them. If you set your SRA to 92 degrees with the stylus on 150 gram record you will be able to go a degree in either direction without noticing a significant change in sound quality. This is the opinion of many seasoned audiophiles. The problem is setting the contact line to 92 degrees is not so easy. However, fishing around for the right SRA by ear is a PITA and very unlikely to be accurate. 

This line of discussion regarding offset and VTA is at times amusing, and at others tiring at best. I was listening to vinyl last night, and what i find is the SOTA with Agile arm is not only the best table and arm combination I have, it is satisfying in ways that other tables never have been. I had been through a journey of exploration over the last 15 years and have owned the SP10, DP75, Brinkman Bardo, Well Tempered Reference, Amazon Referenz, Galibier Serac, VPI Prime, and a number of arms. I am sure there are a few tables I missed in there, it is early in the morning here. 

What I hear with the Cosmos and Origin Live combination is fundamentally superior in every aspect of music reproduction. Some times you hear the sound you connect with and say this is it. I am at that point with this arm and table combination. Now the Proteus sounds very nice on the Scheu/Schroder combo I have, but it does not approach the beauty it posseses on the SOTA/Agile. I can listen to this all weekend in pure bliss. There combination has it all, richness, texture, subtle detail, inflection, spaciousness, solidity, there is nothing wanting of it that needs...nothing that needs to be a little bit better. So with this table I am stopping here, although I am curious about how the Verismo would sound on it. But to be honest, the Verismo on the Scheu/Schroder comes in second place, so I am not eager to move the cartridge over. I prefer to enjoy the beauty of what is in front of me. 

You can discuss offset bearings, variations in VTA, how it affects overhang and tracking force till the cows come home. But when I sit down and listen all of it becomes just outside noise that does nothing to distract me. The music captivates me and that is the specification and design element that matters to me the most. This is a lovely lovely table and arm.