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The importance of proper set-up

For many of the readers of this forum, this may seem obvious. Certainly, had I read this even a week ago, I would have scanned it with only marginal interest. I have owned a VPI Aries 2 for about 2-3 years. I am using a Transfiguration Temper W. Over the years, I have adjusted the VTA/VTF settings. This was a slow evolution. Each adjustment brought improvement. However, what at first seemed like a fix or cure, proved over time to still be lacking. Initially, I thought the sound somewhat strident or etched. I thought, at least in comparison to cd, the bass was lacking. So, I dropped the arm back slightly, each time being sure to re-check the VTF. I use the Shure SFG-2. Almost invariably, the VTF will have changed with each adjustment. While some people might think I was fooling myself into thinking I heard not too subtle differences with each adjustment, I can only tell you, to my ear, the differences were unmistakable. The funny thing is, and the reason that I felt compelled to share this anectode is that each time I would adjust the table, I would think I "nailed it", the perfect balance of treble, bass, and midrange, while preserving all the ambient soundstage and layering I had previously heard. Now, mind you, certain records would sound better on certain settings, while others I recalled sounding better on earlier settings. For instance, a record which had a deep, rich low end, might sound better with the cartridge tipped up slightly to reinforce the top end. It was only after playing literally dozens of records that I began to formulate an opinion, one way or another as to whether the sound was too thin, or the bass too exxagerated at the expense of air and separation between the players. That would cause me to make yet further refinements. However, whether by luck or just perserverence, I have now stumbled on a setting that has revealed so much of the midband that was previously obscured, it is downright spooky. Those who love analog know that the music lives and breaths in the midband. I don't know whether its the table, the arm (10.5), the releveling of the table, or just catching the perfect rake angle, but after more than 2 years, I am finally enjoying the true virtues of my rig.
My purpose in writing is to suggest that even if you think you have your table set to perfection, if you haven't experimented with other settings, i.e. haven't tipped the sylus up or down slightly, haven't tried to add a tad more weight to the arm, haven't levelled the table precisely, you may not be enjoying the full benefit of your investment. Yes, it is tedius, but let me assure you, the rewards are well worth the effort.
stew3859
dan_ed
2,451 posts
 
Stew,
the small amounts of changes in VTA that Doug uses don't change VTF in an appreciable way. You'd probably not be able to measure the difference with the Shure SFG. These small changes in VTA, we're talking thousandths of an inch here, can make a huge difference on some records and absolutely none on others. I'm in no way disagreeing with finding a happy medium for lighter weight vs. heavier vinyl and living with these settings. This is about all you can do if your arm does not have a VTA micrometer. As Nsgarch and Doug say, to do more is a step into insanity. However, it can unlock real musical magic on many LPs.
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Dan's right. I can't even measure the difference with my digital gauge, which goes out to .01g. Certainly no one could measure it with a Shure gauge.

About 2/3 of our LP's fall within a very small height adjustment range, less than one revolution of my tonearm's VTA dial. The bulk of the remainder fall within a similarly small range, but two revolutions lower.

I tweak VTF nearly every day by ear, but adjusting for each LP based on microscopic arm height changes would be madness even for me!
newbee
4,794 posts
 
Madness indeed! Without denying at all, or minimizing, the effect of properly set VTA/VTF I can recall all of the trips from my listening chair to the turn table to give another tweek of the VTA, id infinitum. I wonder when I ever found time to actually relax and enjoy the music! Small wonder that many folks like CD's.

In recent years I've learned to avoid this tinkering and settled on just enjoying the music. What little I lose in sonic's I gain in music appreciation. :-)
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
I can recall all of the trips from my listening chair to the turn table to give another tweek of the VTA, id infinitum. I wonder when I ever found time to actually relax and enjoy the music!
That's why we record the setting for each LP on the jacket. Now there's no tweaking at all. I've got the arm height dialed in before my platter even spins up to speed.

Small wonder that many folks like CD's.
That's funny, but I can't imagine anyone abandoning vinyl for CD's because they're tired of fussing over VTA. CD's are more convenient, no question, but anyone sensitive to VTA isn't likely to find them fully satisfying.
stew3859's avatar
stew3859 OP
119 posts
 
Gentlemen:
So, you come home from the garage sale with a 6-eye copy of something or other and you run it through your VPI RCM. You ever so gently drop it on your platter and try to remember what the last record was you played. You can tell from the VTA tower or whatever mechanism your table employs, that the last record was a thicker slab of vinyl so you know right away that you are likely going to raise the VTA to match the profile of the LP. Here is where the mystery starts for me. What general characteristics are you listening for when you are determining what the best VTA setting is likely to be. Can you relate some time-honored generalizations that might be of assistance to the uninitiated? How long does it take you to find the sweet spot? Can you ever be sure you have found the optimum position? Does the genre of music clue you in for starters as to the range you think your going to end up at? How 'bout some pointers our veteran obsessive VTA'ers.
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