Doug, One thing that never seems to get discussed when folks talk about VTA and the need for fine adjustments, or any but the most gross for that matter, is the type of stylus they are using. I suspect some folks with good systems and ears who don't hear the benefit have eliptical tips or (do they even make them anymore) conical tips, which are far less demanding than line stylus and the like. BTW, out of shear laziness I just (pre)set my VTA for record thickness now-a-days. Talk about gross! :-)
Stew, That question is downright mean! :-)
As in all things audio related you either have developed a sense of 'rightness' or you haven't. By rightness, I mean personal aural preference of how your record should sound. If you put on, for example a 180gm record and your VTA is set for 180 gm records, and the records tonal balance seems off you fiddle with the VTA a little bit. If it gets more in line with your expectations you continue 'til it doesn't get better (but don't get too anal about this). If you notice no change or it gets worse, you've got a bummer record. Thats a real problem, there are some bummer records out there and if you think you can make them all into silk purses by fiddling with VTA/VTF you're going to get very frustrated.
Have fun, don't make this into rocket science. :-)
Stew, That question is downright mean! :-)
As in all things audio related you either have developed a sense of 'rightness' or you haven't. By rightness, I mean personal aural preference of how your record should sound. If you put on, for example a 180gm record and your VTA is set for 180 gm records, and the records tonal balance seems off you fiddle with the VTA a little bit. If it gets more in line with your expectations you continue 'til it doesn't get better (but don't get too anal about this). If you notice no change or it gets worse, you've got a bummer record. Thats a real problem, there are some bummer records out there and if you think you can make them all into silk purses by fiddling with VTA/VTF you're going to get very frustrated.
Have fun, don't make this into rocket science. :-)