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VTA for arm vs VTA for cartridge

Hi have a Thorens 125 MKII, SME 3009 Series II tone arm and Grado Gold cartridge.

I've been looking for a better bass response, and decided to reassess my VTA.

It was set for the tone arm (arm horizontal to the record, or nearly so). I tried lowering it, but didn't get the improvement in bass I was hoping for.

Something motivated me to check my cartridge instructions. The VTA for the cart is supposed to be set so that the base is horizontal. Because of the way its designed the arm ends up angling down. This makes sense as far as the cart is concerned, even if it defies the tone arm instructions.

I have a thick mat which makes it impossible to get this exactly right. But it is just a bit lower now than the correct VTA now.

Here's the interesting thing. When I compare the bass and highs, etc. in recordings from both VTA setups I don't hear much difference. In fact, the bass seems a little more prominent in the VTA I set had originally set for the arm.

Maybe it all too subtle to tell with my headphones right now.
gritingrooves
pawlowski6132
592 posts
 
Here's my opinion:

1. The best you can do is only get the best AVERAGE VTA across all your albums. To get the correct VTA you'd need to adjust it for each record as there are many variables that will change from LP to LP such as thickness of vinyl and the original angle of the "needle" on the lathe used to cut that album.

2. There is no such thing as a VTA setting for your arm. VTA refers to the vertical tracking angle of the cantilever to the LP surface. We refer to the arm's role such that if the arm is parallel, we assume the VTA for your cart's cantilever is close to where it will sound best across a variety of albums.

3. You can also set your vertical tracking force to adjust VTA.
headsnappin's avatar
headsnappin
295 posts
 
Stringreen is 100% correct
gritingrooves OP
22 posts
 
Thanks, folks,

Stringreen, and all of you, points well taken. The motivation for taking on this hassle has been as sense that I was not getting the best sound, and apparently missing bass was the main clue. I certainly am listening to everything (checking distortion vs clarity, etc.)

The following URL gave me the sense that it was worth taking a shot at adjusting the VTA. I had tried tweaking the VTF but it didn't seem to help.

http://www.walkeraudio.com/fine_tuning_your_turntable.htm

I've received feedback elsewhere that the "bottom" of my particular cartridge (which is not parallel to the shell) is not good for setting the VTA. It raises the arm significantly and can cause tracking and distortion problems.

Given that, I don't understand why Grado would make that recommendation. The drawing on the instruction sheet that came with the cart actually shows the flat part above the stylus being parallel to the record. That's what I tried to emulate.

Back to the allen wrench!

Based on the feedback so far, it sounds like getting one of those devices that lets you find tune the VTA is not worth the cost and effort.

http://vtaf.com/index.html

- gritingrooves
gritingrooves OP
22 posts
 
Sorry, meant to use this URL at the end:

http://vtaf.com/index.html
rushton's avatar
rushton
2,445 posts
 
Follow Lloyd Walker's fine tuning instructions to which you provided the link, Gritingrooves. After getting the arm and cartridge in place as best you can visually, let your ears be your guide in the iterative listening process Lloyd describes and you will get good results. This is the best process for fine tuning a turntable setup I've ever used.
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