Setting tonearm angle?

Yes, that is a sensible starting point. You might try lowering the arm a substantial amount, then raise it incrementally until it sounds best to your ear.

It will sound bass prominent at first, as it is raised, bass and treble will come into balance as the VTA gets to the proper setting.

Good luck,
Dan

I use an index card folded evenly along one of the lines on my VPI Classic. Less work and less chance of inadvertently hitting the tonearm with a ruler and possibly damaging the cartridge.

I've heard there are tiny levels out there that can be attached to the headshell or the tonearm tube, but I've yet to see one. They would have to be extremely light not to affect the cart's suspension and thus the VTA. I suppose if such a level could be had, it'd be the most accurate way to set the VTA parallel to the record surface in the absence of such a feature on the tonearm itself (Graham Phantom for example).

Oh, you could rely on your ear and set the VTA to your liking...

If I change the tonearm angle I have to re-adjust the azimuth and tracking force since they change greatly.
By then I can't accurately tell the difference. The fact is that each setting I have tried - arm level, cartridge nose down or nose up, all sound great.
Then I read a seemingly very well thought out essay online concluding that this VTA adjustment actually does nothing!
Some folk with the same gear as me say nose down, some the opposite.... maybe it doesn't make any difference.

If you consider what is happening at the contact point of the cartridge in the groove, the best way to set VTA would be when you hear the most extended treble. The the stylus contact area is set to be the same as the cutting head, there will be no smearing of dynamics or high frequency. All those subtle treble details will bloom into the music. The soundstage will deepen and become more defined since all the detail will be there.