Setting tonearm angle?


I recently lucked out and got a great deal on a VPI Scoutmaster 2 with JWM 9T arm and proceeded to set it up.
I had never owned a high end table like this so the set up was a bit new. My question concerns the VTA of the arm. I set it by measuring from the bottom surface of the arm to the record surface at several places along the arm to get the arm as close to level as possible.
Is that a logical thing to have done? Would the sound better if the angle was biased in one way or the other? (Dynavector DV-20X2 H cart being used) Thanks.
rmcfee
If you want to demonstrate or hear for yourself what a mis-aligned cartridge sounds like-get a test record. I've been working on my setup's alignment over the past couple of days and think I finally have it "dialed in". The VTA's correct, the SRA is correct as is the azimuth and the amount of anti-skate and lateral balance. Before I corrected, my setup always distorted slightly during loud inner tracks. After I was sure the cartridge was mounted correctly (having used every template, etc. available), I was able to use the test record's test tones to fine tune the lateral balance and anti skate to the point of lowest distortion.
My setup passed all of the "torture test grooves" and sounds quiet throughout playback.
01-06-13: Wolf_garcia
I got a tiny bubble level for my Akito and set it on the flat top above the cartridge and levelled it. Seems to have done the job and the cart tracks perfectly.

If you don't have a Graham Phantom Supreme which seems to be the only arm with a built in VTA bubble level, I also use a small circular spirit bubble level on the top of the cart mount like you do. It works very well on my Clearaudio Universal arm that has on the fly VTA. My bubble level weighs .5 grams so it doesn't effect VTA too much through cantilever compresion due to the added weight of the level over and above the desired tracking force.
Rockitman,
Where does one get such a small bubble level? I tried to use a small (as compared to what you usually see) level attached to the tonearm tube, but it was too heavy and was compressing the cantilever way too much to make it usable.
If you know your level is 0.5 g you can easily make that adjustment with the counterweight to counteract the compression.
I bought mine from a photo website. It is a Gitzo Tripod bubble level replacement. Here is one

http://www.outdoorphotogear.com/store/gitzo-replacement-bubble-level-for-tripods-and-leveling-bases.html

Yup, I do that added weight to compensate for the added weight of the bubble level when when using it for leveling.