VTA Adjustment

4yanx has a Spacedeck. He will help you out with that one.

VTA=Vertical Tracking Angle. The correct vertical angle is established by the angle of the cutting head on the original master disc. You want to match the angle of your stylus exactly to this angle. Now all you have to do is figure out what the angle of the cutting head was, what the angle of your stylus is, calculate the thickness of the record you are going to play, and you will know how to set the VTA properly. Yeh I know, its a bitch but nobody said vinyl was easy. These problems are some of the reasons people and manufacturers don't pay much attention to VTA, but is IS important. Its best handled by ear on each record with a tonearm that allows you to adjust VTA on the fly.

I would certainly contact the distributor if you find anything about the included documentation to be less than fully informative or totally clear. If you got this from a local dealer, they should be helping you to set it up correctly, or more likely doing it for you. (BTW, "playing weight" presumably means VTF/vertical tracking force, which is not the same thing as VTA. These adjustments will all depend on the cartridge you are using, which should also have documentation.)

Anyone who owns a hifi TT should be versed in the setup geometries, including how each geomety affects sound and how changes in one affects other geometries.

When you find out what VTA is, it should be obvious how to change it on the Spacedeck.

NA instructions are for TT setup. It isn't their job to teach VTA. Not like Zaikes would know, but talking to ASL is talking to a dead phone line.

Bwaahahahah, Ohlala, I'm with you 110%. I have come to believe that ASL is an acronym for Arrogant, Stupid, and Laughable. But then, I don't have any strong feelings on the matter. ;-)

Mythtrip, the adjustment of VTA on the Spacearm is EASY. First, loosen the two allen set screws in the collet ring. The smaller of the two allen wrenches that should have come with your Spacearm(deck)is the appropriate size. The collect ring is the shiny round ring that is just below the base of the tonearm pillar and it keeps the tonearm form moving up and down. Now, you have either an early model or late-model Spacearm.

If you have the earlier arm, you can raise or lower the arm by hand to change VTA. Just tighten the allen set screws when finished. If you have this arm, I ‘d suggest doing something like Marty's approach which entails laying a deck of cards under the arm, using as many cards as it takes to fit between the bottom of the arm and an old LP. Then add or subtract cards depending on if you want to go up or down. By knowing the number of cards you can always get "back to square one", if needed.

If you have the later version of the Spacearm, you will see a vertical, threaded rod just to the right of the arm pillar. It has an allen set in the top of the rod that is the same size as your wrench. Again, loosen the collet screws just enough to provide movement. Then, you can adjust the VTA in very minute increments by turning the threaded rod one way or the other. When finished, tighten the collet screws and you are all set. Remember to check VTA after changing tracking force, anti-skate, changing the platter mat, etc. etc.......

I think it is correct to assume that Nottingham assumes (rightly or wrongly) that one has mor ethan a working knowledge of TT setup with respect to the conent of their documentations. Odd, too, as it is an easy table to setup but the lack of instructions may deter, or at least frustrate, some relatively inexperienced analog users.