Pickup SRA - starting from a 500x microscope

Should add, makes me thankful I am no longer one. Probably never was, but saw myself getting there. My sympathies.

Shoot me an email so I can forward you some photos of how to do this on a Lyra Atlas. They were made by Wally Malewicz and are quite easy to understand, basically measuring the angle in both sides of the stylus, then make a simple calculation.

Peter@pbnaudio.com

Good listening

Peter

Peter offers good advice. I have used some free software called ImageJ and it works great. Measures to within a hundredth of a degree. I usually take three to five measurements and average them. My current SRA on a dyna XV-1T is 92.08 - ImageJ is very accurate.

So interesting, for eons we set VTA/SRA by ear on the theory that sound should be the arbiter of sound reproduction.

In the last few years it has become fashionable and attractive to those that prefer an empirical solution to the issue rather than relying solely on hearing, to set VTA/SRA by eye or, more accurately, by degrees from a right angle to the groove surface. This is a method popularized by Malewicz and Fremer. If the surety of this method appeals to you, by all means follow the logic. But IMHO, having tried it, I believe that it is incorrect.

Just as the assertion by Mr. Fremer that small changes in VTA/SRA are negligible should be called into question and is easy to test by simply making very small changes in VTA and listening for any changes in sound.

Viridian,

I agree that small changes in SRA are noticeable, I do however subscribe to the idea that starting from a technical correct point is the proper way to go.

Good Listening

Peter