Anyone NOT like the sound of VPI?

Madfloyd, just Google "VPI SDS" and check it out. The third hit will take you to Audiophilia's review after it's release.

Be careful, these adjustments aren't "tone controls", wrong adjustments affect the sound in various ways, not as consistent as you seem to assume they are. You'll soon find out in what way the adjustments are affecting the sound.

Madfloyd,
SDS is a box that plugs between the ac cord and the wall. It helps keep speed consistently at 33.33 or 45rpm. Walker Audio's Motor Controller is a competing product that does the same thing.
Although that might improve your overall sound to some degree(and probably will), it doesn't address your problem. Fix that first.

Your other learnings in your last post as basically correct. Try reading the turntable setup tips on walkeraudio.com. They will help you. Cheers,
Spencer

The problem is the cartridge needs a 3-4 gram weight on the headshell to improve the upper bass lower midrange response. This is not an ideal match but can be made to work if you increase the mass.

You must also let the Valhalla wire break in, seriously, it needs 50 to 60 hours of playing to loosen up the sound. Set the back of the arm down slightly which will slighly increase the tracking force, make sure you are level and if you do not have seriously slam bang bass get
a new phono section.

I really don't understand why dealers team up cartridges and arms based on absolutely nothing. Get the Dynavector 20X-M and you will have slam, bass, and a beautiful soundstage and midrange.

HW

Lowering the tonearm at the base (my suggestion) will increase the bass, but go too far and you'll lose the mids and highs, so be careful. Also, adjusting the VTA will affect your VTF, so re-measure that when you are done.

Before adjusting, attempt to determine if the arm is parallel to the playing surface. Based on your symptoms, I would guess the arm is higher at the back and lower at the cartridge. If you can see that it is higher, without having to use a ruler, then it's WAY too high in the back. Otherwise, the way to measure is to lower the arm onto the record (use a beat up record) and use a ruler to measure the height of the arm at two points. That will tell you if the arm is higher at the back. (It's not that easy, truth be told, because the JMW9 arm is tapered. You have to look closely.)

And be careful not to knock the arm with your ruler or hand, since its sitting in the groove. I wouldn't want my advice to result in a busted cantilever!

Good luck.

Tom