VTA setting up.....how do I find level?

Jbatlanta, Ultimately you need to do the fine tuning of both VTA and tracking force by ear to get it right. The measurements and the guages (whether for vertical tracking angle or vertical tracking force), simply get you directionally correct. They are never absolutes.

Fortunately, adjusting by ear (by listening) is not as difficult as one might imagine. The trick is to always follow an ITERATIVE PROCESS of adjusting in one direction until you over-correct, then reversing direction until you re-gain your objective. Works for adjusting VTA, and works for adjusting tracking force.

For an excellent description of the process, and for what to listen for, read Lloyd Walker's description for "Fine Tuning Your Turntable" at his web site:
www.walkeraudio.com/fine_tuning_your_turntable.htm

It's not as difficult as one might initially imagine.

To try to answer your specific question, though: In this case, the guidance being given is to have the cartridge canted up slightly to the rear relative to having the (bottom/top of the) cartidge body parallel to the surface of the record. But, whether the .03" refers to the change in height of the arm at the pivot point, or the difference in height from the front of the cartridge body to the rear of the cartridge body, I couldn't begin to say.

Jbatlanta,

I really recommend you go to Audio Asylum and on the home page click on FAQ. Scroll down until you see the section on turntable set up. If you read all the posts and especially Jon Risch's "VTA and forget it" you'll be an expert.

Thank You for these resources.

Lots and lots of reading to do.

John

As a start, and if your arm is not tapered, the simplest way to get to "level" is to take a lined index card and place it behind the arm wand as it lays on the record surface. Line up the card's lines with either the top or bottom of the arm wand. That's a starting point, and no it's not precise - just by eye. But it is far better to have that reference point than trying to eyeball it without one. I couldn't believe how far off I was without it.

Enjoy,
Bob

Good advice from all three posters above. The Jon Risch article referenced by Lugnut (I think the title is actually, "VTA once and for all!") is the best theoretical place to start

Risch recommends a lined guide card just as Bob did.

The approach explained by Rushton is ultimately best. Both VTA and VTF must finally be set by ear, listening to familiar recordings.