REGA VTA Question

Hi Rick,

I recently installed a Lyra Argo i on my Rega table. The best VTA for me was with the arm slightly lower than level at the rear. Like anything, approach it slowly and listen for yourself. In my case, Rega was wrong and also the dealer was wrong. Bottom line... somewhere closer to level will probably give the best results.

I setup my cartridge with a Soundtracker protractor (It looks much like the Clearaudio protractor)and everything sounds good. However, being a tinkerer I order a Mint tractor a few weeks ago but it's not here yet. I'll be interested to see if it does better. Yip is really easy to deal with and everyone sings his praises.

Good luck with it!
Paul

You could always install one of the many VTA adjusters and experiment. I use the Origin Live threaded adjuster. It's easy to install and use. Here's a link:

http://www.tonearm.co.uk/vta-adjuster.htm

I don't care for the Rega protractor. I've had far better luck with the free protractors from Vinyl Engine. Of course, for $100 the Mint tractor is supposed to be great.

If they don't want you to change VTA, then why do they make shims? BTW, I have both 1MM and 2MM shims, both from Rega, so they have made both. Shim away, why live with incorrect VTA?

The other question is a bit more complicated. The Rega alignment is not consonant with the maths set forth by Baerwald. The inner null point coming quite a bit closer to the lead out groove with the Rega protractor. The differences between the two alignments are readily audible and you will, no doubt, prefer one over the other. I have preferred Baerwald alignment in all systems and setups over a thirty year span, but you might not, and that's great.

"What should I do?" I want to answer this question a really different way. Rick, you should learn to do a decent alignment yourself. It is time consuming, but not difficult and it is part of what makes this a hobby. You can't rely on dealers, or experts, or anyone else's ears. Download the Baerwald protractor for free from The Vinyl Engine. Get yourself a cheap practice cartridge such as an Audio Technica AT95E or a cheap Shure. Roll up your sleeves and get to work. Michael Fremer's DVD is an excellent visual aid that takes you through all of the steps necessary to do your own setup. There is nothing more rewarding than a job well done......by yourself.

According to REGA, they manufacture shims for those people that buy REGA tonearms for aftermarket TT's. REGA says that you should absolutely not adjust VTA for any cartridge using there own TT and tonearm. The arm tube was exactly parallel to the platter when using REGA's own Exact 2 cartridge. So, I am having difficulty understanding why REGA recommends doing nothing when the arm tube is not close to being parallel to the platter.

What would be good starting point in terms of raising the VTA? Should I start at 2mm, or go strait to 4mm? Thanks for all the input!!! It is appreciated!

The arm tube was exactly parallel to the platter when using REGA's own Exact 2 cartridge. So, I am having difficulty understanding why REGA recommends doing nothing when the arm tube is not close to being parallel to the platter.

Maybe you've answered your own question. If a non-Rega cartridge doesn't perform as well, people who don't think things through like you're doing may just go back to a Rega one, without trying to do a better setup.

Rega also recommends playing LP's without cleaning them. Unless they get a commission for each LP that has to be replaced because it was ruined, that advice makes even less sense.

Roy Gandy recommends what he recommends, for whatever reasons. You can ponder his motivations or you can seek your own answers and learn to optimize your own setup, as Viridian suggested.