I fully agree with SBrown regarding the desirability of an accurate cartridge alignment system.
Yes, I would try level VTA as a starting point (but please do experiment).
One more option on mounting screws could be a manganese-copper-nickel-iron alloy called M2052, which was made as a vibration-damping metal.
Here are some links
http://optimal-life.jp/shopdetail/002011000001
http://item.rakuten.co.jp/jism/2097774717201-31-942-n/
removable universal headshells are also made from this material, see
http://www.seisin-m2052.co.jp/04_avaccessory.htm
look for CS-1750
http://www.seisin-m2052.co.jp/pdf/CS-1750.pdf
I have no affiliations with the above links. IME, M2052 has a quite noticeable damping effect, but personal tastes as well as system compatibility will determine whether you like the effects or not.
As an aside, when (metric) bolts rather than wood screws have been used to attach speaker drivers to loudspeaker cabinets, replacing the standard items with M2052 equivalents can be a quite worthwhile improvement (again subject to the vagaries of personal tastes and system compatibility).
kind regards, jonathan carr
Yes, I would try level VTA as a starting point (but please do experiment).
One more option on mounting screws could be a manganese-copper-nickel-iron alloy called M2052, which was made as a vibration-damping metal.
Here are some links
http://optimal-life.jp/shopdetail/002011000001
http://item.rakuten.co.jp/jism/2097774717201-31-942-n/
removable universal headshells are also made from this material, see
http://www.seisin-m2052.co.jp/04_avaccessory.htm
look for CS-1750
http://www.seisin-m2052.co.jp/pdf/CS-1750.pdf
I have no affiliations with the above links. IME, M2052 has a quite noticeable damping effect, but personal tastes as well as system compatibility will determine whether you like the effects or not.
As an aside, when (metric) bolts rather than wood screws have been used to attach speaker drivers to loudspeaker cabinets, replacing the standard items with M2052 equivalents can be a quite worthwhile improvement (again subject to the vagaries of personal tastes and system compatibility).
kind regards, jonathan carr