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Rule of thumb for VTA

Hi all,

I'm wondering if there is a rule of thumb for setting VTA? Really what I'm looking for is a quick way to rough out the VTA. Should the arm be level when the stylus is in the groove? Should the arm be sloping downwawrd from the pivot toward the cartridge? The reverse?

I know that the right answer is to listen and judge for myself but I have a Rega P25 which apparently doesn't offer much in the way of VTA adjustment so I would like to find a simple approach to get it close.

Thanks in advance,

Phil
phil0618
rockinroni's avatar
rockinroni
286 posts
 
yes, first make sure your table is perfectly level in both directions, this is important. Then almost all cartridges are made so that when your armtube is parallel to the record surface, your vta should be set. I do not think micro VTA setting is that important. Michel Fermer of stereophile mag. says he sets his for 180 gram lp's and it sounds fine for all his other lp's no matter how thick or thin they are. I have personally played for many ,many hours with VTA and always go back to the affor mentioned setting.
Roni
4yanx
1,576 posts
 
Anyone ever run into an arm where the arm tube is not exactly parallel with the headshell and, therefore, the headshell is the proper location from which to establish initial "levelness"?
phil0618 OP
38 posts
 
Thanks to all of you for your quick replies. I'm going to focus on the level arm tube for now and then play more with it later if time permits.

Phil
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