It sounds like you're driving yourself nuts. On another thread, I gave directions on measuring the tonearm so that it is exactly parallel to the turntable. If the tonearm is parallel, you're there. Most people like the arm slightly lower in the back than the front..but your arm is VERY hard to manipulate the VTA...which I don't think is ulta critical anyway. I have a VPI arm which has an extremely easy adjustment for VTA. If I get it just slightly lower in the back, Im happy. I've tried micromanaging the VTA, but it isn't worth it. Send me an Email, and I'll send you the directions if you need/want them. I do find that each cartridge likes a certain VTF. I think it's worth tinkering with that once the arm is parallel.
DYNAVECTOR Karat 17D3---stylus rake angle? HELP
I've spent the past few days trying to fine-tune the VTA and VTF for my Dynavector 17D3 cart on my Rega P25 w/ RB600 arm. I've settled on VTF at 2.1 grams and I've got a 4mm spacer under the base of the arm, putting everything slightly tail-up, with a Herbie's mat on the stock glass platter. This set-up sounds the best to me (I guess), after listening to the whole spectrum of recommended tracking force settings and armtube angles; I seem to be hearing the best "air" and "presence" with these settings. The highs on some LPs sound bright and edgy to me, but let's forget that for the moment...
Here's the thing---I've been reading about stylus rake angle. I've read how, supposedly, the stylus should optimally be sitting in the groove leaning *forward* at an approx. 1 degree angle:
http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/vinyl/messages/1240.html
HOW IN HELL you achieve that with this Dyna cart I have no idea, because when I look at it with a magnifier, riding in the groove of an LP, that thing is NOT EVEN CLOSE to that position, it's actually leaning way BACKWARDS.
What's going on here? It seems to me I'd have to add several more 4mm spacers under the tonearm base to get the stylus even close to being *upright*! Not only that, I'd probably have to set the VTF below the minimum setting. Does the 17D3 have a unique SRA that is correct when the armtube is level, or do I really need to raise that sucker way up in the back to get it right? Am I heading down a dead-end street here? Advice and wisdom from one and all would be much appreciated...
my system:
Rega P25 turntable w/ RB600 tonearm, with modifications
Dynavector Karat 17D3 cartridge
Heed Audio Quasar phono preamp
VTL TL2.5 preamp
McCormack DNA 0.5 SE
Paradigm Reference Studio 100 v.2 speakers
Gabriel Gold interconnects
Wireworld Equinox III++ speaker cable
XLO reference series type 10 power cable (on phono pre)
Purist Audio Design Dominus power cable (on preamp)
DCCA Reference Master power cable (on amp)
Here's the thing---I've been reading about stylus rake angle. I've read how, supposedly, the stylus should optimally be sitting in the groove leaning *forward* at an approx. 1 degree angle:
http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/vinyl/messages/1240.html
HOW IN HELL you achieve that with this Dyna cart I have no idea, because when I look at it with a magnifier, riding in the groove of an LP, that thing is NOT EVEN CLOSE to that position, it's actually leaning way BACKWARDS.
What's going on here? It seems to me I'd have to add several more 4mm spacers under the tonearm base to get the stylus even close to being *upright*! Not only that, I'd probably have to set the VTF below the minimum setting. Does the 17D3 have a unique SRA that is correct when the armtube is level, or do I really need to raise that sucker way up in the back to get it right? Am I heading down a dead-end street here? Advice and wisdom from one and all would be much appreciated...
my system:
Rega P25 turntable w/ RB600 tonearm, with modifications
Dynavector Karat 17D3 cartridge
Heed Audio Quasar phono preamp
VTL TL2.5 preamp
McCormack DNA 0.5 SE
Paradigm Reference Studio 100 v.2 speakers
Gabriel Gold interconnects
Wireworld Equinox III++ speaker cable
XLO reference series type 10 power cable (on phono pre)
Purist Audio Design Dominus power cable (on preamp)
DCCA Reference Master power cable (on amp)
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