Twl,
I respectfully disagree with you. Negative VTA can be necessary with certain cartridges. One example is the Sumiko Celebration, a very musical pearwood cartridge. In its thorough set up guide (complete with diagrams), Sumiko suggests a 1.2 degree negative rake angle for "very fast, dynamic, robust sound," and 1.5 degree negative rake angle for a "more rounded low frequency dynamic structure, less clarity in the midrange, and a reduced high frequency component." In practice, I can tell you, using this cartridge with a Positive VTA, causes it to have a much thinner, less warm sound.
My point of this post is to tell Tony (and others) not to be afraid to try a negative VTA, if it doesn't sound to someone's liking they can change it. Some cartridges are designed for it, even if the Benz may or may not be.
Best Regards,
AaronM
I respectfully disagree with you. Negative VTA can be necessary with certain cartridges. One example is the Sumiko Celebration, a very musical pearwood cartridge. In its thorough set up guide (complete with diagrams), Sumiko suggests a 1.2 degree negative rake angle for "very fast, dynamic, robust sound," and 1.5 degree negative rake angle for a "more rounded low frequency dynamic structure, less clarity in the midrange, and a reduced high frequency component." In practice, I can tell you, using this cartridge with a Positive VTA, causes it to have a much thinner, less warm sound.
My point of this post is to tell Tony (and others) not to be afraid to try a negative VTA, if it doesn't sound to someone's liking they can change it. Some cartridges are designed for it, even if the Benz may or may not be.
Best Regards,
AaronM