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Parallel? How do you set the VTA?

Silly question, but how do you guys determine whether your tonearm is parallel to the record surface? I had my tonearm set up happily for months, but recently started messing around with the cartridge alignment and the VTA, and I'll be damned, but the folded index card method gets me nowhere now. Even with adjustments I keep getting the same visual effect. Happily my ear tells me when the setting is off, but as a base, how do you determine conclusively your tonearm is parallel? For reference, I have a VPI Classic. Thanks.
actusreus

Showing 1 response by almarg

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almarg
9,670 posts
 
04-11-13: Larryi
The only way I could see myself doing album-by-album VTA adjustment would require ownership of a rare Air Tangent arm that allowed for motorized VTA adjustment by remote control. That way, one could actually hear the change occurring on the fly.
Another way would be if you have a good pair of headphones that could be listened to while standing next to the turntable. That is what I have done.

Even so, my own feeling, like yours, is that life is too short to be doing this all the time, and it is rare that I find myself fiddling with the setting these days. I suspect, though, that the stylus profile of my cartridge (Grace F9E Ruby with Soundsmith's $250 retip) results in the VTA/SRA setting being somewhat less critical than it is with the cartridges that are used by many of the others who have posted.

Regards,
-- Al
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