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 sarcher30

Parallel is a good place to start but it's were you finish that counts. The angle that the stylus is mounted on the cantilever will determine where the VTA will end up. With the carts I have had somewhere around 92 deg SRA is best.

Gluing styli to cantilevers is a tricky business. Very difficult to get the angle the same every time. Press fit styli are more consistent IME. The two carts I am using now are polar opposites as far as VTA settings go. One requires tail high and the other tail low to get the same SRA. In some cases using a shim under the front or back of the cartridge may be required if you run out of travel on your VTA adjustment.

Just remember that if you set your overhang before you finalized your SRA you should reset the overhang as a last step. Especially if you had to move the VTA allot to get proper SRA. This is because moving the VTA up from parallel will pull the stylus back towards the pivot a little. Same thing happens when you lower the tonearm from parallel. Unless you have an ET2 with a curved VTA adjustment. ;)