Any time you change cartridges there's a high probability that arm height should be adjusted. Different cartridges are, um, different! How much of a change you'll hear depends on your stylus profile (which Clearaudio doesn't tell us), the resolution of your system and the resolution of your ears.
While fine tuning by ear is ultimately desirable, as Case04 said, he's also correct that it can be helpful to rough in a preliminary setting by eye. So what is a reasonable and effective way to do this?
It is the cartridge which physically contacts the record, so changing the angle of certain parts of the cartridge to the grooves must directly affect the sound. Whether the armtube is level or otherwise is largely coincidental, and certainly less relevant.
The relationships affected by arm height adjustment are typically expressed in two measurements:
VTA (vertical tracking angle)
- the angle between the record surface and the cantilever
SRA (stylus rake angle)
- the angle between the record surface and the contact surfaces of the stylus
You'll note that neither of these refers to the tonearm.
Getting VTA and (especially) SRA right is our goal. To rough them in visually two methods commend themselves by their logic and effectiveness:
1. Ask other users of the same cartridge whether it sounds best when played tail up, tail down or level. Most cartridges prefer a level attitude but there are exceptions. This method is simple and quick to employ once you get answers, assuming the answers are consistent of course. This should get your VTA in the same range as the majority of well-adjusted users, so to speak.
2. Read Jon Risch's excellent article, "VTA once and for all!" in the FAQ's on VA. Jon's method, which actually adjusts SRA, requires a strong light, a good magnifier and good closeup vision. It's a bit more fussy than method 1 but will produce superior results if done properly. Here's a link:
http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/vinyl/messages/1240.html
For fine tuning SRA/VTA by ear, the best one-stop guidance I know of is here:
http://www.walkeraudio.com/fine_tuning_your_turntable.htm
Good luck with the new cartridge and enjoy the music!
While fine tuning by ear is ultimately desirable, as Case04 said, he's also correct that it can be helpful to rough in a preliminary setting by eye. So what is a reasonable and effective way to do this?
It is the cartridge which physically contacts the record, so changing the angle of certain parts of the cartridge to the grooves must directly affect the sound. Whether the armtube is level or otherwise is largely coincidental, and certainly less relevant.
The relationships affected by arm height adjustment are typically expressed in two measurements:
VTA (vertical tracking angle)
- the angle between the record surface and the cantilever
SRA (stylus rake angle)
- the angle between the record surface and the contact surfaces of the stylus
You'll note that neither of these refers to the tonearm.
Getting VTA and (especially) SRA right is our goal. To rough them in visually two methods commend themselves by their logic and effectiveness:
1. Ask other users of the same cartridge whether it sounds best when played tail up, tail down or level. Most cartridges prefer a level attitude but there are exceptions. This method is simple and quick to employ once you get answers, assuming the answers are consistent of course. This should get your VTA in the same range as the majority of well-adjusted users, so to speak.
2. Read Jon Risch's excellent article, "VTA once and for all!" in the FAQ's on VA. Jon's method, which actually adjusts SRA, requires a strong light, a good magnifier and good closeup vision. It's a bit more fussy than method 1 but will produce superior results if done properly. Here's a link:
http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/vinyl/messages/1240.html
For fine tuning SRA/VTA by ear, the best one-stop guidance I know of is here:
http://www.walkeraudio.com/fine_tuning_your_turntable.htm
Good luck with the new cartridge and enjoy the music!