The best starting point is a cartridge that is parallel to the record surface. The suspension on the cantilever should hold the stylus at the proper angle if VTF is within design parameters. From that point, you can adjust the back of the tonearm up or down a degree or two to fine tune the VTA for best tracking and groove noise. If, however, the tonearm is dragging on the record surface, then you may need to add a shim to your cartridge in order to raise the back of the tonearm without changing VTA. Shims with varying masses can be found for sale on the web and possibly even one design dedicated to the phono cartridge that you are using. You might also find that you can raise the back of the tonearm up quite a bit and not cause the VTA of the cartridge to go too far in the other direction. I think that is because of how the stylus fits into the groove as it rotates. So the front of the cartridge will rise up as you lift up the back- if the stylus was lying down so to speak in the groove to start with. Don't forget to reset your Horizontal Tracking Angle (Tangent Point) It will change as you adjust your tonearm up and down. So you have to move your tonearm out as you raise the back of the tonearm.
