When leveling the tonearm parallel to the record surface I think it makes more sense to concentrate on the cartridge rather than the tonearm, especially if the tonearm tube is tapered.
The front of my cartridge is perpendicular to it's top, therefore if I can get the front perpendicular to the record surface, the tonearm will be level.
I made a reference block by squaring up a piece of oak with 90 degree edges on the table saw and jointer. From that flat board with square edges I cross-cut 3" long blocks, knowing the tops and ends were perpendicular to each other.
With the stylus set to it's normal tracking force and at rest on a non spinning 180gm disc , I adjusted the tonearm height until the face of the cartridge was flat against the perpendicular edge of my reference board. My tonearm and cartridge assembly were now more or less parallel to the record surface.
My tonearm has no scale or markings to measure the tonearm height. You loosen a setscrew, raise or lower the post and pray for the best as you re-tighten the set screw. I used playing cards as shims between the bottom of the spindle and the base varying the height by varying the number of cards.
I can now measurably change the VTA and judge the sonic effect for myself by adding or subtracting playing card shims. Now it is possible to adjust the VTA by ear simply by adding or removing shims.
Azimuth adjustment is also possible using thin paper shims between the headshell and the cartridge.
The front of my cartridge is perpendicular to it's top, therefore if I can get the front perpendicular to the record surface, the tonearm will be level.
I made a reference block by squaring up a piece of oak with 90 degree edges on the table saw and jointer. From that flat board with square edges I cross-cut 3" long blocks, knowing the tops and ends were perpendicular to each other.
With the stylus set to it's normal tracking force and at rest on a non spinning 180gm disc , I adjusted the tonearm height until the face of the cartridge was flat against the perpendicular edge of my reference board. My tonearm and cartridge assembly were now more or less parallel to the record surface.
My tonearm has no scale or markings to measure the tonearm height. You loosen a setscrew, raise or lower the post and pray for the best as you re-tighten the set screw. I used playing cards as shims between the bottom of the spindle and the base varying the height by varying the number of cards.
I can now measurably change the VTA and judge the sonic effect for myself by adding or subtracting playing card shims. Now it is possible to adjust the VTA by ear simply by adding or removing shims.
Azimuth adjustment is also possible using thin paper shims between the headshell and the cartridge.