2. analog
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Thoughts on VTA......

I have read countless posts where members are spending hours on exacting setup of their VTA with varying levels of tools.

Then there is another camp who set by ear.

My thoughts/questions on this subject arise from vinyl thickness difference.

Surely going from a flimsy flier early 70,s vinyl to a later 180 or even 200gm issue is going to change that painstakingly set VTA considerably.

So thoughts rattling round is why go to all that trouble when it IS going to change depending on the vinyl played?

To my mind it would appear that one of the arms that includes on the fly VTA adjustment would be the answer.

Your opinions or suggestions?
uberwaltz

Showing 3 responses by cleeds

cleeds
6,228 posts
 
rauliruegas
... each time we make changes in VTA/SRA the AZ changed too ...
If your pickup arm’s azimuth changes when you raise or lower it to adjust VTA/SRA, then it is defective in either design or manufacture. Or both. Changing alignment in one plane should not alter alignment in another plane.
cleeds
6,228 posts
 
effischer

Also, I respectfully disagree that overhang is changed by changing VTA with arms that feature VTA OTF adjustment. The whole point of VTA OTF is to raise or lower the entire arm assembly with respect to the surface of the vinyl. This includes the arm pivot and the stylus, so that geometric relationship doesn’t change.
Clearly, changing VTA changes overhang. That is basic Pythagorean  geometry. Of course, the overhang will remain constant if you are able to precisely adjust arm height to compensate for various thicknesses of LPs. But if you are adjusting VTA by ear on the fly, what determines to your ear that you've reached the ideal arm height? Is it achieving the perfect VTA? Or is it achieving the perfect overhang?
cleeds
6,228 posts
 
uberwaltz
I have read countless posts where members are spending hours on exacting setup of their VTA with varying levels of tools ... Surely going from a flimsy flier early 70,s vinyl to a later 180 or even 200gm issue is going to change that painstakingly set VTA considerably ... why go to all that trouble when it IS going to change depending on the vinyl played? ... it would appear that one of the arms that includes on the fly VTA adjustment would be the answer.
Although opinions vary, I don't think that the different VTA that results from a thinner or thicker LP is considerable. As for on-the-fly VTA, that is not a perfect solution, because when you change the VTA, you change the overhang, too - however slightly. So I agree with bdp24 :
set your VTA for the average of your best sounding LP's, and be done with it.

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