Tool kit for cartridge setup

I'll second Larry's suggestion. It will be the last VTF scale you will ever need or want.

One thing that I have found to be of a most particularly troubling nature is the starting point. Do you start with the arm level? Or the cartridge body level? Etc., etc. Drove me nuts until Nsgarch (thanks again, Neil!)posted a methodology that is logical, somewhat easy to use and takes most (not all,depending on your eyesight) of the guess work out of this finding of a good idea of the starting position.

This is the thread:
How to set SRA after determining true vertical?

I won't go through it here, but I would say that if after reading that post the concept makes sense you will want to add a first surface mirror and at least a 10x (or a little more) magnifying glass to your tool box.

From there all you need is a good set of ears, either yours or someone you trust, and a tonearm with easy VTA adjustability.

Best of luck,

Dan

I still don't get it, Doug. In Nsgarch's method you start with the stylus as close to perpendicular as you can get it. Assuming a 1.5 degree (manufacturer depedant) stylus to surface angle is desired, and you change the heighth of the arm to get that angle, how can this not give you a good starting point, regardless of where the arm ends up?

Thanks for clearing that up, Doug. I know by the way your setup sounds that you've got it right, but I'm curious now if the ZYX stylus is set at a little more of an angle to the cantilever since your arm is tail down. I'm certainly not second guessing anything about the way you've got things set. The tinkerer in me just has to know! :)

BTW, you should get the adapters today and I received my Borodin yesterday. Also found a copy of the trio of ladies, Parton, Ronstadt and Harris.