Generally there is an increase in bass and a decrease in treble, as you lower the VTA(lowering the pivot end of the arm). You can only do a certain amount with this, and is not intended really, as a tone control. It is a guide to show you how to "zero in" the VTA. However small changes for adjusting frequency balance can be done.
Turntable Set Up Questions again?
Hello everyone. So I am trying to align my turntable and after buying some new gizmos and spending a lot of time making adjustments and leveling the table I have a few questions.
1. Tracking Force- I realize that you set this based on cartridge requirements, then adjust by ear. My question is what are the outer bounds? If the Manuf. says 1.5 grams and I double it is that too much (ok, I'm really not gonna double it, but the point is how much play do you usually have?) How about 1.8? 2.1?
2. VTA. Here is my idea here. I have a small bubble level that I can place on top of my headshell. If I place enough post-it notes under the cartridge (alongside but not under the needle) I can very closely duplicate the "play" position where the needle is tracking a groove without worrying about depressing the needle into oblivion with the application of downward force onto the tonearm. So I can attach the bubble and adjust tonearm or pivot height to level the bubble without depressing the needle to cause damage. I can also use this and secure the bubble to the tonearm to measure whether it is level. good idea or not? How does one tell if the tonearm is tracking level?
3. I am working very hard on VTA, and may be at the situation where the tonearm height needs to be lowered past its lowermost point. Since this is impossible, is it acceptable to raise the record instead? I could get an aftermarket record mat to place on top of the existing one, which will raise the record to give me a good VTA, and then adjust from there. If this is ok, what mats do ya'all recommend?
4. What test records for setup do you recommend? I bought a Cardas one that seemed to be useful, but turns out it is pretty useless. You can tell L and R and it has like 5 tracks for absolute polarity. Not much else.
-thanks in advance, I appreciate your comments.
1. Tracking Force- I realize that you set this based on cartridge requirements, then adjust by ear. My question is what are the outer bounds? If the Manuf. says 1.5 grams and I double it is that too much (ok, I'm really not gonna double it, but the point is how much play do you usually have?) How about 1.8? 2.1?
2. VTA. Here is my idea here. I have a small bubble level that I can place on top of my headshell. If I place enough post-it notes under the cartridge (alongside but not under the needle) I can very closely duplicate the "play" position where the needle is tracking a groove without worrying about depressing the needle into oblivion with the application of downward force onto the tonearm. So I can attach the bubble and adjust tonearm or pivot height to level the bubble without depressing the needle to cause damage. I can also use this and secure the bubble to the tonearm to measure whether it is level. good idea or not? How does one tell if the tonearm is tracking level?
3. I am working very hard on VTA, and may be at the situation where the tonearm height needs to be lowered past its lowermost point. Since this is impossible, is it acceptable to raise the record instead? I could get an aftermarket record mat to place on top of the existing one, which will raise the record to give me a good VTA, and then adjust from there. If this is ok, what mats do ya'all recommend?
4. What test records for setup do you recommend? I bought a Cardas one that seemed to be useful, but turns out it is pretty useless. You can tell L and R and it has like 5 tracks for absolute polarity. Not much else.
-thanks in advance, I appreciate your comments.