VPI 3D tonearm adjustment


I have a couple of questions on set up of my new Prime and the 3D tonearm:

1. I've had the TT for about three weeks. I had a scout and moved my Dyna 20x2L to the Prime.
my first impressions was this is a wonderful upgrade. But after a couple weeks I noticed there was more glare on the highs.  I initially set the tonearm parallel to the record - dead level. I then ran across articles about how on some earlier 3D arms the shell warped. I think I have a new style arm, but last night I decided that rather than set the arm parallel I would check and make sure the shell was paralelle - it was not. It tilted downward 1.5 degrees. To get back to paralelle had to turn down the vta adjustment to where the body off the adjustment tower is almost all the way down. But with it adjusted as such the sound is now fantastic. My first question is the shell supposed to be parallel?

2. My second question is now that the tower is almost all the way down I can't use the alighnment jig, the tonearm hits it.  I've heard that the small cup on the underside of the tonearm where the needle sits,can be raised and lowered - is this true for the 3D arm?  There isn't a screw on the top of the arm to adjust with?
last_lemming
I’ve had my 3D for about a year with perfection. Let us know what VPI says .....the Classic is a very good arm, but the 3D is very wonderful arm.  I've heard some issues with warpage due to heat.....I live in the Sonoran Desert and keep the house at about 80 degrees (outside its over 100)
My 11 month old 3D arm was recently replaced by the newer design.  So far all is well and sounding great - except I had to send my 5 mon old Manley Chinook back for repairs.  I am currently using the onboard McIntosh C2300 pre phono stage.
I can't understand why people are still having problems with these arms. I was considering a prime but I'm not so sure anymore.
The 3D arm is NOT an improvement over the older metal VPI arms, when properly setup!   IMO!

VPI has made no sonic turntable improvements since the TNT series.

VPI arms are hard for the "average" owner to setup, and maximize performance. 

They take too much listening, fine adjustment, and care, to setup properly for most!

That is the reason for the variable results.