VPI Scout setup after watching Frefmer's video

Stringreen,

I still don't understand your point about the counter-intuitive (CI), even after your many posts telling everyone how unnecessary it is. Even if you have one tonearm and use the CI to set it up, you will still need it since it was used to dial in the VTF and azimuth. You can't remove it as you'd be back right where you started. So how does it have no use at all after setting up one tonearm?

Also, the VTF and azimuth can, and frequently do change over time, and the CI allows minute adjustments to one parameter while practically not affecting another, which is virtually impossible with the counterweight alone due to its size and wieght, not matter how many times you've set up a VPI tonearm.

Stringreen,

The point is that the CI makes all these adjustments a breeze, and allows very small adjustments that, in my experience, fiddling with the counterweight does not.

I used to own a Scout and now own a Classic. On both tables, the counterweight could not be forced "around the axis slightly until the proper azimuth is achieved." It can be only either very tightly fixed/fastened with the screw, or it will be way too loose to make a proper adjustment. There is no in-between, which makes sense as it's a metal screw that exerts a pressure against a metal tube. O-rings might help with smaller adjustments (by restricting excessive counterweight movement), but they will not provide the precision, the CI offers.

Insofar as there is a screw inside the back of the tonearm that perhaps allows small VTF adjustments, it is way more time consuming that simply sliding the CI.

Stringreen,

I find it very perplexing that you've been criticizing this tool from the very beginning, even without trying it. My sense is you have some sort of a purist attitude block that prevents you from admitting the usefulness and benefit of the CI. From what I've seen, you're just about the only VPI table owner who finds it of no use. The added expense is trivial against the benefit of saved time, added ease and less stress this tool offers.

Btw, I'm not "arguing" with you as to me the benefits of the CI in adjusting the VTF and azimuth are objectively (yes, objectively) verifiable given the nature of the VPI tonearms, and so are beyond a polemic. I was simply trying to understand why you insist on your position even though you have no solid arguments to support it.

Stringreen,

Are you seriously bringing Harry's dead son into this discussion to support your argument? That's disturbing.

Last Lemming,
Because, as Brf said, the CI allows very minute changes to both the VTF and azimuth. I suppose the ring is theoretically supposed to enable small adjustments, but since it's much heavier than the CI, it is not as easy in practice. Also, I personally did not like using the ring for setting the azimuth. You have to loosen the screws, and I found that twisting it back and forth to achieve minute changes would cause the ring to slide down after a while and affect tonearm balance.

Look, VPI arms can certainly be adjusted with incredible precision without the CI, the longer you've had one the better you're going to get at adjusting it, most likely. But the general consensus is that VPI arms are rather finicky to adjust. The CI simply allows fast, headache free, minute adjustments, which can make or break the sound. I don't claim the thing is absolutely necessary and essential if you own a VPI table, but its utility cannot be disputed.

Stringreen,
You've got to give it a rest, man. I never said the CI was "needed"; in fact, I stated it was not necessary or essential. Re-read my posts. But it is very useful in my opinion and its usefulness cannot be disputed. So right back at you about arguing with a brick wall. And why are you so vehemently arguing against it when you've never even used it?!!!

Let's just agree to disagree on its utility and let others decide for themselves at this point. I think we've both said enough on the subject.

I might be wrong, but unplugging the connector makes no sense to me. The VTF and azimuth only matter when you listen to records and you can't listen with the connector unplugged so why would you unplug it as you adjust these parameters?

Also, I've never heard of a tonearm not being "intended" for MC or MM cartridges. A given tonearm might not be suitable for cartridges within certain weight range, but not specifically MC averse.