VTA adjusting for Denon DL-103

I have a Well Tempered Turntable and tonearm and run the Denon DL 103R. After initial alignment of the cartridge, get a test record and actually measure and adjust azimuth by making sure you are getting equal strength signal from both left and right channel. Then adjust VTA. Recheck everything one more time, tracking force, alignment, etc. etc.

I have found that of all the adjustments on a turntable, Azimuth combined with VTA as second top priority has yielded the largest improvements in presentation and sound with this Denon 103.

Keep spinning them LPs!

R.

I'm using a DL-103R on a RB600 on a Rega P25 and when I installed the Denon it seems to make that tone arm just about perfectly level.

I was all prepared with an Expressimo VTA adjuster to raise the tonearm, but none seems necessary. I may try it one day just for kicks, but then again, that's the beauty of a Rega. You don't really have to fuss with it.

Paul Green

Agree with Jphii, though having the armtube *approximately* level for an "average" thickness record (whatever that is) is not a bad idea. I agree it's not worth fretting over though, the cartridge-record relationship is far more critical than the armtube-record relationship.

I haven't heard that a 103 is shorter than a normal cartridge, but if it is you could always add a headshell shim.

The arm tube on my OL seems to have the best sound with the back of the armtube lower than the front. But, I like to play with it, so it varies a lot.

I'd suggest playing with it for the best sound. You can measure all day, but in the end it's the sound that counts!