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VTA: am I nutz?

Here's why I think I may need to have my head examined. (OTOH, I *did* hit it on the ice last week...hmm...) Anyway, my several weeks' experience in adjusting VTA during play on my Aries 2/JMW-10/Denon 103D has led me to the following conclusion: what I expected was that somewhere in the range of adjustment would be a smaller range which sounded better than the rest, and that below it would be dark and lacking in highs, and above it would be hard and bright.

However, my observation is that no such range exists. Rather there is ONE CORRECT SETTING for each record, from which you may not deviate. Nor is the "above is bright" and "below is muddy" rule always the case. In fact, I find that there is very little variation either above or below the magic setting.

Now this may sound contradictory, but it IS true that I make all my adjustments from record to record within a range of about 20-30 increments on the dial. So while the sound doesn't vary in any logical way within that range, the IDEAL setting will always be found within that range. And yes, thicker records will require a higher setting while thinner will require a lower. No mystery there.

I guess my question is this: is this "only one magic point" finding in agreement with that of other people? Or am I some kind of analog mental case?

Please, 'cause I'm about ready to order the straitjacket... ;-)
bublitchki

Showing 3 responses by bublitchki

bublitchki OP
14 posts
 
Thank you all for your responses. It should be mentioned that I wore out the set screw on my old Denon DP-60L because I fiddled with the VTA endlessly, and the only way to adjust it was to loosen the screw and raise and lower the arm column manually. Very hard to do in miniscule (and repeatable) increments, as I'm sure we all know. Eventually I ended up trying in vain to grip the sawed-off stub of a screw with my screwdriver. Little pliers didn't work either. Damn...

So that's all to let you know that this is a recurrence of a more long-standing chronic mental disorder. To get rid of it, I tried vaccinating myself with a phonograph needle, but all that did was make me talk all day long.

My next tonearm will have one of those digital readouts for VTA, and will be adjustable by remote control. The reason is that by then I will have completely destroyed my arthritic knees and ankles by jumping up and down from the couch to adjust VTA the old way.

Is all this worth it? All I can say is that when I hit that magic mark, it sounds *so* good. Knees? We don't need no steenkin' knees!
bublitchki OP
14 posts
 
Here's my suggestion for a name for our new company:

LOAD (Lazy Old Arthritic Dorks) Audio, Inc.

Corporate headquarters will be in one of those heavily retirement-oriented communities like Scottsdale, Arizona.

Gee, I love the idea of sitting on my ass, adjusting VTA, and raking in the cash...
bublitchki OP
14 posts
 
I can practically visualize the little thumbnail picture at Acoustic Sounds' web site or Music Direct and the blurb next to it:

The LITP II builds on the strengths of the acclaimed original LITP, acknowledged by Harry Pearson of The Absolute Sound magazine to be "one of the landmark products in high-end history." A new, improved stainless steel harness (versus the plastic of the original version) fits around the user's waist, and he pulls his pants up over it. The supplied laser pointer, which is connected to the harness (interconnect cable not included), is then aimed at your preamp. The result, sez Mikey Fremer of Stereophile: "Some of the smoothest, most liquid highs and diaper-filling lows you've ever experienced." Whether your system is multi-kilobuck, or of the more modest 'Joe Sixpack' variety, you can be assured of the same result: a really heavy 'Load In The Pants!'

Winner Stereophile Accessory Product of the Year 2002, 2003, and 2004

List Price: $2,999
Limited-Time Introductory Sale Price (until June 15): $2,499

Special Large Size for the Portly: $3,500

Amazing how this is taking wing, isn't it?
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