VTA setting up.....how do I find level?


I've read advice to "raise the rear of the tonearm .03 inches from level" for best performance of my Lyra Helikon cartridge.

OK, how do you find level? If I place a bubble level on the tonearm it stresses the stylus with the extra weight! (damage potential!?) and bends the arm down, so it's not in the normal playing position.

Then, the numbered barrel on the JMW12.5 arm indicates what? (numbered 0 through 99)

Could someone address this particular step of the setup please?
jbatlanta

Showing 3 responses by dougdeacon

Good advice from all three posters above. The Jon Risch article referenced by Lugnut (I think the title is actually, "VTA once and for all!") is the best theoretical place to start

Risch recommends a lined guide card just as Bob did.

The approach explained by Rushton is ultimately best. Both VTA and VTF must finally be set by ear, listening to familiar recordings.
Hi Patrick. Good tip about avoiding the raised rim. LP labels are often raised also, so they too must be avoided. Oy!

Of course Risch's use for a lined card is not to square the cartridge body. We don't play music with that so why align it? Risch wants us to adjust the contact line of the stylus itself - 2 degrees forward of vertical. Having a visual reference for such a tiny line must be helpful, as Bob found.

Of course if you insist on using an armboard thats 1/2" too tall you won't be able to align anything! <;-/
For the longest time I thought the 901 stylus shape was peculiar too. But in fact it simply has a tendency to rapidly build up crud where the stylus meets the underside of the cantilever. Properly cleaned you can see that it's shaped like a sharp V when viewed from the side. The contact lines pretty nearly bisect the V.

It does need a good set of eyes to see this. A wide angle lens for a 35mm camera makes an excellent magnifier, I use my partner's 28mm Canon lens and it works great. Take the lens off and look through the outer end, with the film end of the lens aimed at the stylus.

Of course setting by ear is what you must do in the end anyway, so ignore all the above!