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Experiments with VTF

I've spent the last couple of days experimenting and optimizing the VTF of my cartridge. I wanted to share my obervations. Hopefully this will provide some inspiration to newbies to experiment with this adjustment.

Initially, instead of making very small (~0.01 g) incremental changes, try making some large changes (~0.1 g) in each direction to get an appreciation for the effect VTF has on sound reproduction.

What I found when below optimum is that the sound is very airy (too much depth from the lack of bass), although lean and slightly tinnier in timbre and with lower bass response. You will notice this as you will have greater presence of midrange and highs and less bass.

When above optimum, the airiness decreases, the sound becomes richer in timbre but too thick, with improved bass but slightly less defined and resonant. You will notice this most from a thick, minimally airy (less defined depth)sound.

I would recommend approaching the optimum using 0.05 g increments from a setting that is too low. As you approach optimum, you will find bass to improve and timbre to become more correct and natural and the ariness to lessen but still be there.

When you get close, begin to make 0.01 g increments till you find the perfect balance between airiness/soundstage, dynamics, natural timbre and bass presence and definition.

It is a long and painstaking process but very rewarding. It is amazing just how much 0.01 g can make when you get close.

I would recommend a record that has female vocals, some good bass and lot's of ambience. I mainly used Norah Jones-Come away with me.

With my transfiguration Orpheus, I found the optimum to be around 1.955 - 1.960 g.

Good luck and have fun
aoliviero
aoliviero OP
269 posts
 
Newbee,

In trials, I did not compensate SRA when changing VTF. It would be difficult to do this precisely. As well, I always thought that changes to VTF were more pronounced than large changes in SRA. I agree that azimuth has a big impact as well. Unfortunetly with my arm, it's difficult to make changes in azimuth in a measureable way. Do you know if the Graham offers this option?
nsgarch's avatar
nsgarch
2,524 posts
 
Newbee, I think folks are unnecessarily concerned about VTF creating significant changes in SRA or VTA. With today's stiffer suspensions and shorter cantilevers, it would take a really large increase in VTF to signficantly compress/deform today's stiff suspensions with the short lever arm of today's cantilevers. I'm so old I can remember watching a Shure cantilever slowly compress into the cartridge body when too much stylus force was applied! Betcha can't do that with a contemporary MC, even at 4 grams!

I also put WAY more stock in setting SRA correctly. One can just forget about the rather nebulous, and really theoretical issue of VTA. I say 'nebulous' because with the many different cantilever lengths, what do you think is the liklihood that the one on your cartridge will match the mechanics of a cutting head? Answer: very remote! And yet that would be the ONLY situation where a match would be possible, if indeed it would matter at all.

That's why I started the thread detailing the (rather tedious) procedure of finding zero SRA for your own stylus. And if it's done using the mid-range of recommended VTF for your cartridge, no amount of future VTF tweaking within that range is going to change your SRA setting to any significant degree (that's a pun, get it? ;--)

BTW, I just discovered a little cartridge conditioning tweak that extends (as opposed to 'increases') the compliance of the suspension: once in awhile, play a SQ quadraphonic record. Their grooves add a left/right twisting motion and you'll like the improved resolution you can hear on your regular LP's. The quadraphonic pressing itself will sound crummy -- just leave the room ;--)
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sirspeedy70680e509
1,064 posts
 
"I just discovered a little cartridge conditioning tweak..."

Neil,you REALLY have to have a Holiday,named after you!How do you come up with this stuff?I love it!!
Even my schnorra pal's could not be "that" creative,and it is SO obviously well thought out!!!
Best!
nsgarch's avatar
nsgarch
2,524 posts
 
MIT beat it into me ;--) Everyone knows how hard it is to get into MIT, but only graduates know how hard it is to GET OUT OF MIT !
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Do you make adjustments to VTF independent of VTA?
Yes. I agree with everything Aoliviero and Nsgarch wrote about that. The VTF tuning we're discussing is so small there's little practical effect on VTA (SRA, actually, as NSgarch said). Nor are the sonic changes from VTF fine-tuning at all similar to those of SRA fine-tuning. These adjustments sound very different.

Do you think that the differences you note are due to the change in the force the stylus is applying to the groove or to effective changes in VTA (which must change with VTF changes)?
No and no.

IMO the diffenences are due to the pressure that VTF applies to the cantilever/suspension interface. This is why excess VTF sounds so much like excess antiskating, as I mentioned above. They both apply too much external pressure and inhibit cantilever freedom.

The more pressure on the cantilever, the less free it is to respond. Its response to groove modulations will be slower and its peak amplitudes will be physically contstrained. The sonic result is smothered HF's and smothered dynamics and a general dullness or lifelessness.

OTOH, if VTF is too low, the arm and cartridge have insufficient inertia to resist moving when really big and slow transients (aka, bass notes) come along.
If the arm moves then some of the energy that should have deflected the cantilever relative to the magnets, doesn't. Result: softer bass with lower amplitudes.

Now where did I put that cartridge warming lamp? I actually suggested we use our Littlelite for that during winter months Neil, but Paul vetoed it for some reason. Oh well, another great tweak lost forever! I'm gonna design a tonearm with a built in heating coil and a thermostat. Should sound great!

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