VPI JMW setup

Yep, what Stringreen said...the Mint brought out stuff in my Scout/JMW9 that I had never heard before...all good.

How about the Azmuth? I too have a HW-19. It had a Rega RB300 and with it's mods I loved it. Then just like you I bought a JMW-9 and this has been an improvement as well. I find that getting the Azmuth right really helps the soundstage. That and careful set up.

VPI says to put a light weight stick or straw in the groove of the headshell and measure to see that it's level. I have a very small very light bubble level and I just put that on the headshell. It's amazing how when it looks visually level that it's not.

The sound definitely improves when you get it level. This is something you can't adjust on the Rega.

By the way, I went crazy earlier this week and removed the motor from the standard base mount and affixed it directly to the plinth -- a la the new Classic. Then I put the plinth directly on the base without the pucks (or springs).

I think this made a HUGE improvement in the sound. I spoke with Harry at VPI about it and he was excited to discuss it and encouraged me to keep going in this direction. He now thinks that this is the way to go.

Creativepart, what did you use as your spindle to pivot distance? I started at 223mm and moved in to 222mm and noticed an inprovement. additionally I had noticed a wobble or a lateral bounce from side to side as the cartridge tracked. I added weight via stainless cartridge weights that are a part of my Souther sl-3 setup and set vtf back to where it was before and noticed the wobble disappeared, the image stabilized and overal tracking was improved. Where can I find info on this mint protractor?

HOLY CRAP, $110 for a protactor. It's really worth it, eh?

The actual stp distance is 222.8. So, you're fine either way. 222 is the accepted distance. There is a guy KWILIS on the Vinyl Asylum that creates really nice protractors for $50. He just did one for me and it's great.

As for the wobble, That sounds like a LP pressed off center not a cart problem. I've never noticed this.

Do you have an accurate VTF gauge? And, is it calibrated. I use one of those digitals that you get on A'gon for $50 but are sold at Music Direct for $130 and it works great. But it got out of calibration and I didn't realize it. I kept having cart problems and finally I double checked the VTF and found the problem. Easily fixed.

I shoot for my tonearm to be pretty much level when setting VTA, but some carts will want the tail up and some others will want the tail down. But I'm not a big believer in this needing obsessive attention.

Getting my azimuth more or less set has made the biggest improvement in my sound.