jim goulding
08-20-2007, 08:35 PM
So, I'm dicking around on Sunday, balancing my tonearm, cleaning my stylus tip, checking to be sure my TT's level, when I decide to give my VTA a look. I looked at the instructions from the manufacturer as I have before but it looked like the rake angle was a little steeper than what's recommended. I don't remember why I did that but I decided to adjust more in keeping with what the book said. I just noticed that I misspelled "Verticle" in the title. Symbolic, maybe.
On this table, I use a Grado Sonata Reference. Grado says the cartridge should be parallel to the record surface or one to two degrees lower in the rear. So, I drop it a hair, then a hair more, and so on using a white background so I can see more clearly the profile of the cartridge body and the stylus from the side with a big magnifying glass. I tighten it up when I reach what looks like the ideal including the tone arm base to the TT platform and prepare to listen.
Holy crap! I had done all this without returning my mat to the platter when I was site tuning in the angle! If I put my mat back and then add a record (like I had done sans the mat) the angle it will be too low. F*** it. I did it anyway. Remember the first time you did this and knew it was right when you found it? Brothers and sisters . . it was dead perfect and I knew it damn near immediately. The attack and decay of notes were vibrant in the way I knew was right. Cymbals were audibly cleaner and harmonic information just rang true when hit with the stick. Stuff was so smooth and finely detailed.
Enough with the superlatives already. The point is that this it is so critical that we get this right and so rewarding. I haven't found this angle in the four or five times I've fooled around with set up in the previous 18 months or so that I've owned this rig.
Have mercy, miss percy . . I tripped and fell into right! Thank you.
On this table, I use a Grado Sonata Reference. Grado says the cartridge should be parallel to the record surface or one to two degrees lower in the rear. So, I drop it a hair, then a hair more, and so on using a white background so I can see more clearly the profile of the cartridge body and the stylus from the side with a big magnifying glass. I tighten it up when I reach what looks like the ideal including the tone arm base to the TT platform and prepare to listen.
Holy crap! I had done all this without returning my mat to the platter when I was site tuning in the angle! If I put my mat back and then add a record (like I had done sans the mat) the angle it will be too low. F*** it. I did it anyway. Remember the first time you did this and knew it was right when you found it? Brothers and sisters . . it was dead perfect and I knew it damn near immediately. The attack and decay of notes were vibrant in the way I knew was right. Cymbals were audibly cleaner and harmonic information just rang true when hit with the stick. Stuff was so smooth and finely detailed.
Enough with the superlatives already. The point is that this it is so critical that we get this right and so rewarding. I haven't found this angle in the four or five times I've fooled around with set up in the previous 18 months or so that I've owned this rig.
Have mercy, miss percy . . I tripped and fell into right! Thank you.