possible vpi scout tweak?

Hi,

I just discovered this today by accident and thought I'd pass it on. YMMV.

I was adjusting the vta with the threaded disk at the base of the jmw-9 arm. I didn't like where I moved it, and put it back to the original setting. It sounded much better then it had before I moved it, even though it was at the same place. I got up to make sure I had it in the same place as before, ( I use a small piece of tape to mark it) I reached out to check and the vta adjustment disk moved freely, it was not tightened against the base, and only the 2 allen set screws at the side and the back were holding the tone arm up. I tightened the threaded disk, sat down, and everything sounded flat in comparison, damped. I got up, backed off the disk again, sat down and could hear the difference again. I did this about 10 times, replaying the same song. It sounds like a veil is lifted and everything sounds more alive, vibrant and detailed, slightly move forward but not it a bad way.
My guess is that the vibrations are draining better through the 2 small screw points then the large surface area of the threaded disk, that or it is a resonance match/mismatch with the Granite slab I have my scout on. The granite is on Herbies Isoballs on a wood wall shelf.

All you have to do is back the threaded disk off the tonearm base a bit so it moves freely, just 1/8 to 1/4", listen, tighten it back up, listen. For me the difference was not subtle.

If you want to try it out, let me know if you hear any difference. Sometimes I fear I am losing my mind with this stuff.

Mike