Stringreen is 100% correct
VTA for arm vs VTA for cartridge
Hi have a Thorens 125 MKII, SME 3009 Series II tone arm and Grado Gold cartridge.
I've been looking for a better bass response, and decided to reassess my VTA.
It was set for the tone arm (arm horizontal to the record, or nearly so). I tried lowering it, but didn't get the improvement in bass I was hoping for.
Something motivated me to check my cartridge instructions. The VTA for the cart is supposed to be set so that the base is horizontal. Because of the way its designed the arm ends up angling down. This makes sense as far as the cart is concerned, even if it defies the tone arm instructions.
I have a thick mat which makes it impossible to get this exactly right. But it is just a bit lower now than the correct VTA now.
Here's the interesting thing. When I compare the bass and highs, etc. in recordings from both VTA setups I don't hear much difference. In fact, the bass seems a little more prominent in the VTA I set had originally set for the arm.
Maybe it all too subtle to tell with my headphones right now.
I've been looking for a better bass response, and decided to reassess my VTA.
It was set for the tone arm (arm horizontal to the record, or nearly so). I tried lowering it, but didn't get the improvement in bass I was hoping for.
Something motivated me to check my cartridge instructions. The VTA for the cart is supposed to be set so that the base is horizontal. Because of the way its designed the arm ends up angling down. This makes sense as far as the cart is concerned, even if it defies the tone arm instructions.
I have a thick mat which makes it impossible to get this exactly right. But it is just a bit lower now than the correct VTA now.
Here's the interesting thing. When I compare the bass and highs, etc. in recordings from both VTA setups I don't hear much difference. In fact, the bass seems a little more prominent in the VTA I set had originally set for the arm.
Maybe it all too subtle to tell with my headphones right now.