Need help setting overhang on the Technics SL-1200

Tvad - I'm afraid with the M97 though, because the body of the cartrige slants down from the mounting brackets, the only shure way to tell if the VTA is correct is to take a very strong magnifying glass and eyeball the stylus while the record is playing.

Curio - I initially set the VTA with the arm tube parallel with the record; it was set at less than 1mm as I recall. I found out that with the headshell parallel with the record surface the VTA is set at 6mm. I have been talking with an person that knows a great deal about the M97 and have discovered that the correct setting for the VTA on the Technics SL-1200 is 2.5mm. Listening to several albums has definately confirmed what he told me.

01-24-09: Tvad
The Technics white plastic jig does is not accurate. It does not allow for cantilever alignment, nor is the overhang optimal when one compares the results to that of the MintLP or this Technics arm protractor downloadable from The Vinyl Engine (scroll down the page). Be sure to download the instructions as well.

I've had my SL1210 M5G for nearly two years now. I started with the plastic jig and an M97xE and go OK results, but I've since moved to the Vinyl Engine protractor referenced by Tvad and I've been *really* happy with the results, both with a Denon DL-160 and my current cart, an Audio Technica AT150MLX (a superb match w/the Technics, btw).

I also agree that VTA is best adjusted by starting with the tonearm on a record eyeballed to horizontal, and then adjust VTA on the fly until you dial in your optimum sound. Use a variety of music to get a good average setting. What gives you the most vivid cymbal crashes may not be the same height that gives most satisfying female vocals.

Johnny53 - thanks for your comments. I liked the results obtained from the Vinyl Engine protractor also. I will definately give the Audio Technica AT150MLX a listen.

01-26-09: Bobgates
Johnny53 - thanks for your comments. I liked the results obtained from the Vinyl Engine protractor also. I will definitely give the Audio Technica AT150MLX a listen.

Although the purchase prices are only about $150 apart, the AT 150MLX is definitely in an entirely different ballpark. Whereas the M97xE is a serviceable, "do no harm" entry-level cartridge, the AT150MLX gives you A LOT of what prompts people to spend big bucks for in the high end. It's better in every way--faster, tracks way better, more linear, more extended, more inner detail, more separation, more articulate, more musical.

If I had it to do over again, I would have started with an AT150MLX mounted on an LPGear ZuPreme headshell. It would have saved me the intermediate steps of the M97xE and Denon DL-160, both of which are utterly left in the dust by the AT150MLX. And replacement stylii are only $179.95 (same price as a DL-160) from LPGear.