GoodSoundClub - Romy the Cat's Audio Site

In the Forum: Analog Playback
In the Thread: Vinyl Ceremonies: Repeatable VTA

Post Subject: Some do, some don't; some will, some won't...Posted by Axel on: 12/27/2009

and as far as VTA (SRA) goes I'm for the latter.
I read Romy's short contribution and it is what I do, find a good average VTA for a cart --- do some more minor corrections and voila.
If I had to change VTA for every record I'd give up vinyl, maybe also what Romy and some others feel about the subject.
Now, Paul you have overlooked on major, MAJOR, VTA / vinyl interface item ---- the way the actual record groove was cut, it varies by make and brand.
The real anal follower of VTA will HAVE TO mark each record, and independent of mere variation in thickness then find his ULTIMATE setting.
This is easier with a few arms (not more then counted on one hand) and even some of their older versions Graham, TriPlanar are having enough "play" by those micrometer adjusted arm posts to make you wonder if it was truly repeatable after all.
I use various hard-wood shims under my SME V arm (all else proofed too inconsistent in any case) and yet with the same shim I easily get more then one result if measured in terms of 0.1mm fractions.
Lastly with your chronic power issues, you wouldn't even know when you hit the jack-pot setting, e.g. bad power less VTA, good power more VTA, (due to increased harshness of playback) then add the lacquer cutter variations, anything from ~20 deg to 23 deg. VTA) and I agree with your statement: CASE CLOSED.
Greetings of the season,
Axel

Rerurn to Romy the Cat's Site