I’ll just throw this final thought out there regarding VTA adjust or none. As with all engineering pursuits everything is a trade off. Having no VTA adjustment means the arm pivot can be better mechanically “grounded” to the plinth. This has sonic advantages according to Roy G.
Correct, and well stated. That it may be possible for it to be a mechanically superior approach, and that Roy thinks that.
I’m sorry for upsetting anyone. Seems to be a touchy subject.
1 Like
Mr. Beef (sorry couldn’t resist) for the record, I’m not upset.
That’s generally right, but I always wondered about the priorities. To not allow a general correct adjustment of cartridges in VTA, Azimuth (and the tolerance in the 3 screw headshell fixation is big enough to have a misalignment there, too) for the sake of a more rigid connection to the turntable and stiff design of the arm always seemed to me like selling an ultra precise sniper gun with a welded-on, non adjustable telescope. The theoretical precision of the gun simply doesn’t help if you can’t adjust the telescope properly.
All this may work with a Rega cartridge installed, but not more. And in my experience not even the headshell is manufactured equally parallel to the theoretical record surface. Even if it would be, correct azimuth is always different.
I’m not against Rega, it can be great, I even owned a RB3 and a RB9 arm with an improved counterweight and cabling, but one of my biggest moves forward in phono was moving away from this lacking option to adjust properly.
1 Like
I wasn’t worried about you, man. Others are seemingly very sensitive to what I post, however.
It is not like “no adjustment is possible”. On my RP-10 when I had a Soundsmith cartridge installed they installed spacers under the tonearm mount and there ya go, all set.
2 Likes
There is a great deal of this appearing in this thread.
1 Like
7 Likes
You do seem to strike a nerve now and then Beef… It’s usually quite interesting tho… 
Guy that owns the record shop I frequent bought an antique cabinet and this decorative mirror was in one of the drawers…let me have it for $20
Best,
-JP
6 Likes
@jazznut: There is certainly something to be said for a manufacturer designing all aspects of a system, so that it might be optimized (within the given constraints) with the least fuss and expense. As you note, though - other carts are used on Rega arms all the time. Given the wide tolerances stated for cart VTA/SRA in Roy’s blurb above, if you don’t use a Rega setup with a Rega cart, it would seem those equations go right out the window.
Again - it is not possible to (at least easily and temporally) compare the sonic differences VTA adjustments make on a Rega setup. But with some carts - I’d be Shimming that Shizz like @groovysauce and @aangen.
Aside from that - the primary bit I have to disagree with, despite the seemingly Compelling Weight of “The Many Measurements Objection”** posed in Roy’s bit, is the notion that 1 degree of VTA adjustment doesn’t matter.
My guess is a majority of those with VTA adjustability have experienced that - tightened down or not - One Degree or not - it is one of the bigger sonic differences you can make on a TT setup…(nota bene:) AFTER everything else is aligned. VTA is no less of a “proper adjustment” than azimuth, or any other aspect. However, it is possible to live with the lack of no VTA adjustability more easily than a L/R imbalance. Especially if y’ain’t got it.
And - contrary to Roy’s statement, “In fact, the VTA becomes more correct as the rear of the arm is lowered as much as possible”, VTA on a given setup often tends to sound better in subjective experience in the opposite direction. Of course - give or take the cart’s VTA/SRA. But if you can’t change it…hard to know 
**This really does start to seem like arguing quantum physics theories.
Same here - I generally don’t mess with it, and enjoy it fully - once set. Hence my earlier wondering what the issue was with wanting the option.
But is your opinion that it is nonesense based on your considerable personal experience with spinning records?
Right, in my experience it’s just that VTA mainly affects tonality changes and to a lesser degree imaging and tracking while azimuth affects imaging and tracking mainly (which for me is even more a priority).
When we realize that in vinyl tracking practically everything depends on the proper position of the needle, it’s hard to comprehend that only few tonearms offer this full option.
But we also have to consider that up to a certain performance level of the turntable and the whole setup, many of those adjustments (as long as quite ok) don’t play a big role at all.
Rega and VTA…
Valid arguments on both sides.
Problem is, arguments don’t equate to how something actually sounds.
As the top tier (the turntable not Me) Rega P10 owner who changed the feet on their P10 turntable and got an improvement…
I’d say I’d fettle with something like the feet, as I have a less than ideal glass shelf surface.
Also looking forward to trying record mat change, by all accounts there’s a U.K. based mat that doesn’t just improve LP12s but Rega’s too.
No opinion voiced till (like the IsoAcoustic feet) I’ve heard it on my own deck.
But feck me , I’d not argue with Rega’s engineering Nous on stuff like VTA…
They know absolutely what they are doing.
(Taken from their book “A vibration measuring machine”, A great read by the way and highly recommended)
Also shown in Fremer’s visit to Rega HQ.
3 Likes
I’m sure!
Another design that absolutely contradicts my so far principles (but seems to be one of the most desirable tonearms) ist the Viv lab Rigid Float.
Arm without offset. Removable headshell with add. connector crossover. No fix tonearm base connection to the table, but a floating one (the opposite of Rega and most others). The best arm is the shortest one (not 12, not 9, but 7“).
I guess nothing of this is what was best practice so far. However it’s one of the best arms, not only few say it’s the best one.
Dude - grasp the arms of your chair, Hug your dog, and breathe deeply.
You keep responding as if…I dunno what.
Turntable VTA is the subject here.
If it was unclear from the post, the thing was that I know that you have extensive experience with spinning records.
Wow. K. Nuff said
Sooooooooo…um,
I’m still thinking the Schiit might be a way to go. A lower price could be the Fluance highest end model as well.
I do like separate motor on the Schiit.
2 Likes
That’s a Schiitty idea.
Nice rig. I am just getting back into a TT (had one as a kid). I have a VPI Scoutmaster and the VPI JMW 9 Signature. What do you use to set up the cartridge, and without on the fly VTA do you loosen the set screws and adjust? I feel like a fish out of water, because I don’t know what to listen for.