VTA Sensitivity

In my experience, dynavector cartridges are fairly insensitive to the VTA. Just make sure that your arm is parallel or slightly lower in the back, and you'll be ok.

I used a Grado Sonata for about a year (or 2?) on my ARO, with great enjoyment. I tried out a rebuilt Karma - WoW! What an improvment!

But I think something like an Ittok/Karma wouldn't be as good as the ARO/Sonata, so I wouldn't say an MM is wasted; it's just that the ARO supports better carts than, say, and Akito or Ittok.

Phil

I have always found the VTA up or down argument to be a wild goose chase, Parallel is the way to go, that is with the arms and Carts we have had the most experience with.
The folks who champion the VTA exercise seem to go along the route of different rather than better or worse.

The Dynavector 10X4 is not very persnickety about VTA. It sounds best tipped back a bit but doesn't sound offensive if it's set parallel or even tipped forward a bit. I'd expect that the new 10X5 is the same.

I found the VTA to be a mute issue with the Aro ie it didn't appear to be very important.

With the SME you can adjust very finely the VTA and easily find the "obvious" sweet spot for imaging and tonal balance. However, I find this exact point, as well as taking ages to "lock down", actually destroys PRaT and slightly either side of this point is best. Anyone else find this?

Ok, I have Ringmat Support System on my LP12/Aro/Koetsu Rosewood so I know exactly influence of VTA(this system makes possible to change mat thickness in 0.025mm steps). Results:
1. Arm parallel to platter-bright sound, midrange distortions
2. Mat thicknes about 0.1mm more than need for parallel-minimal distortions,no bass
3. About 0.2mm more-minimal distortions, good bass. Interval 0.1-0.2 has minimal distortions
with improving bass to the end of the interval.
4. More than 0.2mm-more distortions,no treble,less dynamic bass.

So for Koetsu at least:
1. Parallel is not good at all
2. Optimal VTA zone is very narrow
3. You have almost no chance to find it without
Support System or another arm with repeatable and exact VTA changing.
4. Optimal VTA makes all the difference in the world for my rig. And I don't change it for every record. Tuning was done for average thickness 120g record.

Sorry, but once you are down this route you are no longer interested in the music, just anality.

.2 of a mm? Give me a break.

H-m-m-m... The problem is without this anality you have no music...

quote:

---

Originally posted by Christopher:
So I finally have my Aro to join the LP12 and Armageddon, ...I have an 82 with MM cards, is an MM cartridge wasted on the LP12/Aro, or will it still give the CDX/XPS a run for its money?

---

Hi Chris,
congrats for your Aro, finally made the right decision!

FYI, my DV20xH started to perform quite correctly these last days. They are long to break in, pphhheww.
Now I can say that my Thorens 124/Aro/DV20xh into 52/MM boards is (dare I say?) at least as good as my CDS2. I won't say better because the 2 sources are different and each have its strenght. I enjoy both of them.

Re VTA: arm is parallel/maybe a bit tipped back. I don't think the Dyna is too fussy about it.

Some will maybe advice you to get MC boards and Low Output Cart. It makes sense if you intend to go to a 52.

I kept my MM boards because I switch between LP/45 and another 78rpm TT, and it was more convenient for me to have an HO cart for both.

Cheers
Jean-Marc

I have found that small changes in VTA did sod all to the sound.

Which of us is right Ross?

Garyi, maybe you are both right. Ross said that sensitivity varies from cartridge to cartridge. I have certainely also heard how a badly setup cartridge can ruin the sound. For me there is no doubt that careful setup of turntable/arm/cart and so on is vital if you want to hear what your tt really can do.

Couldn't agree more Bjorne, if the cart is not aligned or to far back or forward it can be a disaster.

.2 mm in VTA Adjustment to my ears though has no effect one way or the other. Infact I have this clearaudio at about virtical, whereas according to the alignment line it should be at its lowest point making the arm precariously close to the record surface so I moved it a good 10-15 mm above what it says, and it sound preciesly the same.

More over, anyone who can actually measure .2 of a mm has my respect any way