VTA on an LP12?

Posted by: NigelP on 05 August 2001

I found a shop selling audiophile vinyl in Birmingham and came away with a few discs. I played Genesis "Selling England by the Pound" and thought that it sounded a little too strong in the bass although it is a fine album. I noticed that the Ekos was riding a little higher than usual and then tried the others. Ah - 180g vinyl. Trouble is that most of my collection is cheaper thinner vinyl. I am thinking of altering the VTA to ride somewhere in between which, of course, is a compromise. Does anyone have any other advice?

Yours absolutely delirious because I've found Swordfish!

Posted on: 05 August 2001 by Arthur Bye

Can't say I'm thrilled with this solution but it does work, sort of.

Use felt mats of differing thickness to adjust your VTA.

This means adjusting you arm to VTA for 180 gram LP's and then use thicker mats for regular records.

I've tried this on my Rega and it does work, but the mats add their own effect to the sound, so try and stay with the same material.

Arthur Bye

Posted on: 05 August 2001 by Not For Me

I go there whilst in Brum, and Plastic Factory - two fine shops, staffed by enthusiasts about thier music - I could only find Krautrock bootlegs CDs at these two shops. (and Selecadisc in London)

I wonder what is is about the Midlands and prog rock ?

David

p.s. I have a simliar setup, and have given up worrying about different thickness of vinyl & VTA.

Posted on: 06 August 2001 by Tony L

quote:
I could only find Krautrock bootlegs CDs at these two shops. (and Selecadisc in London)

Is it the Neu! reissues that you are after, if so the NME shop have them on mail order on vinyl and CD ( www.nme.com ), just search for Neu!

quote:
I can recommend Ultima Thule in Leicester (next to the railway station)for good quality vinyl.
Very good for Krautrock also.

Any shop that takes its name from a totally obscure early Tangerine Dream 7" single is ok by me! This shop gets well recommended in Julian Cope's excellent Krautrocksampler book. I must go on pilgrimage to Leicester some time…

Tony.

Posted on: 06 August 2001 by Rico

Back in the days of turntable setup insanity (refer Enid Lumley's articles, amongst others, The Absolute Sound late 80's)... someone used cartridge paper "shims" and noted on a label on each sleeve the ideal number to fine-tune VTA for a give record, assuming ideal VTA is acheived first.

What's ideal in VTA depends on your system setup (you're tuning the sound, just like speaker positioning). LP12 VTA adustment varies from arm to arm.

I beleive in VTA, and have never managed to accept Rega's assetion that it doesn't matter.

Rico - let them eat Kans.

Posted on: 06 August 2001 by Martin M

NigelP,

say hello to Mike (the guy with the long hair) when your next there. I've been shopping in Swordfish for past 14 years. Always an excellent experience. Unfortunately living 3000 miles away makes popping in rather tricky.

PS If you ask Mike nicely you'll find they have a 'stash' of Classic Records Kind of Blue there too.

Posted on: 10 August 2001 by NigelP

I might be in there tomorrow so I'll say hi. Thanks for the tip on the classics. I did actually pick up some great stuff last time. They still didn't have the latest from Linoleum and Songdog.
I'll try playing with the VTA and see what I get. I like the idea of optimising for 180g and lift the mat to match the other stuff.

Posted on: 11 August 2001 by Andrew L. Weekes

quote:
Try lowering the anti-skate too.

On arms such as the Ittok it's possible with care to adjust bias whilst playing.

There's an easily heard optimum point on mine, that I find easiest whilst playing 'Dancing in the Moonlight' by Thin Lizzy.

The bassline becomes much bouncier, and the characteristic sound of Phil Lynott's bass can be heard more clearly. Get it wrong and it sounds ponderous by comparison.

Andy.