Good Lord...

Posted by EdAInWestOC (A) on August 11, 2012 at 05:59:06

In Reply to: Using the iPhone for setting VTA posted by mr_phillip on August 10, 2012 at 02:00:51:

Come on now guys. If you have the best of luck setting a tonearm parallel to the record surface, you may end up optimal for playback quality but that is a big maybe.

First of all I am a supporter of on the fly VTA but I am not going there with this. I am just stating that a static setting of your VTA, where you set it parallel to the record surface, is wishful thinking at best.

If you have a cartridge with an advanced profile, like a line contact, your "approximation" is even worse in that you are sacrificing performance if you do not get the SRA setup porperly. Even if you have an elliptical stylus your playback performance can be improved if you get VTA/SRA dialed in properly. Hell, even a conical stylus is not totally immune to the effects of this setting.

This is a subject that gives me gas (and you do not want me to get gas). How can someone as picky as an audiophile, who agonizes over ever aspect of their playback rig, accept an approximation like parallel to the record surface? Are you kidding?

You stand the chance of missing significant playback quality if you go about this setting in this manner. This is one of the explanations behind the recommendation of various pressings from various users.

The thickness of the vinyl and the way the manufacturer cuts their lacquer yields a LP that responds better or worse to specific playback rigs given their setup. In a lot of cases it is not the quality of the mastering or the quality of the LP, it is the way it mates to the specific playback rig and its settings. This helps to explain the difference of opinions on specific pressings we all share from time to time.

The moral of all of this is that you should take the time to try and get your stylus setup to 92 degrees SRA and then spend some additional time doing listening tests to verify that setup. VTA/SRA is every bit as important as azimuth, cartridge alignment ot VTF adjustments and failure to perform this adjustment properly leaves performance untapped.

Ed
Life is analog...digital is just samples thereof

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Using the iPhone for setting VTA - mr_phillip 02:00:51 08/10/12 (19)

RE: Using the iPhone for setting VTA - SgreenP@MSN.com 14:32:00 08/11/12 (0)

RE: Using the iPhone for setting VTA - AudioSoul 09:51:30 08/11/12 (0)

Good Lord... - EdAInWestOC 05:59:06 08/11/12 (3)

Easily repeatable... - tketcham 12:59:27 08/11/12 (0)

RE: Good Lord... - mr_phillip 08:49:46 08/11/12 (1)

You're right. Thank you. - Dave Pogue 11:27:19 08/11/12 (0)

RE: Using the iPhone for setting VTA - dconsmack 03:54:01 08/11/12 (0)

RE: Using the iPhone for setting VTA - hahax@verizon.net 21:04:01 08/10/12 (0)

RE: Using the iPhone for setting VTA - Jack D II 20:57:34 08/10/12 (0)

Dropbox is great... - eso 19:59:33 08/10/12 (0)

Awesome...... - StevieRay 12:54:36 08/10/12 (0)

Got it! Thanks. nt - AbeCollins 11:29:07 08/10/12 (0)

Nice! Thanks. nt - bjh 09:56:53 08/10/12 (0)

Just pray that thing doesn't fall over on your arm! - Topper 08:01:13 08/10/12 (1)

RE: Just pray that thing doesn't fall over on your arm! - mr_phillip 10:11:23 08/10/12 (0)

Also works with android phones - jeffmathers 04:55:15 08/10/12 (2)

Now...how about azimuth? - Muzikmike 13:13:33 08/10/12 (0)

Android phones can do pictures? - AbeCollins 11:30:18 08/10/12 (0)

RE: Using the iPhone for setting VTA - dconsmack 03:07:53 08/10/12 (0)

Follow Ups

Good Lord... - EdAInWestOC 05:59:06 08/11/12 (3)

Easily repeatable... - tketcham 12:59:27 08/11/12 (0)

RE: Good Lord... - mr_phillip 08:49:46 08/11/12 (1)

You're right. Thank you. - Dave Pogue 11:27:19 08/11/12 (0)

Good Lord...

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