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FYI!Rega VTA(Vertical Tracking Angle) Fact Sheet
by Roy GandyQuote: "Every problem has a solution. If there is no solution, there is no problem."
The Tonearm: The maximum up/down adjustment on a tonearm is about 0.5 inches (12mm). That being approximately 1 degree VTA adjustment.
[Correction: if you do the maths' a 0.5inch variation on a 9 inch arm is about a 3° variation. You can work this out yourself once you remember that the sin() of an angle is the change in the y coordinate divided by the radius, so 0.5/9 ≈ 0.055 ≈ sin(3°)]The Cartridge: Each model of cartridge has its own unique design which also determines the stylus VTA. Rega has accurately measured the VTA on at least one hundred different cartridge models. The lowest VTA we have measured was 24° (even though the manufacturer claimed 20°) and the highest was 36°. Most cartridges have a VTA of between 28° to 32°. The VTA of Rega cartridge is approximately 28°.
The Record: The VTA of a record cutting stylus is set to give the best continuous cut of the lacquer. Records are cut with a VTA which varies between 0° and 20°. On an individual record the VTA will vary by 7° or more, depending on the type of cutting head used, the depth of cut, the musical frequency and the lacquer springback. The VTA of the groove on every individual record varies by at least 7° over the record. Every record is cut under 20°.
Futility: We can see that cartridge VTA is normally around 10° higher than the record cutting angle. And the record cutting angle varies by around 7° whilst it is being played.
THEREFORE A MAXIMUM ARM ADJUSTMENT OF ONLY 1° CAN BE SEEN TO BE COMPLETELY FUTILE.
To accurately match cartridge VTA to the record cutting angle the back of the arm would need to be well below the record (impossible!) and the cartridge VTA would need to vary at least 7° whilst playing the record!Normal advice: Most informed advice is to keep the arm tube roughly parallel to the record surface. In fact, the VTA becomes more correct as the rear of the arm is lowered as much as possible, the limit being when the arm or cartridge touches the record.
Worst case: The most extreme situation is a record cutting angle of 0° and a cartridge VTA of 36°. The result is a VTA inaccuracy of 36°.
Question: Can there be any point in playing around with 1° of VTA?
VTA adjustment is actually a neurosis NOT a technical adjustment.An Alternative: If you alter the playing weight of a normal cartridge by 0.1 of a gram the stylus VTA will alter by around 1.5°.
Another Alternative: If the room temperature increases by 5° F, the stylus rubber suspension will soften and decrease the VTA by 1°.
"but when I alter the VTA I hear a difference"
Of course you do. Any variation or change to the very important joint between the arm and turntable will alter the sound quality. Try simply tightening or loosening the main arm fixing nut, the sound will change. Try tightening or loosening the cartridge fixing nuts, the sound will also change. Almost any change or adjustment to a turntable/arm/cartridge will alter the sound quality if one listens with an acute level of perception.We hope we have explained to the reader that VTA adjustment is of little or no significance. There are many other simple structural changes that are more important, such as fixing the cartridge rigidly to the arm and fixing the rm tightly to the turntable.
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Topic - "VTA adjustment is actually a neurosis NOT a technical adjustment." - xyyyy 16:56:48 09/11/06 (53)
- Whether you agree or not, there something extremely important being said. - jsm 13:39:14 09/12/06 (0)
- Gandy also says that cleaning records is not warranted - OMalley 06:41:21 09/12/06 (17)
- Linn's Ivor T. said the same thing. . . - risabet 10:55:56 09/12/06 (12)
- Re: Linn's Ivor T. said the same thing. . . - Ken Lyon 13:04:33 09/12/06 (10)
- Re: Linn's Ivor T. said the same thing. . . - sboez23 21:12:14 09/12/06 (4)
- Re: Linn's Ivor T. said the same thing. . . - Ken Lyon 22:16:28 09/12/06 (3)
- Re: Linn's Ivor T. said the same thing. . . ! - sboez23 18:40:47 09/13/06 (2)
- Re: Linn's Ivor T. said the same thing. . . ! - Ken Lyon 20:10:54 09/13/06 (1)
- Re: Linn's Ivor T. said the same thing. . . !!! - sboez23 20:34:58 09/13/06 (0)
- what about the rubber bands and azimth adjustment? - OMalley 17:33:10 09/12/06 (3)
- what about them? - Ken Lyon 22:06:07 09/12/06 (2)
- Devil's advocate... - tketcham 23:09:34 09/12/06 (1)
- or - OMalley 04:25:16 09/13/06 (0)
- Thanks for that ... I always wondered about that anti record cleaning advice. IMO - bjh 16:06:50 09/12/06 (0)
- About what? (nt) - Garth 11:20:50 09/12/06 (0)
- Sort of reminds one of John Elison, no? - Garth 06:56:37 09/12/06 (3)
- Do you have that gallon of gasoline handy? - OMalley 07:19:00 09/12/06 (2)
- you talkin' to me? YOU TALKIN' TO ME? :-) (nt) - Garth 07:24:28 09/12/06 (1)
- Here comes the Good Humor truck for your ride home - OMalley 07:38:09 09/12/06 (0)
- I guess if you build a poorly engineered product it would be best to lie like Bill Clinton. - tubesforever 20:17:55 09/11/06 (6)
- Perhaps you should leave your political opinions to yourself! - anumber1 23:22:07 09/11/06 (3)
- Amen. Did we learn nothing from the infamous Rush Limbaugh thread? /nt/ - powermatic 18:18:56 09/12/06 (0)
- I meant Bill no disrespect..... - tubesforever 00:07:16 09/12/06 (1)
- Yes, you did... - tketcham 06:53:56 09/12/06 (0)
- Re: I guess if you build a poorly engineered product it would be best to lie like Bill Clinton. - sboez23 21:17:09 09/11/06 (1)
- And from someone that sold audio gear..... - tubesforever 23:20:48 09/11/06 (0)
- VTA has never been the issue. SRA is the issue and 1-degree can make a difference..... - John Elison 18:35:57 09/11/06 (9)
- What is the relationship between VTA and SRA? Isn't it just a case ... - Garth 23:47:06 09/11/06 (8)
- VTA and SRA are totally different parameters.... - John Elison 04:38:30 09/12/06 (7)
- How does one change SRA? Can the user change it? - Garth 04:46:56 09/12/06 (6)
- Common Garth---You know what SRA is.... - John Elison 05:03:49 09/12/06 (5)
- John, I didn't say it was unimportant. If you can't seriously answer a serious question .... - Garth 05:15:14 09/12/06 (4)
- John, you posted and deleted "Garth, your logic is erroneous. What more can I say? (nt)" - Garth 05:59:31 09/12/06 (3)
- Hard to argue with your logic. - bjh 16:01:43 09/12/06 (0)
- See O'Malley's post above. It tells you all you need to know about Gandy. ;-) (nt) - John Elison 06:46:55 09/12/06 (1)
- Great answer John. If you don't know the answer don't raise your hand. - Garth 06:54:13 09/12/06 (0)
- And now.... - MattC 17:29:27 09/11/06 (14)
- Isn't the quote supposed to be? - Teresa 18:49:11 09/11/06 (2)
- or "understanding that it is not a 'problem' is the solution." pseudo-Wittgenstein [nt] - OMalley 05:25:17 09/12/06 (0)
- Or, "Every problem has a solution, and once the solution is found, it is no longer a problem." ;-) (nt) - John Elison 19:06:44 09/11/06 (0)
- ""The set of all sets that are not members of themselves" - Mark Kelly 17:44:56 09/11/06 (10)
- When is a set not a set?... - tketcham 13:02:40 09/12/06 (2)
- That was part of the response to Russell's paradox. - Mark Kelly 14:54:39 09/12/06 (1)
- So would this be the VTA paradox... - tketcham 23:00:45 09/12/06 (0)
- You know, I think I might have understood that... - MattC 08:21:08 09/12/06 (0)
- pure chaos ;-) [nt] - OMalley 06:56:25 09/12/06 (0)
- Could you please translate that into English? I got lost by the bakery. )MT( - J. S. Bach 05:48:33 09/12/06 (1)
- Join the rest of us Buns! :-) (nt) - Garth 06:29:37 09/12/06 (0)
- I would very much appreciate - Fred J 01:24:09 09/12/06 (0)
- Re: ""The set of all sets that are not members of themselves" - raphsdad 18:17:54 09/11/06 (0)
- I need a drink...no....actually I think you need the drink more..************** - Ernie L 17:54:37 09/11/06 (0)
- VTA adjustment is probably pivot height adjustment - Mark Kelly 17:24:50 09/11/06 (1)
- pure propaganda - Analog Scott 17:03:52 09/11/06 (0)