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So I had been a little overwhelmed by the apparent complexity of setting up my VPI turntable arm and cartridge for several years --- ever since I bought it. When I bought it I had a local specialist set it all up --- a real pro who is known all over the area (and the state for that matter) as THE guy to have do your setup. He's a great guy and has helped me broker the sale of an expensive Micro-Seiki turntable I inherited from my brother. I had him do a tuneup on my turntable a year or two ago. I had moved to a different home in the same city and I was afraid some of the settings had gotten "off" in the move. More recently (maybe partially because I'm stuck at home in this era of COVID-19) I started bit by bit to get interested in checking what he did for myself. So I started beginning about a week or two ago to read about setup and the geometry involved in getting a cartridge properly aligned in all its various parameters. I bought the Fremer DVD and watched it. I read about the various protractors and ordered the VPI jig which I had lost between the time I purchased the turntable years ago and now. What I discovered was that my expert had the alignment ALL WRONG. Or it could be that the cartridge had shifted on the headshell because he used these little plastic washers under the screws holding the cartridge to the headshell -- the washers were pretty flimsy and could have easily allowed the cartridge to shift although I had never touched the screws holding the cartridge to the headshell. But it was truly all wrong by any alignment method, canted at an angle that was more than a few degrees off. I've now corrected all that, played with the VTA and azimuth, checked the horizontal alignment across the arc at the null points more than a couple of times and it sounds SO MUCH BETTER. So my ADVICE to you, if you are a setup scaredy-cat like me, take the plunge. Sometimes the experts get it wrong. To be fair, it isn't a turntable that this particular "expert" sells so that might have been part of the problem. I'm finally beginning to "get it" with the fascination with vinyl -- everything is now so much better locked in than it was before with my expert. I'm enjoying my records all over again.
- Paul
Edits: 08/09/20Follow Ups:
Back when stereo shops were common, a high end shop advertised a free turntable set up, so I went on down, thinking a double check on my set up couldn't hurt, and let, "the guy" have at it.
Once they saw I wasn't needing a new turntable, they gave my work to a young guy who hung around the shop, who set up my MM cart like a MC.
although I felt this a mild insult , typical low grade retail, pretending to be elite. I let the kid have his fun, and redid everything at home, knowing the shure carts were tough.
why do a good job when you can take twice as long and do it PERFECT! I do all my cartridge alignments myself swapping out 3 different protractors during the process, and then going through the HiFi News test record. I HOPE I am doing it right, no EXPERT has ever checked it though.
Later Gator,
Dave
I would add that, so called, factory setups can be problematic as well. I purchased, yet another, turntable, Rega RP6 with Exact cartridge. Very little use, factory set-up.
You got it, way off from the Rega preferred Stevenson alignment even using the three point headshell fixing. So, as you so rightly pointed out, it is essential to trust but verify.
Man, I was counting on the unique three screw rega deal to be my ace in the hole when I aged out of the ability to do the fine work of a regular two screw cart set up.
I figured I had it covered , since I run a hot rodded rega arm, and what could go wrong with three locating screws, since they are holes and not slots, like a normal half inch set up.
So, good to know about the flaw in my plan, but tough to enjoy the news. I had no plan "B".
And , if I get to the stage where I have to farm the work out, I would be right back where the original poster was, before he got wise. Plus the knowledge to do the work will be even more arcane by then.
I guess that will be the time to sell , and go digital.
Having been in this hobby/compulsion for over 40 years over time I had trouble setting up my phono/cartridge/arm etc but would finally get things right(I thought). Now, at 81, I no longer want even to think about doing it again. Rig sounds at least acceptable now so I'll just have to go with it as is. (Unless anyone knows someone within reasonable distance of Hot Springs, AR I can contact.)
@ Todd Kreiger - I used the Hoffman computer app which uses spindle to pivot measurement etc to create an arc protractor. I also measured my spindle to pivot distance on my turntable to be 223 mm (right on target).
- Paul
In retrospect, it is so difficult to get a vinyl rig setup right, a lot of people might think they set it up right, but didn't...... I was in that camp for a very long time......
The revelation came when I started using a protractor that accounted for the "overhang" alignment...... I cannot overstate how important this is to vinyl rig setup.
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