Vinyl Audio

Equipment => Turntables => Topic started by: migkiller1971 on October 20, 2011, 06:05:44 PM

Title: To VTA or Not to VTA?
Post by: migkiller1971 on October 20, 2011, 06:05:44 PM
Has anyone installed a VTA on a Rega, specifically a P25? if so, which one? I'm pretty good at D.I.Y but I'm not comfortable cutting into the Plinth.
Title: Re: To VTA or Not to VTA?
Post by: BSD2000 on October 21, 2011, 04:16:02 PM
I have the Michell Engineering VTA adjuster (http://www.michell-engineering.co.uk/tonearms/vta-arm-adjuster/) on my P25. To accommodate the collar of the adjustment ring, the hole in the plinth needs to be enlarged to 1 1/8",  at a depth of about 1/4 of an inch (no more then needed for the collar to fit flush). To do this, I used a 1 1/8" forstner bit on my drill press, with the plinth held firm so it doesn't move. The adjustment ring adds 1.75mm to the height, or slightly less then one Rega 2mm spacer.

Some cartridges are more sensitive to VTA then others. Here's what I find from my own observation and testing:

Low VTA (the arm tilted towards the back of the turntable):
  • Increased bass response
  • Increased I.G.D.
  • Treble is rolled off
  • Increased surface noise
  • Pronounced midrange
  • Perceived widening of the soundstage

High VTA (The arm tiled towards the front of the turntable):
  • Emphasized treble response
  • Decreased bass
  • 'Squashed' or muddy midrange
  • Collapsed soundstage
  • Increased I.G.D.
  • Increased harmonic distortion
My Zyx cartridges are very sensitive to VTA, alignment and anti-skate settings. My findings may not apply to your particular cartridge. Zyx cartridges seem to prefer a slightly low VTA, with the arm tilted down towards the back by just a hair off of parallel. It's a fine line between getting the best frequency response and lowest I.G.D.

My turntable came with a Grado Gold mounted on it and the previous owner had a local audio dealer 'professionally' setup the Grado. They ended up using two 2mm Rega spacers to set VTA for the Grado. It didn't sound bad, but there was still some I.G.D. on some records.

My only complaint with Rega arms is that stock, they have no way to adjust VTA and are preset for use with the Rega cartridges, which have a lower profile then most other brand cartridges. Removing the arm and installing 2MM spacers for testing/adjusting VTA  is a PITA. The Michell Engineering VTA adjuster gives you the ability to raise and adjust the VTA without taking everything apart, but you still need to be very careful not to touch or damage the cartridge when loosening and adjusting the arm. That was one of the biggest selling points for me with the VPI Scoutmaster, you could loosen a locking screw and adjust VTA on the fly and hear the results in real time. With the Rega, it's still a guessing game, making small adjustments here and there until it's dialed in.

Origin Live also makes a VTA adjustment collar that is thinner then the Michell and may not require the hole to be drilled out, maybe just a little sanding to enlarge the hole a bit. Isokinetik also makes what appears to be a copy of the Michell VTA adjuster.

IMHO, VTA adjustment is a necessity to get the most out of your cartridges performance. (http://www.n.mackie.btinternet.co.uk/documents/regaonvta.html) I disagree with Rega's notion that VTA adjustment is not needed since there is very noticeable changes in the sound when the VTA is changed.
Title: Re: To VTA or Not to VTA?
Post by: migkiller1971 on November 14, 2011, 09:15:38 AM
Who says that VTA doesn't make a different is wrong in my opinion. I didn't add any VTA system to my Rega but what I did do , was shave off some mm on top of my wood body on the denon 103r. OMG!!! It didn't bring it exactly level but very close. I wish I can capture the music coming out. I'm in love with my system!!!

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