Mistracking and VTA

Dear members,

These forums have a tendency to attract all your attention rather a lot in an infectuous way-something I try and avoid as time is precious. But then here is another thread.

This follows the discussion on cartridge Vs cartirdge and re-tipping etc.

The fact of the matter is that sound reporduction has many problems as Grand Wazoo Chris will find out. I have moved my stereo from a 24x14 room to a 20x13 room-from a solid stone wall on 2 sides to a flimsy bungalow and from concrete carpeted floor to laminated floor. So that my speakers are closer to walls than ever before.

Thus there are perennial problems with getting the sound right. The biggest problem for analogue LP users in my opinion is mistracking and VTA.

I had great difficulty with both LP12 and Well Tempered Turntables as neither of them had the facility to change the VTA. Consequently the cartridge could not cope with very heavy orchestral passages- not to speak of the differences in sound from pressing to pressing.

I was therefore determined to buy a VPI and if not an SME 20, as both of them have very easy ways of changing the VTA.

I am not sure if the new LP12s have the facility but it is pointless talking of cartridge this or that without having all the necessary adjustments.

Just a thought.

Varun

PS: you would have noted that I have not worked out how to make the title bold.

I love the VTA adjuster on those bigger VPI arms, 'on the fly' adjustment sounds like a real bonus!

It's a pity my 'baby' JMW doesn't have it. :(

Most arms used with LP12's have VTA adjustment (unless it's a Rega arm, in which case you use spacers on the pillar (ughh!). Do you mean azimuth (as viewed from the front?)

VTA has more of an effect on perceived surface noise and treble (cymbal crashes and sibilants) in my experience - getting it right opening up the dynamic range "window." bearing in mind that many stylus assemblies often have too steep a tracking angle, I prefer the arm to be slightly down at the back rather than slightly up (if you can't get it dead level).

I'd suggest that (mis)tracking can be as much temperature dependant as anything else, some cartridges being awful below 20 degrees celcius I've found. Koetsus, which were never the worlds best trackers, were supposedly set up for the region they were to be used in - models intended for the far east sounding really lousy in Western Europe as I recall. Speaker suspensions (of the rubbery kind) vary hugely with temperature too, so Alan Shaw of Harbeth found, the 10 degree plus temperature differences from the UK to the far east having major differences in bass control. Doped corrugated paper/fabric as used in many Tannoys may not suffer so...

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Most arms used with LP12's have VTA adjustment

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I took it as meaning 'on the fly' adjustment, Dave. A useful feature for those who've got it. :)

I very much doubt VTA would be the main influence or even cause of mistracking, temperature as already mentioned along with other factors like cartridge compatibility with the arm, arm bearing quality, alignment etc. would be far higher up the list IMHO. My LP12 with a Troika / Ekos was always a poor tracker, it used to annoy the hell out of me, even when I replaced the Troika with an Arkiv....in the end I replaced the LP12 with a Gyro SE and OL250 / MC25FL and my mistracking problems went away!

Many thanks to all the views expressed.

Temperature is crucial so much so that I have always had a thermometer close to the TT and do not bother listening- that is turning the system on if its not right. Around 20 degree is the best and between 18-22 or thereabouts tolerable- beyong -suffering. That is what has been happening here with my system in Liverpool with the temperatures fluctuating. But then we know this is the wrong time of the year.

I think the learned colleagues are mistaken what I mean. I only realized the importance after getting the VPI. My dealer friend in NZ had given me his "feelers guage" to adjust the height of the Well Tempered pillar when I needed it- and it did make a difference- except that I could not be bothered.

It does make a difference, not just pops and crackels but to the whole spectrum of recorded sound. Mind you I do not speak as an expert; just observations. Temp has its own crucial role to play-I am talking about even in ideal temperature.

Cheers

Varun

and Dave (DSJR) my LP12 with Ittok and Asak never had a VTA adjustment. Must be a new [relatively] development!

Apologies to the members- the title of the thread was misleading. I meant to raise 2 issues- 1] Mistracking and 2] VTA. It ended up sounding as though the two are inseparable. In some instances yes but what I meant was no matter what cartridge one can go on harping about- there will be problems and some soluble some insoluble.

Also Mike, I just remebered that when I was in India I was asked to listen to the Single ended amps a chap in Delhi is making. They are very very nice and hand built. He does not post them so the only they can be obtained was through some one India. I moved away from valves because the difficulty in getting the valves and finding some one to repair. I had EAR 509 Mono Blocks. These Indian amps are also cheap.

the address is http//www.lyrita-audio.in/

Varun

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Originally Posted by Varun

my LP12 with Ittok and Asak never had a VTA adjustment. Must be a new [relatively] development!

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A Tik-Tok with no VTA adjustment ?

Surely not..........;)

Chris:)

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Originally Posted by Varun

and Dave (DSJR) my LP12 with Ittok and Asak never had a VTA adjustment. Must be a new [relatively] development!

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You have to loosen an allen bolt at the base and slide the whole pillar up or down. They all had it.:)