That translates to less than one hundredth of a mm. The VPI’s VTA adjuster clicks equate to 0.35 thousandths of an inch according to Mr Gregory. A 1.0mm change in arm height changes SRA by 0.19 degrees. Just in case you were thinking LJC was off his medication with this sweet spot business, an audio engineer walks you through the principles and metrics here, extract below:Īssuming the (VPI) tonearm to have a 300mm effective length, to get a one degree change of Stylus Rake Angle we need to alter arm height by 5.23mm.
How to mount an sme tonearm trial#
In this case, trial and error found less than a quarter turn of the adjuster identified the huge step change in soundstage and tonal balance as it springs into or out of focus. Starting with a spirit level and rough-tuning up and down to achieve a fairly level tonearm position, it is then necessary to fine tune the adjustment to locate the very small range in which the “sweet spot” is found. The stylus will ride perfectly in the groove when the arm is perfectly horizontal and parallel to the record surface. Altering the arm height is carried out by rotating the helical screw disc up or down – which alters the angle that the stylus makes relative to the surface of the disc, and thus how well that line-contact stylus matches the ridges cut by the original lathe onto the groove wall.
It turns to raise or lower the tonearm, and holds a grub screw to tighten on the final position.Īchieving the correct angle by adjusting the height of the tonearm is critical to achieving accurate groove tracking. Most good quality tonearms will have some sort of equivalent method of adjustment.
The adjustment wheel on an Origin Live Encounter tonearm. (Note: these pictures are not the latest LJC kit, which continues to evolve) The stereo sound stage snapped into focus, the troubling bass lifted, harshness was replaced by sweetness, an extraordinary and unexpected experience. In less than 15 minutes, the effect of adjusting, refining the adjustment, and eventually locating the “sweet spot” in VTA – just a turn of the adjuster, listen, turn a little more, listen, turn again until you finally locate it – completely transformed the performance of the system. You have already paid for your equipment, and though the turntable may have been set up “perfectly” at some time by a dealer, experience shows this is no guarantee that it is correctly and precisely adjusted right now. Parts move with use, and the tightness of fittings can alter over time. It is not as difficult as you may be thinking, and costs nothing. Precise adjustment of the Vertical Tracking of your tonearm is one of the most significant improvements you can make to your listening experience.
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