Scout VTA help!

[mcow1]

It seems to me that the sound from my Scout is not quite right and I thought it could be VTA. However, I notice that when the headshell appears level the back of the arm appears to be down pretty far. Anyone with a Scout know which should be level with the record, tube or headshell/top of cart? Has anyone tried a Wally Tool VTA gauge on a Scout? I'm thinking about picking one up. But, $150.00 right now is kind of steep. Thanks for any help.

[michael w]

What arm are you using ?

Whether the arm is parallel or tail up/down depends on the cartridge you are using. Dynavector DV-20X ?

Generally start with the armtube parallel and experiment from there.

If you trust your ears there's no need to spend $150 for a Wally VTA Tool.

Raising the back of the arm emphasises the highs and reduces the lows.
Lowering the back emphasises the lows at the expense of the highs.

Somewhere in between you should get a good balance, with everything snapping into focus.

You might want to double check cartridge alignment and azimuth too.



cheerio

[mcow1]

Originally posted by michael w
What arm are you using ?

Whether the arm is parallel or tail up/down depends on the cartridge you are using. Dynavector DV-20X ?

Generally start with the armtube parallel and experiment from there.

If you trust your ears there's no need to spend $150 for a Wally VTA Tool.

Raising the back of the arm emphasises the highs and reduces the lows.
Lowering the back emphasises the lows at the expense of the highs.

Somewhere in between you should get a good balance, with everything snapping into focus.

You might want to double check cartridge alignment and azimuth too.



cheerio
The arm is a JMW-9 with a Dynavector 20x-h on it. The visual difference is very large when the arm tube is level and the top of the cart is level. so, the in between is a wide range. It's hard to really make the arm tube parallel as on the JMW it's not a straight tube but flares out after just a couple inches. The difference is so large between the tube and headshell level I'm afraid I could damage my records.

[Vinyl-Addict]

Mike, a good starting point is to make sure the headshell is parallel with the platter. Most armtubes are tapered so just make sure the headshell is parallel and go from there. BTW, I think all the Wally VTA gauge will do is get the headshell parallel, if you have a good eye, you don't need it.:)

[mcow1]

I just talked to the good folks at VPI who told me it is the headshell that matters. They also gave me a trick to use, a six inch fireplace match laid on top of the headshell will easily show whether it is parallel or not. Also, laid across the headshell will show whether azimuth is right. Lot's cheaper than a Wally tool.

[Vinyl-Addict]

Originally posted by mcow1
I just talked to the good folks at VPI who told me it is the headshell that matters. They also gave me a trick to use, a six inch fireplace match laid on top of the headshell will easily show whether it is parallel or not. Also, laid across the headshell will show whether azimuth is right. Lot's cheaper than a Wally tool.

Good idea using something longer to help use the eye, just make sure whatever you use is straight. :)

[michael w]

Including your eyes.

:D

[mcow1]

Well so much for fireplace matches. Have you ever tried to find a straight one of those mother f&^%#ers!! I couldn't in two boxes. So, after trying to use the straightest one I could and trying to make a couple straight for a couple hours I was fit to be tied. My wife looks at it and says how about trying a drinking straw instead. Talk about perfect, super light and extremely straight. Now it's all dialed in and, wow, what a sound. Laurel Masse playing right now. Just finished a WLP of Workingman's Dead and a UK stereo Hard Day's Night. Yeah, this is why I dumped so much money into this stereo.