[jmpiwonka]

does anyone have experience with the 5020 turntables?
i've read about the 5120 and how it is a nice table for the price but my tone arm looks completely different than the 5120.

the tone arm on mine looks more similar to the arm on the 5120a at the nad site.
http://207.228.230.231/info/NAD_5020A.pdf

but it's still a little different.
i'm trying to figure out if the VTA is adjustable on my arm. there is a little black knob under arm that is very close to the lever that raises the arm. i'm not sure if that to adjust the auto return or to adjust VTA, i do think it raises the arm assembly but it also makes the auto return work good too...
right now, as it is, the arm angles down a bit from it's mount to the cartridge when a record is playing...so the cartridge is nose down a bit. i was thinking i could go get some cork gasket material from the auto parts store and use that to place under the rubber mat so the arm is closer to parallel.

does nose down accentuate the high range?

[Wayner]

Yes, nose down makes it accentuate the high range. That in effect increases the rake angle and makes the stylus shim. Bad for record wear. If the head was up, the rake angle would be too low and it would sound more bassy. This doesn't mean that VTA is a tone control, although, that is an effect of it in it's extremes. The extra thickness cork mat under the  original mat is a great idea.

Wayner