[eric the red]

Need to add a spacer on a RB 250 tone arm. Is it simply a matter of unbolting the nut on the arm underneath and sliding the arm's wires through the spacer and then bolting the arm back on the TT? Can I use any washer or do I need to buy a specific spacer from Rega or a TT parts seller?

[shep]

The first option is fine. The only thing is to find the right thickness and especially to find one that is DEAD FLAT.

[eric the red]

The first option is fine. The only thing is to find the right thickness and especially to find one that is DEAD FLAT.

Any sources that sell tone arm spacers for a reasonable price? Want to mount a Grado Prestige Red and am totally in the dark on this one. Thanks.

[shep]

Not off hand but I know they exist. If memory serves me, various English tweaker shops used to carry these.

[lcrim]

eric:
You want to raise the height of the tonearm at its pivot point by adding a washer under the nut or whatever keeps the Rega 250 arm from falling through the plinth, to adjust the VTA?  I had a P3 for a while but it had an SME Series III tonarm grafted on, it also was a bit medieval about VTA adjustment. 
I don't think you necessarily need to pay the dollars for a pre-engineered kit that would include instructions but if you needed to readjust the VTA for another cart, you're again stuck with removing the whole shooting match to add more or less space.  Other possibilites are a thicker mat to raise the height of the record but to get things to go in the other direction you need to raise the height of the pivot point.  There is a kit that employs a ring with a set screw to lock it off when you are happy with the VTA that I saw in use.  The improvement parts for the 250 arm used to be a cottage industry.
Good luck.  Let us know what you worked out and whether it worked.

[SET Man]

Hey!

  I just put a 2mm space on my FrankenRega TT with RB250 arm.

  Yes, the only way to put it on is to remove the whole arm cable and all. FIRST.... make sure you take out the cart!

   I got this 2mm from Music Direct.

http://www.musicdirect.com/products/detail.asp?sku=ARE2

   Yup, it cost $15. But when I got it it fit perfectly and perfectly flat which is a good thing.

   I was going to make on myself from a sheet of plexigalss/acrylic but I'm worry about the flatness and stiffness.

   Than of cause that is the V-TAF

http://www.musicdirect.com/products/detail.asp?sku=APRAVTAF

  Maybe some day.

  Anyway, how much VTA needed is up to the cart you will be using. I know there are debate on this subject and of cause Rega doesn't believe in this and that is why Rega arm don't have the VTA adjustment.

   But after I install the 2mm spacer the sound is much better now. So, yes to me optimum VTA should be consider in TT. But I'm not crazy to the point where I would adjust VTA for every LP I play

   BTW... I'm using RB250 arm with Sumiko BPS EVOIII and the BPS cart is about 2mm taller than Rega's cart so 2mm work fine.

Here is the link to Rega on spacer....

http://www.rega.co.uk/index2.htm

Take care,
Buddy

[Wayner]

VTA is required to correct the arm/cartridge combination to achive the proper 20 degree rake angle that is the now standard set by the RIAA. that really means that when the stylus is on the record, the arm should be parallel to the record surface. If the arm "head" is too high, the rake angle will be less, causing the stylus to really dig into the groove causing an imbalance with respect to lower fundamental frequencies. If the "head" of the arm is too low, the rake angle is increased and the stlus will skate and shimmer in the groove, which will result in a schrilly high end.

W

[eric the red]

VTA is required to correct the arm/cartridge combination to achive the proper 20 degree rake angle that is the now standard set by the RIAA. that really means that when the stylus is on the record, the arm should be parallel to the record surface. If the arm "head" is too high, the rake angle will be less, causing the stylus to really dig into the groove causing an imbalance with respect to lower fundamental frequencies. If the "head" of the arm is too low, the rake angle is increased and the stlus will skate and shimmer in the groove, which will result in a schrilly high end.

W

So, if according to the manufacturer, the tracking angle of their cartridge (example: The Ortofon OM-20 Super's is 20 degrees) is 20 degrees, then a properly mounted Ortofon OM-20 will need no VTA adjustment or do you also have to factor in the physical dimensions of the cartridge? I don't remember this being that complicated in 1975...

[Wayner]

I don't think all cart manufactures follow the same design guidlines. Some carts are higher than others, some have a longer distance from mounting holes to stylus tip.

W

[EarWax]

I just went through the same excercise when mounting a Denon DL-110 to my Rega 250 arm. Here is what I learned:

Rega uses a standard cartridge height dimension for all their cartridges - 13mm - while most other manufacturers use 17mm, thus the requirement for shims or spacers under the arm. The shims are available from most good high-end cartridge purveyors (Needle Doctor, Music Direct, etc) and are available in 2mm, 4mm, and 10mm heights. The cost is around $15 each.

My Denon required a 2mm spacer. To install the spacer you simply remove the arm from the arm board by loosening the nut located beneath the armboard assy. Pull the arm out through the armboard hole, wire included, then slip the spacer over the wire and repeat the process in reverse to re-asssemble, being careful NOT to overtighten the mounting nut . If the nut is too tight the sound will be dead and lifeless -  I found this out the hard way . No need to use a wrench, just tighten the nut with finger pressure ONLY. I repeat, you will kill your sound if the nut is too tight. Finger snug only!

Two good reads:

http://www.tonearm.co.uk/tonearm_installation_instructions.pdf   

http://www.tonearm.co.uk/rb300-arm.htm

Good luck and have fun!!

[lcrim]

I have read posts on the Asylum about guys who were so compulsive that they had different VTA settings for different records based mostly on the fact that vinyl does come in varying thicknesses.  They kept records of this info.  Even with a Technics 1200 where resetting VTA is a simple task, I don't mess with it that much.