[doug s.]

re: raising up the tonearm, isn't that dependent on what cartridge you are using, so as to get proper vta?  or am i misunderstanding your question?

Probably but bearing in mind that I am completely clueless... is there some kind of ballpark to get started? and how do you measure VTA?

vertical tracking angle is the angle the the stylus cantilever makes w/the record.  it is really the stylus rake angle (sra) you are adjusting, as the stylus is at the end of the cantilever.  for most cartridges, you want to start w/the cartridge body (and tonearm itself) parallel to the record.  here are a couple of links that go into detail:

http://www.theanalogdept.com/adjusting_vta.htm

http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/cartbasics.html

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/vta/vta.html

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:Z3iJQ4BN8JkJ:homepages.tcp.co.uk/~nroberts/article71.pdf+vta+test+record&hl=en&gl=us&sig=AHIEtbRACu5Y9Fr1NQXln8Md5Qf-Oc65og

note the last link references a test record you can use to set up a tonearm/cartridge on your deck.  getting a test record may ease your set-up.  here is one, recently released, that seems to be well-respected:

http://store.acousticsounds.com/index.cfm?get=detail&title_id=35532

doug s.

[viggen]

John,

Not too technical, but my ball park method is thus:

Set VTA to parallel and set VTF to what the cart manf. recommends (arm and cart both parallel to the platter).

Then, if the sound is too thin, I either raise the VTF or drop the VTA (lower the tonearm).

If it sounds too muddy, I lessen VTF or raise the VTA.

Of fourse, first you have to align the cart.  I use the free protractor available at

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/freestuff.htm.

GL.