What Record (s) Do You Use to Adjust SRA/VTA?

[MylesBAstor]

This is an old classic. Recommended by David Shreve (he used to mod the old Rabco arms) in one of the old TASs.




For years, I used this. In large part, because Dave was very helpful in describing the making of the recording and what he listens for when setting up a cartridge.



Found this one very useful tonight.

[JCOConnell]

how thick (heavy) are they?

[Bill Hart]

One (among others) was the Ave Maria on the soundtrack of The Mission- choral with voices continually being added in depth and size.
To set a baseline, though, for older "standard" pressings, my standby is Janis Ian's Between the Lines, because it has bass, strings, horns and female voice, so the balance of the instruments- from low to high, tonality and richness or thinness, as well as Ian's voice makes it pretty evident if all is good or if it needs to goosing. For 200 gram records, I used to use a few Harvest tracks from Neil Young's Greatest Hits on Classic, b/c if it was too high, it got strident very fast. Funny thing is, I rarely readjust VTA now, which once set I pretty much leave alone. When i had Lyras, they were extremely sensitive to VTA.

[JCOConnell]

I don't adjust VTA for every LP ( although my Graham arm allows for it on the fly). I found a mid point by setting up for a 150g Lp so both 120g and 180g Lps would at least be close.

[jazdoc]

Rosa Passos and Ron Carter "Entre Amigos" on Chesky Records, in particular the track "Insensatez". Ironically, the digital sounds far superior to the vinyl, but I use this track for set up listening for:

1. Bass quality in the left channel
2. Sound of guitar front of right channel
3. Kick drum back of right channel
4. Rosa's voice is the ultimate VTA/azimuth discriminator. Her vocal tends to sibilance when VTA is wrong. When azimuth is correct, sex just oozes from the microphone...

[cpp]

I don't adjust for every LP. I get my adjustment as close as possible and set back and just enjoy the music,

[Johnny Vinyl]

I don't adjust either as the VTA is a real pain the ass to adjust on my Paris....wish it had VTA on-the-fly. I had my dealer set it for 180g as I want my best reissue recordings to sound their best. It's my understanding that the need for adjusting VTA is very much cartridge dependent as well.

[JackD201]

I also set to 150g as that makes up over 95% of my records. I do have VTA on the fly as well but use it very rarely for the reason mentioned.

[Steve Lefkowicz]

I use a mid thickness LP and a Wally VTA tool to set my arm, and then leave it there. The Ittok does not allow for easy VTA for each record. I was surprised that the short cantilever Dynavectors (I use a 19a) seem to work well this way.

http://veteranhifi.se/WVC/tools/vta%20gauge.htm

[MylesBAstor]

how thick (heavy) are they?

Doesn't matter. I set for the record thickness most frequently played and adjust other records from there. I can keep track of how much up or down adjusted to get back to original starting position. I just want a baseline like Bill.

Too many other variables especially in the early days of stereo where the cutter head angles were all over the place.

[cpp]

I guess those of us that do not adjust VTA for each record are not true vinyl audiophiles

[Rob]

no it means you have a life my .02 cents, you can get close by ear but you cant get exact w/o a digital microscope.

[MylesBAstor]

I don't think that was quite the point. The point was you need to start somewhere even if you don't go full vinyl jacket with your LPs. I think we can all agree on that.

[MylesBAstor]

I guess those of us that do not adjust VTA for each record are not true vinyl audiophiles

It depends whether I'm reviewing or just listening to relax. What about others? Do you or don't you adjust for different record thicknesses or labels?

[lasercd]

I weigh every album and adjust VTA accordingly.

[Dre_J]

I guess those of us that do not adjust VTA for each record are not true vinyl audiophiles

Nothing could be further from the truth.

All one need to do is witness the diversity in the choices of analog front-ends used by the membership. Regardless of (my or anybody elses) approach, find what works and makes one happy and enjoy the format.

Keep your true vinyl audiophile card and upgrade it to platinum whenever you feel like it. Even that upgrade doesn't require you to change VTA if it doesn't matter or bother you.

Dre

[MylesBAstor]

What would one think of reviewers who reviewed gear without compensating for SRA? 😎

[Dre_J]

What would one think of reviewers who reviewed gear without compensating for SRA? 😎

Today's reviewers? Interesting question...

I think it would be interesting to know from readers and reviewers. Especially after they have all agreed on the "proper" method of doing such. (not going to happen)

You get where I'm going with this, I'm sure. Neither the readership or the reviewers (which is usually one in the same for the sake of being an audiophile/music listener) have an agreed method for doing such; or if they actually believe in doing it at all (for each record or not).

Am I wrong in this observation?

Dre