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Vinyl Asylum

Welcome Licorice Pizza (LP) lovers! Setup guides and Vinyl FAQ.

In Reply to: Does raising VTF a small bit over recommended specs. possibly cause loss of mid-range and less full sound? (nt) posted by Keith Anderson on April 1, 2007 at 21:29:45:

VTA and not VTF will make the biggest contribution toward the overall change of sound you hear setting up a cartridge. If your VTA/SRA is too low then you will have mucky thick bass. With VTA perfect female vocalists are a dream. If you have it too high then the vocalist will sound steely and the bass will be thin.
Once you know the VTA is right, then go on to adjust the VTF right in the middle of the manufacturer's range. Go up and down in .1 gram increments.
Look for vocals to sound natural, bass to be extended and tight, and for space and air around the instruments.
Too much VTF will probably result in a thickened midrange, sloppy bass, and rolled off highs.
Take notes as you do these adjustments. When VTA and VTF are optimized you will hear an incredible sound stage. It is worth the effort to reach this goal.
I have never had to take a cartridge out past the manufacturer's highest VTF range. In my experience a cartridge generally sounds best in the middle of the range or lower. With some tonearm combinations you can go lighter still. Lighter tracking force means the opportunity to gather up more inner detail in the groove, but you need enough to track properly.
Too little force can damage the grooves. A little too much force just mucks up the sound but generally will not damage the album.

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Topic - Does raising VTF a small bit over recommended specs. possibly cause loss of mid-range and less full sound? (nt) - Keith Anderson 21:29:45 04/01/07 (8)

Carts usually sound best slightly under their recommended tracking force. - hukkfinn 07:01:40 04/02/07 (2)

I always thought - nightdoggy 08:38:39 04/02/07 (1)

At the ideal VTF that is the case, and the output is supposed to be... - Steve Parry 21:50:54 04/02/07 (0)

Here is a suggestion..... - tubesforever 22:31:53 04/01/07 (1)

Re: Does raising VTF a small bit over recommended specs. possibly cause loss of mid-range and less full sound? (nt) - hahax@verizon.net 22:05:38 04/01/07 (0)

Well... - mosin 21:39:18 04/01/07 (1)

I like to believe the manufacturer knows more about their product than I do (n/t) - trav 08:30:21 04/02/07 (0)

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Here is a suggestion..... - tubesforever 22:31:53 04/01/07 (1)

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