Also don’t rely on the small bubble sprit level placed on top of the uni pívot to set up Azimuth. My FRAIM is spot on level, the Solstice platter is the same but after setting the azimuth correctly with a handy VTA Gauge Alignment Block that I use the bubble level (the one that comes with the package and one of my own) reading was showing it to be out. I’ve learned quite a few things about tweaking this deck’s performance over the past couple of weeks.
The good news is that once optimised it sounds excellent!
I really appreciate these tips. I was planning on using the tiny bubble level. (My Fraim, too, is spot-on level.) At initial setup the tiny bubble level placed on the pivot did show it being level. But after a few dozen hours of play I’m ready to do a re-check for alignment and tracking force.
I suppose I need to find a VTA alignment tool! Recommendations appreciated.
I agree with HH. All those adjustments sound like a PITA. Hours of tweaking and endless torment.
Loving my RB3000 on the gyro se. Little to adjust, just cue it up and enjoy
Well a basic understanding of set up is necessary but how many turntables come as a completely plug and play device? If we were to believe all the conjecture surrounding the LP12 set up only a handful of people in the country can do it well.
Well for me not being able to adjust these things is the PITA.
It will sound great, but being able to adjust these things allows the user to dial in the cartridge much more if they wish too, this can bring nice benefits and certainly something you want to be able to do once you get past a certain point with it all and for me having a tonearm that can’t be fine tuned is not worth having
And. When these turntable technicians turn up at somebody’s home to do a service, it’s not in their interest to “get it done” in 30 minutes. Much better to faff about for hours, checking, re-checking and re-re-checking.
A properly set up deck can go for years I didn’t touch my LP12 setup for over 20 years with no ill effect but I did get the upgrade bug.
If it’s not broken don’t fix it.
I guess fiddling about with VTA, Azimuth and the like is the analogue equivalent of the endless messing about with switches and cables that some digital users get overexcited about. Boys and their toys and all that. Hifi has always been a balancing act between hobbyist and music lover. Of course it’s good to be able to make adjustments in order to get the most from the expensive stuff that’s been bought, though the key thing being, as others have said, knowing when to stop.
The Rega approach, with non height adjustable arms, makes total sense when you have a Rega cartridge, as no adjustment is needed. But when you have a taller cartridge you face the dilemma of using a spacer, or accepting that the arm is no longer level. While Rega say it doesn’t matter, I never felt entirely comfortable. In that situation, being able to tweak a couple of screws can make a lot of sense.
To compare streaming and vinyl as similar in terms of set up/adjustment/faff is ridiculous. That is what appeals to me about streaming - you can focus on playing the music you want, when you want, without any associated fannying about.
If you read what I wrote you’ll see that the comparison is more than reasonable. You can get a plug and play digital system, just as you can get a record player that can be up and running in five minutes. However, there is scope in both digital and analogue to fiddle to your heart’s content.
I’m a bit puzzled why you think people with adjustable tone arms are constantly adjusting them. I last adjusted the height of my Magician about 10 years ago when I fitted a DL103 to it. All that was required was an allen key a couple of minutes.
Some people swap their turntables 2 or 3 times over a period of 10 years.