Anybody know how to set the VTA on a Pioneer PL-530??

db297

db297

Active Member
Hey - I was reading how important it is to get the VTA correct. In fact the article had you use 3 different weighted albums to do it. One heavy, one medium, and one light. Thing is - I have no idea where on the tonearm I need to manipulate to set the VTA. I guess I'm looking for the:

"the adjustment on the base (post where the arm is mounted to the turntable) of your pickup arm that allows you to raise or lower the back (the end opposite of where your cartridge is) of your tonearm."

here's the article if you're interested:
http://67.192.249.47/~psaudio/ps/how-to/how-to-adjust-the-vta-of-a-turntable/



Thanks,
db
 
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Well, that's a good article, but they left out one important piece of information: not every turntable has adjustable VTA. For the Japanese manufacturers, the top of the line models had it, but the vast majority of turntables did not, and that includes the PL-530. The two models above the PL-530, the PL-550 (manual) and PL-570 (auto) did have it. If you are really obsessed, you can change to a thicker or thinner mat or add shims between the cartridge and headshell. My suggestion: don't obsess--it's not that critical. Or, if you have the disease as bad as most of us (which I think you do by now :D) start looking for a PL-570.
 
I'd have to look mine over, I didn't know it had a VTA adjustment (never took it seriously, really).

In my experience, VTA adjustment is really easy, you raise or lower the tonearm while listening to a good album, there's one level where everything just focuses. Particularly when you're using a line-contact stylus.

Of course, this is when I was putting a cartridge on a table that had a real time adjustment capability. The whole time I worked in the industry, I never brought my Pioneer in.

I don't know about the multi album thing, in actuality, every album took a little tweaking of the VTA, that's why it was so easy on the upper end tables.

Good luck!

Mike
 
hakaplan said:
Well, that's a good article, but they left out one important piece of information: not every turntable has adjustable VTA. For the Japanese manufacturers, the top of the line models had it, but the vast majority of turntables did not, and that includes the PL-530. The two models above the PL-530, the PL-550 (manual) and PL-570 (auto) did have it. If you are really obsessed, you can change to a thicker or thinner mat or add shims between the cartridge and headshell. My suggestion: don't obsess--it's not that critical. Or, if you have the disease as bad as most of us (which I think you do by now :D) start looking for a PL-570.
Click to expand...

Oh great. I'm saving my bucks for some ESS AMT speakers in a month or so. Now I have to get a PL-570!!! aarrgghh!!!!! It's never going to stop is it? :D

Thanks much Howard
 
db297 said:
Oh great. I'm saving my bucks for some ESS AMT speakers in a month or so. Now I have to get a PL-570!!! aarrgghh!!!!! It's never going to stop is it? :D

Thanks much Howard
Click to expand...

If your set on getting a table with VTA adjustment, why not look at the Technics line of tables, a lot of there tables have VTA adjustments. If I knew what your budget was I could suggest certain models.
 
One more thing as Hak said it's not that big of a deal plus as he said you can use different mats to achieve the same thing.
 
Oh, I guess I'm not "that" obsessed. I was just being somewhat funny. I do wish I could set the VTA on mine though. I've got too many other things on the list for my money right now. Though I imagine someday I'll get another TT. Right now I'm a "Pioneer person", and would probably get the 570, but who knows what I'll end up with if I ever do get another.

Thanks all,
db
 
This thing with VTA is that´s a little tricky to achieve really. In fact it is so that the cartridge should be parallel with the record only for a certain VTF. For a lower VTF the pivot point should be lower and for a higher VTF the pivot point should be higher. We are talking about rather high figures that should be adjusted at the pivot point to manage a normal VTF range. A difference in 4mm will önly yield about 1degr in VTA.
/gusten
 
I did my PL-630 when I 1st received it and changed the cart. A couple of screws in the back on the tonearm base, then lift or lower with your other hand. Took a few tries to get it right. Is the arm parallel to the platter when playing, if so then you are OK.

Also, it is how it sounds to you.

Not sure if the PL-530 has it.

Thanks,
John.:music:
 
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