Gauge blocks are made for setting up cartridges to show you what VTA degree your cartridge is at to the vinyl. Your cartridge instructions tell you what degree your cartridge should be at to start out with. It can be very hard to see 1 degrees or 2 degrees.
These blocks are made from white or black delrin and are precision made. Each side of the Gauge Blocks are marked. One side is minus a degree and the other side is marked as plus a degree. If the side you see is "- degrees," flip them over and you'll have "+ degrees."
VTA is so important. Here's what you can do with the VTA Gauge Blocks:
1. Check your VTA degree.
2. Make sure you're at the manufacturer's degree for your cartridge.
3. Listen and move your VTA around while thinking "Wow, this sounds good."
4. When it sounds good, check with the VTA Gauge Blocks. Now you have a reference point.
5. Also use it when you want to make sure you put your cartridge back to the right VTA that sounded good.
It is very important to set the correct VTA if you want to obtain a detailed sound with beautiful high frequencies, with warmth and attack at the same time. Lowering the arm at the pivot so that the cartridge will lean slightly back will give a round and less detailed midband. Adjusting the arm at the pivot so that the cartridge leans more forward gives a more detailed sound. If the cartridge leans too far forward, the sound becomes hollow and unnatural, the harmonics will suffer. Especially with fine line diamond tips and the Van den Hul tip, the precise VTA is of the utmost importance. You have to find the best adjustment for harmonious sound which has a lot of fine detail at the same time. So listen carefully. In the end, the determination of the best VTA can only be done by ear.
Directions:
1. First find your cartridge instructions and see what they tell you for setup.
2. Make sure your turntable is off.
3. Grab an old album and place it on the turntable.
4. Start out by folding a piece of paper in half and putting it in the middle of the platter.
5. Use the Guage Block that says 0°, or what your cartridge instructions tell you, and place it on the vinyl about 1 inch away from the front of the cartridge. Then gently and carefully turn your platter backwards so the Guage Block is very close to the front of the cartridge. Do not touch the cartridge.
6. Now look between the cartridge front face and the Guage Block. You should have the same amount of light coming through.
-1° means there is more light showing at the bottom. If more light is showing at the bottom, then you have to lower the back of the arm. Again, please make sure you read your instructions for the right VTA.
Using a Calculator:
This is for a 9" arm
Side B 9.000 ÷ by 1° cos = Side C 9.001
Side C 9.001 × Angle ( Degree ) 1° sin = Side A .157 VTA DOWN or UP
Side B 9.000 ÷ by 2° cos = Side C 9.005
Side C 9.005 × Angle ( Degree ) 2° sin = Side A .314 VTA DOWN or UP
This is for a 12" arm
Side B 12.000 ÷ by 1° cos = Side C 12.001
Side C 12.001 × Angle ( Degree ) 1° sin = Side A .209 VTA DOWN or UP
Side B 12.000 ÷ by 2° cos = Side C 12.007
Side C 12.007 × Angle ( Degree ) 2° sin = Side A .419 VTA DOWN or UP
These blocks are made from white or black delrin and are precision made. Each side of the Gauge Blocks are marked. One side is minus a degree and the other side is marked as plus a degree. If the side you see is "- degrees," flip them over and you'll have "+ degrees."
VTA is so important. Here's what you can do with the VTA Gauge Blocks:
1. Check your VTA degree.
2. Make sure you're at the manufacturer's degree for your cartridge.
3. Listen and move your VTA around while thinking "Wow, this sounds good."
4. When it sounds good, check with the VTA Gauge Blocks. Now you have a reference point.
5. Also use it when you want to make sure you put your cartridge back to the right VTA that sounded good.
It is very important to set the correct VTA if you want to obtain a detailed sound with beautiful high frequencies, with warmth and attack at the same time. Lowering the arm at the pivot so that the cartridge will lean slightly back will give a round and less detailed midband. Adjusting the arm at the pivot so that the cartridge leans more forward gives a more detailed sound. If the cartridge leans too far forward, the sound becomes hollow and unnatural, the harmonics will suffer. Especially with fine line diamond tips and the Van den Hul tip, the precise VTA is of the utmost importance. You have to find the best adjustment for harmonious sound which has a lot of fine detail at the same time. So listen carefully. In the end, the determination of the best VTA can only be done by ear.
Directions:
1. First find your cartridge instructions and see what they tell you for setup.
2. Make sure your turntable is off.
3. Grab an old album and place it on the turntable.
4. Start out by folding a piece of paper in half and putting it in the middle of the platter.
5. Use the Guage Block that says 0°, or what your cartridge instructions tell you, and place it on the vinyl about 1 inch away from the front of the cartridge. Then gently and carefully turn your platter backwards so the Guage Block is very close to the front of the cartridge. Do not touch the cartridge.
6. Now look between the cartridge front face and the Guage Block. You should have the same amount of light coming through.
-1° means there is more light showing at the bottom. If more light is showing at the bottom, then you have to lower the back of the arm. Again, please make sure you read your instructions for the right VTA.
Using a Calculator:
This is for a 9" arm
Side B 9.000 ÷ by 1° cos = Side C 9.001
Side C 9.001 × Angle ( Degree ) 1° sin = Side A .157 VTA DOWN or UP
Side B 9.000 ÷ by 2° cos = Side C 9.005
Side C 9.005 × Angle ( Degree ) 2° sin = Side A .314 VTA DOWN or UP
This is for a 12" arm
Side B 12.000 ÷ by 1° cos = Side C 12.001
Side C 12.001 × Angle ( Degree ) 1° sin = Side A .209 VTA DOWN or UP
Side B 12.000 ÷ by 2° cos = Side C 12.007
Side C 12.007 × Angle ( Degree ) 2° sin = Side A .419 VTA DOWN or UP
