Needing VTA Spacers

[nabil]

Etnier please let us know how you get on with those-look great let's hope they work as advertised

[Etnier]

Here's an image of the Warren spacers alongside more conventional pieces (I can't recall who the vendor was for the conventional units). The Warren spacers are made of a stiff black plastic; there are 5 pieces as discussed above. I have roughly aligned two different shim types here so you can get an idea of relative sizes, etc. A shadow effect on my scanner makes the slots appear to have uneven ends, but they're semicircular.

Hope this helps. It will be a while before I attempt any work on my table but I don't see anything that keeps these from being effective products.

A closeup:

[Etnier]

Today I installed a new cartridge on my system, an Audio Technica AT33ML/OCC with Soundsmith ruby retip. I have never attempted VTA shimming on this or any turntable, so my perspective is what is. That said, inserting the shims went as easily as it could, and they look fine on the table. I inserted from the rear for convenience and the resulting gap at the front was no visual problem at all.

I continue to be surprised at how little shimming non-Rega carts need with the RB330. I used two of the thinnest (1/32") to level, and I think I will remove one or both to go a bit tail-down based on listening and reading.

[Thorenasaurus]

I continue to be surprised at how little shimming non-Rega carts need with the RB330. I used two of the thinnest (1/32") to level, and I think I will remove one or both to go a bit tail-down based on listening and reading.

That's really interesting Etnier. My AT cartridge is a little different and I'm using the RB700 on a P5. I played with my shim set a lot and always found the sound opened up as I raised the tail and it's not overly bright. I currently have 5mm shim (2 pieces from my set)and it really seems to be the sweet spot. I may take it down one more time to 4mm just to be sure but I think I'm hitting the right VTA/SRA. This set was quite spendy at $100 but I love the look as it matches the Rega base mount perfectly-you can't even tell it's been shimmed! Regardless, shims that allow you to change the height without removal of the arm are the way to go for sure with the Rega arms.

[Etnier]

Well, for sure, on a black arm like the RB300 or 303, these things just disappear.

[Etnier]

I saw a really nice one-piece version of this idea (imagine a fat letter C with three notches) at the website of some firm which bundled Rega or Moth TT's onto their turntables. And they were black, too: a big plus for many of us. I have lost the link, but if I find it...

ON EDIT: found it:
http://www.george-warren.com/#!tone-arm

I spoke with Mr. Warren: he's never sold any to people who don't own his gear but he said he'd think it over and email me info. 1/32", 1/16" and 1/8" are the thicknesses.

One drawback of the C-shape is the less-than circular shape: maybe that's an issue??

I am bumping this thread simply because I find the Warren shims to be such a great product. Super-easy to use, attractive and inexpensive. I don't think many people know about them.

[zharca]

As the three-point arms only touch the arm board at the points under the mounting holes there's no reason why you shouldn't simply use washers instead of expensive bits to adjust vta. Black/stainless, nylon, acetal or whatever you fancy to match the arm board.

[Etnier]

Probably correct, but a C-design just slips into place during installation (or adjustment), rather than requiring the removal of three screws or bolts.

[tomytoons]

I would think anything else would not be precision as in the thickness of the pieces.
You don't want the tonearm sitting off in height.