Now we calibrate the cartridge overhang, which can be really tricky because the platter wants to move all the time.
The cartridge is an Ortofon 2M Black, one that Nate considers a right proper entry into the high-end hi-fi world—one that won't wipe out your savings account right off the bat, but isn't exactly cheap either to someone who isn't used to spending more than two or three bills. The cost of this particular one is about $750.
Nate then adjusted (lowering) the arm height just so with the Allen wrench.
As opposed to the Gimbaled arm configuration on my Rega Planar 6, this one is not. The VPI Prime Scout boasts a uni-pivot system that allows the inverted cone of the female cup to sit on the upwardly pointing male pivot spike. That has side-azimuth stability weights on either side of the tone arm assembly.
The motor pulley has two gears upon which the turntable drive belt can be looped. The belt will self-level when in rotation, which is great because I was trying to eyeball which platter notch to set it in whenever I changed speeds. The turntable motor pod controls the two speeds: the 33 rpm is the upper part;
…the lower, wider brim is for the 45 speed.
