Audiophiles obsess over VTA (Vertical Tracking Angle)—how the stylus sits in the groove. One practical headache: cartridge heights vary. Swap a tall cartridge for a short one, and your tonearm angle changes unless you adjust arm height or add a spacer/shim.
Quick idea: treat the “cartridge height” as stylus tip → mounting surface. If your current setup is level and you swap to a cartridge that’s Δ mm taller, you generally need to raise the tonearm pivot by Δ mm (or use an equivalent base spacer). If the new cartridge is Δ mm shorter, you generally need to lower the pivot by Δ mm or add a headshell/cart shim of Δ mm.
Calculator
Select two cartridges (or enter heights) and the result will update automatically.
Add a custom cartridge
Cartridge height reference
This is the built-in cartridge list used by the dropdowns. Some entries also include supplemental specs (type, stylus, tracking force, weight, mount). Filter to find a model and see the default height used for calculations.
| Manufacturer | Model | Height (mm) | Links |
|---|
Database stats (built-in list)
About this VTA shim calculator and cartridge database
Vertical Tracking Angle (VTA) is the angle your stylus “sees” as it rides the groove. In plain English: when you change cartridges, swap mats, change headshells, or move to a very different record thickness, the arm can tilt up or down and the stylus may no longer sit at the same working angle it did before. This calculator is meant to solve the practical part of that problem—getting you back to a sensible starting point—by estimating how much spacer (shim) thickness you might need when moving between cartridges of different heights.
The key input is cartridge height, typically measured from the stylus tip to the top mounting surface. Because manufacturers don’t all publish this the same way (and some don’t publish it at all), the database blends official dimension charts with reputable published specs and clearly labeled reference links. Think of it as a “best available” library, not a metrology lab: the goal is consistency and a quick baseline, not a guarantee down to the last tenth of a millimeter.
What the database does (and does not do)
This page includes a built-in cartridge list with height values and, when available, additional specs like cartridge type (MM/MC/MI), stylus profile, tracking force guidance, and mounting/weight notes. Those extra specs don’t change the shim math directly, but they’re useful context when you’re deciding whether a swap is a “drop-in” change or a bigger setup project. For example, a tall cartridge with a narrow tracking-force range may reward a slower, more careful alignment session than a forgiving elliptical with a wider range.
What the database doesn’t do: it can’t know your exact arm geometry, VTA tower calibration, mat compressibility, record thickness, or how your particular cartridge body is toleranced. If you want the last word, measure your current setup (arm level, cartridge height with calipers, and/or stylus rake angle) and treat the calculator as a guide for the first mechanical adjustment. After that, you can fine-tune by ear or with a test record and microscope-style checks.
A practical workflow is: pick your current cartridge, pick the new one, apply the suggested shim/spacer change, then re-check tracking force and alignment. If the change is large, re-check tonearm height limits and fastener engagement (longer bolts may be needed). If the change is small, you’ll often land close enough that the “final” adjustment is just a tiny arm-height tweak or a thin shim.
Tip: if you find an authoritative height for a cartridge not listed here, use the “Add a custom cartridge” option and save it locally in your browser. Your additions can coexist with the built-in database.
Browse all included cartridges (searchable table)
| Brand | Model | Height (mm) | Type | Stylus | Tracking Force | Links |
|---|
Heights are shown as published/compiled reference values. Always verify fit, bolts, and alignment after changes.
Notes & reality checks
This tool is intentionally practical (not mystical): it’s mainly about keeping the arm roughly level after a cartridge swap.
- Heights aren’t universal. “Cartridge height” is usually measured from stylus tip to top mounting surface, but sources vary. If in doubt, measure with calipers.
- Shims vs arm height. Some arms have a VTA tower; others use base spacers under the arm; others are effectively fixed. Use the suggestion that matches your hardware.
- Other changes matter. Changing platter mats, record thickness, headshells, and even fasteners can shift things. Consider this a starting point.
- Fine tuning. After you get level, listen and/or confirm with a known test record. Stylus shapes (microline/shibata/etc.) can be more VTA-sensitive.
Data sources & reference links (click to expand)
Starter heights/ranges are pulled from manufacturer/spec pages where available. If a value is missing, enter it manually and you can save it locally.