Audio Additives vs Acoustic Sounds Digital Scale


I have an Acoustic Sounds metal digital scale. It looks identical to the Audio Additives one. On my Acoustic Sounds scale, the cart magnet makes the platform and scale read negative numbers prior to lowering the cart onto the scale. I use the tare button to 'zero' the platform prior to lowering the cart.

The Audio Additives scale on the Music Direct website says the metal case is non-magnetic. Does this include the scale too, unlike the Acoustic Sounds scale?

Anyone who uses the Audio Additives scale, could you please let me know if its magnetic or not? In other words, does the scale require taring due to suspending the cart over the scale making it move from zero?

As a side, I have heard some say the taring in a magnetic situation is not needed and when you lower the cart onto the platform, it weighs the actual weight/force of the cart. This doesn't make sense to me as before the stylus touches the scale platform it should read zero in my mind and not, for example -0.051g.

Thanks in advance for any info.
philb7777

Showing 6 responses by philb7777

Thanks for the info Yogiboy but these scales that are magnetic are well described and actually the scale platform is metal enough to have a magnetic attraction towards the magnets in the cart. This causes a negative deflection in the scale reading when having the cart just above the scale. My batteries are new.

I'm wondering if the Audio Additives care has a scale platform that is not magnetic. I'm doubtful of this due to the Acous Tech (Acoustic Sounds) one looking identical and its magnetic.
Thanks for the link Christian, I just ordered one today. I'm ready to quit guessing on my actual VTF, even if my digital force gauge gets close. The deflection of -0.40 to -0.50 prior to lowering the cart bothers me . Some say it doesn't matter, others say toy should tare to zero and the measure. Hopefully the ortofon ds-3 will solve this for me. With spending thousands on carts, I don't mind spending $130 to help ensure accurate VTF. I know many to still use the Shure scale, but I'm all thumbs and went something digital.
It's interesting but I checked the AcousTech too after some answers to this thread. It is indeed non-magnetic when tested with a magnet both on the case and the scale platform. Weird how with my Dyna carts when having the cart body hovering over the scale platform I get varying readings from -0.035 to -0.055. To tare to zero or not to tare? Hmmmm.....

If it is not a magnetic 'pull' doing this then what could it be? Some weird electrical interference? I know a few others that had this happen with some digital scales and their carts including Dynas, Ortofons and Lyras.
Don thanks for the reply and info about the A/V Solutions site and the Ortofon DS-1. Unfortunately the DS-1 is only sensitive to 0.1g and the newer DS-3 is sensitive to 0.01 g. All our ears are different, but I can definitely hear changes in 0.05g of VTF. So I went for the DS-3. Thanks again for the info though!
Dinster, can you help me understand why taring or zeroing isn't necessary?

I get two distinct different readings when zeroing and nor zeroing. One would think if it didn't matter then whether you zeroed or not you would get the same reading when the stylus touched the platform.

Could you explain your reasoning? I'm just trying to learn, etc and sort my thoughts through this.