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Cartridges & Sensitivity to VTF

Cartridges & Sensitivity to VTF

Throughout the years of my involvement with vinyl. I’m beginning to wonder if some of these cartridges are more sensitive to Vertical Tracking Force than others. I only having direct experience, in my home, with the Benz L2 Wood and the Lyra Skala, I don’t have the experience to form much personal experience. I hope to get a general understanding which cartridges are more sensitive to VTF variations when compared to others.

For those of you with your Cartridges…

Could you provide some insight on the VTF range and sensitivity of your cartridges?

Which cartridges you have owned that are very sensitive to (0.0x grams)?

Which cartridges you have owned that are very sensitive to (0.00x grams)?

Care to share any other observations?

Thanks,
Dre
dre_j

Showing 2 responses by txp1

txp1
148 posts
 
Dre j,

I'm currently tracking the Ruby 3 at 1.99 grams, and very, very slight tail up VTA. I plan to try a lower VTF because one of the guys at VA has a Ruby 3 and posted that 1.85 grams with a slight tail drag worked well for him. I've never used a tail down VTA on any cartridge, so it will be interesting to see how it goes. I've been letting my new power conditioner break-in prior to making any more VTF/VFA changes.
txp1
148 posts
 
Benz Ruby 3, I've used it for almost 2 years and find it is incredibly sensitive to very small changes in both VTF and VTA. Much less than a mm on VTA, e.g., a single turn of the screw on a SME IV.Vi, and 0.02 grams VTF.

Part of the reason I changed from my previous OL Encounter tonearm to the SME was due to the difficulty in making very small VTF changes on the Encounter. VTA, no problem, I could hear a single "playing card thickness" difference of change.

My previous Benz cartridges, the Glider series 2 and a Glider series 1, both demonstrated adequate resolution to VTA and VTF changes but did not come close to the Ruby 3 in their ability to respond to very small changes.

Too much time has passed to clearly remember other cartridges well regarding this issue.
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