If it sounds 'great', everything is ok?
G'day to all
Given that the listener has at least a good average hearing: If the sound quality from a record sounds 'great' to his ears, the various settings of the tone arm and cartridge (VTF, etc.) are correctly set.
Right or wrong?
Thanks for your inputs.
Cheers, eagledriver
That’s great, for a while, however if something(s) off, inaudible.un-noticable now, there is the potential for future deterioration. IMO, everyone should acquire the basic inexpensive tools, and learn to mount and align a cartridge. Then make periodic checks. .........................................................
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Most of these digital scales come with a 1 gm weight to use to check it's accuracy. Perhaps your friend forgot it came with one. modern cartridge tracking 2.9 g ain't good. Can sound good now, however it needs to be properly checked, soon. One of the criteria I look for is light tracking force. Less wear on both stylus and grooves, IF it can stay in the groove which is not always easy. Shure's always went for 'trackibility', their last great MM was V15Vxmr, it tracked between 1.0 and 1.5, I used 1.25. Stiffest Ever: Beryllium cantilever with MicroRidge Stylus. I looked sideways at my Beryllium cantilever and it shattered (I dropped it about 1"). AT440ml tracks 1.25 Current AT33PTG/II MC tracks at 2.0g
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from Shure 1954 bulletin "the downward pressure of the stylus tip on the record groove. The greater this pressure the greater the amount of friction generated between the walls of the record groove and the stylus tip. Increased friction naturally results in increased wear." adding 1 gm over specs ain't good! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
clearthinker everything's relative. your example: .4g extra on 2.5g is +16% 1. 2M Black specs say track at 1.4 to 1.7g. 2.9 g is +1.2g, which is +71% of OEM's max tracking force. Something else is wrong if this extra 71% is needed. ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; Not only more wear on it's expensive Shibata tip, and more wear on the grooves: it must be restricting the proper movement without and within. the suspension/compliance/magnet movement within the body are in no way close to their design parameters. ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; Cantilever Material? Ortofon info does not mention it. I found a 2M LVB 250 upgrade that has Boron. I therefore 'presume' 2M Black is Aluminum. It won't take much time for that aluminum cantilever to deflect from the extra weight, becoming a 'low rider', WRONG VTA will result. ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; His entire TT setup needs to be re-evaluated. TT Deck level? Platter Level to Deck; Arm properly mounted: proper Spindle to Pivot, parallel/perpendicular to the deck/platter. Cartridge: overhang, two null points alignment, proper cartridge tightening; Arm height (parallel to LP when in the groove. Azimuth from Front, VTA from side when in he groove. Now factory tracking force; now anti-skate. ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; This is exactly why I recommend everybody acquire the simple tools, and practice setup until they find it is not as hard as anticipated. Or make friends with someone nearby; or pay someone to set it up in your home. Where does your friend live? Perhaps a member here lives nearby. Anywhere near Plainfield, NJ? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
eagledriver_22Switzerland, a land of precision: terrific, he must have a friend who knows about TT setup. Clearaudio ’Clarify’ Tonearm Manual (example, what arm does your friend have?) https://clearaudio.de/_assets/_pdf/manuals/tonearms/CA_Clarify_E+D.pdf?d=1667911999 other arms here https://clearaudio.de/en/products/tonearms.php They recommend a digital gauge to set stylus force (no interference with magnetic bearing, no ’seesaw’ type needed. Presumably the arm was installed by a pro, and is correct. Hopefully the alignment template was provided to your friend. IF NOT, I would request a template from Clearaudio. The manual/template shows everything you need to know about mounting the arm, the cartridges’ overhang; and cartridges’ two null point alignments. arm height a single set screw from the side of the base plate. to align azimuth, there is a set screw in the bottom of the arm tube near it’s head ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; anti-skate is inconveniently located below the plinth. manual page 14 level via adjustable feet must be maintained while in adjustment position with 1 corner ’in outer space’ for access to adjustment screw below. then level re-confirmed when TT moved back to operating location. After confirmation of arm and cartridge: IF the cartridge will not track within the specified range 1.4g to 1.7g something is wrong, EVEN IF it sounds GREAT. Note: anti-skate needs to be reduced to zero from below BEFORE adjusting tracking force; then add tracking force; then back below to ’add’ anti-skate as final setting. Note: ANY subsequent adjustment of tracking force: anti-skate needs to be reduced to zero again, tracking force set; anti-skate set. ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; basic confirmation: 1. suppose arm mounting and cartridge mounting (overhang/two null points), azimuth, arm height are verified correctly. (or correct them). 2. anti-skate needs to be reduced to zero before step 3. 3. tracking force set to 1.7g max with digital gauge 4. ’add’ anti-skate. a. blank disc method b. Clearaudios’ Trackability Test Record We recommend the Clearaudio Trackablity Test Record available from www.analogshop.de or from your specialist retailer for a professional and perfect anti-skating setting.
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prior post: "as his tt is a Clearaudio with magnetic tone arm." quick look at Verify Arm, anti-skate, pg 15, also from below. https://clearaudio.de/_assets/_pdf/manuals/tonearms/CA_Verify_E+D.pdf?d=1667911999 when they say counterclockwise is weaker, I would interpret that -5 full turns is fully weak/ZERO Why did you mention Rowen TT1? Is it a variation of Clearaudio? Made for them by Clearaudio? https://www.rowen.ch/en/data/rowen_tt1.php Confusion: Clearaudio has a TT1 arm .You don’t need anti-skate on Linear Tracking Tonearms https://clearaudio.de/_assets/_pdf/manuals/tonearms/CA_Statement_TT1_E.pdf?d=1671461176 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
lewm"Just one teeny, weeny thing: Back up the thread, Elliott recommended to set AS to equal VTF or some high percentage of VTF." lewm, either someone else, or maybe I worded something wrong, but I use the Blank LP method, don’t even think about VTF, just start AS at zero, spin platter manually (easy with direct drive) watch the arm pull in (if it doesn’t there is something wrong), add anti-skate a bit at a time, checking in the two approximate null point locations, and set it with no outward force, consistently floating, or if needed to avoid ’out’ set it for a speck of inward pull, rather than a spec of out. I don't look at VTA before or after, just the actual results. I re-check perhaps monthly, to confirm both VTF, AS, and if removable headshell: view Azimuth from front with mirror method. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
lewm I also finalize by ear, using my favorite CD and LP versions of this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friday_Night_in_San_Francisco CD version 1st; side 2, last 2 tracks: all 3 guitarists play, strong L/C/R separation. Now LP: same tracks: refine AntiSkate if/as needed to move center guitar l or r to be centered, also hear balance of l and r guitars, also hear balance of audience cheers
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