If it sounds 'great', everything is ok?

@elliottbnewcombjr     Sorry, the obsession with low tracking weight ended decades ago.  Record wear is much exaggerated.  With MCs tracking at around 2.5g I have never heard it on any of my records.  We all accept stylus wear is inevitable and not much affected by an extra 0.4g of weight.

To start with always observe the manufacturer's advice on tracking weight. Set up with weight in the middle of his range.  If it doesn't track cleanly add weight 0.1g at a time until it does.  If it already does, lower it 0.1g at a time and see if it tracks securely.  Stop if you reach the bottom of his range.  If you hear the slightest mistracking, especially on high level, high frequency programme then add 0.2g back on and leave it.

Apart from poorer sound, more damage is done to records and stylus by mis-tracking at too light weight than by tracking at a few 0.1gs more.

Always use enough weight to track securely.

@ashoka             Enjoy listening to your steaks.

I know that if I took my car to a service center,paid good money for a service and was told that they did it by ’feel’. When they ’felt good’ about the intervention, that was all the car needed. I would feel ripped off.

If I went to catch a commercial jetliner and they said that the pilot didn’t learn how to fly. The new policy is that they abandon the instruments and do it by ’feel’. No training neccessary. I would never fly again.

If you aren’t serious about cartridge set up and want to do it by ’feel’. Go ahead. It is your property. Do what you wish.

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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

If it sounds good to him, that’s all that matters.  I have a friend from collage who still has the receiver and speakers he bought in the seventies, and he still is very happy with the sound. I’ll never tell him he’s wrong.