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Tracking Force Gauges

I have only coarsely adjusted VTF on my cartridge using a Shure gauge and taking into account the ~ 0.3g overshoot some have reported.

I would like to embark on a careful study of the sensitivity of the sound attributes to small deviations within the recommended mfg's range. I'm curious to know what high VTF sounds like compared to low VTF and to find an optimum setting.

To do this I'm interested in your recommendations on digital VTF gauges with 0.01g accuracy.

I've heard about the MyWeigh scale and others. It seems like the my weigh scale is a traditional looking digital scale in that the measuring platform is very wide with the load cell likley centered beneath the platform. I'm not sure that one gets repeatable and accurate results if the cartridge were to be placed near the edge of the platform if the arm can't be moved in such a way.

Any thoughts on accurate VTF measurements?

Andrew
aoliviero

Showing 3 responses by drubin

drubin
3,285 posts
 
I bought one and think it's great. Very easy to use and foolproof.
drubin
3,285 posts
 
Good question. They supply a 5g weight with the gauge, which will re-calibrate to that weight. But I have not verified the accuracy of that weight and it certainly is not of the quality of calibration weights made for the scientific community.

However, for what you say you want to do with it, Andrew, it doesn't matter all that much whether 2.0 grams is actually 1.983 or 2.037. In terms of finding the ideal VTF, you just want to know that it sounds better when the scale reads 2.150 than it does at 2.05. Right?
drubin
3,285 posts
 
How would they address it except by creating a gauge that allows you to position the reading platform outside of the platter and adjust its height to align with the top of the platter plus a little bit. The $95 gauge reads pretty low to the platter surface, but is still raised a bit.

But again, relative readings matter more than absolute ones for the purpose of finding what's best in your setup and being able to get back to that place should things change.
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