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VTF issues

Hello everyone,
I am having trouble with my tonearm vtf staying stable. It will fluctuate as much as a 1/2 gram just picking it up and setting it back on the meter. It never measures the same twice. I have 3 different vtf gauges. 2 digital and one Shure and they measure the same thing.

I believe it has to do with the adjustment knob on the tonearm. it is very sensitive. It can take up to 30 minutes to get the right reading. The tonearm is the Ortofon RS 212 D.

I just recently purchased the Lyra Kleos. It has a light vtf and the manufacture warns against over loading it. While listening last night the cart started bottoming out. When I measured the tracking force it had gained a full gram.

Is this sensitivity normal or could there be something wrong with the tonearm.

Matt
mwilliams
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,371 posts
 
I have had too many experience with Ortofon ....bent sylii on a brand new cartridge in the package, etc.
lewm
12,524 posts
 
Mwilliams, There are guys who can repair tonearms with problems such as the one you describe. My guess is that there is something amiss with the dynamic balance system. On Vinyl Asylum, you could try Jim Howard, who posts as "Tubesforever" (or something like that). Also, the late Bill Berdan used to repair tonearms, and I think his son has taken over the business, or in any case the business still exists. They have a website, under Berdan. I have never done business with either, but they are held in some regard by others. Also, it is possible that Sound Smith would look at your tonearm.
mwilliams OP
47 posts
 
That's good to know.

Thanks

Matt
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islandmandan
1,260 posts
 
A word of caution regarding Jim Howard. He was recommended to me, I sent my Dynavector 501 tonearm for his silver rewire. It was a total disaster. He couldn't figure out how to correctly reassemble the tonearm, I sent it back to him twice, it came back the same.

I wound up doing it myself, with much better results.

Jim is a nice guy, he means well, and talks the talk, but I'm afraid he is actually clueless.

Find someone else.

Dan
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