analog newbie question/vinyl weight

Thanks, Dre! But I'm not paying you the cost of a Mitutoyo for the info. :-)

I believe Doug just weighs them and figures the difference is in thickness. No reason to think otherwise.

With the Talea it is very easy to set by ear. It screams at you when things aren't right. ;-) Not meaning to shill, but this arm makes it very easy to know when things are right and when they aren't.

Disclaimer, I sell Taleas and Galibiers.

Stltrains, you are most welcome.

Dan: Disclaimer? Ha! Dan, you got hooked. Not hard to do considering your equipment and love of music. Congratulations.

And yes, the Talea does let you know when VTA is off at least that's what my time and sonic memory tells me.

Dre

One thing is for sure my Triplaner and my ears will let me know when VTA is off. But now that i have your valuable information along with Tri letting me know that 1 revolution of the VTA towers dial is 1/40th of an inch. I can get mighty close with any weight record. That breaks down to 1/40th=0.025 decimal in. That equals 0.635mm per revolution of the dial.

Wow now i m getting real scientific and i know in the end my ears will let me know if i need to make further VTA adjustments but i should be close.

I m retired now and have plenty of time on my hands guys.

My turntable (Technics) makes it very easy to adjust VTA to compensate for differences in thickness, to make sure tonal balance affected by VTA remains fairly constant.

Concerning the variety of record weights (e.g., 140g, 180g, 200g), different weights have different resonant frequencies, but a record grip like the KABUSA dampens the record's resonant frequency and minimizes that difference. I use the KABUSA and it helps put a Dynaflex and a Classic in the same sonic ballpark.

But after all that, there is--to these ears--an audible difference in sound quality of the 200g Classics I have. They reveal superior recovery of low level detail more like the master tape itself. I think these differences are attributable to:

1) Classic's tendency to use the original 2-track master rather than a copy (1 less generation of deterioration)
2) Bernie Grundman doing the mastering
3) Bernie's tube-driven cutter

I suspect the tube-driven cutter particularly enhances the low level resolution, as low amplitude linearity is probably the strongest suit of tube-driven electronics.

I just got two wonderful 200g Classics this week, and they stun me every time I put one on for their comprehensive retrieval of everything that went on in the studio. I have a mid-priced system, certainly nothing expensive, but with the Classics (a Holly Cole and a Norah Jones), I don't just hear the music, I hear how they made the music, right down to being able to visualize how the vocalists are shaping their mouths to sing the notes.

Agreed, stltrains. The Triplanar does make life easier.

Well, Dre, since Chester, NH, is the audio capital of the world, it did make sense. You remember those McDonald's signs claiming so may millions sold? not even close. :-)