non-magnetic mechanical stylus force gauge


Hi,
Need to get myself the stylus force gauge and after reading what other people say decided to buy the simple Shure SFG-2 but then realized from one of the reviews on Amazon (as well as here) that it is still a magnetic one? Just curious - if Sure does know that this feature can cause problems why they wouldn't fix it or is there already another one from them which is non-magnetic? I looked at Ortofon as well but that one seems a little too simplistic with only limited number of scale grades. Since I have some MC carts the magnetism I guess can cause a problem, just wondering if this is correct? Appreciate the feedback.
Thank you
Anatoliy
avs9
Yes, Dougdeacon, I guess you are correct, it makes sense to look at digital ones.
Thank you
The reason I still occasionally use mine is to check on the accuracy of one of my digital gauges; I have 4 if I remember correctly. At times they have been wildly inaccurate. I question whether a complex device like a digital gauge can be considered more reliable than a simple balance like the Shure; I have had mine for decades. On the other hand one of my digital gauges is defective, it runs down the batteries even though it is shut off. It carries the name of a famous audio company and I got it as a dealer for them; when I informed the importer it was defective he didn't bother replying. It APPEARS to be identical to one that can be bought direct from China for under $20 rather than the $150 it retails for here. I had another that cost about the same and it was also identical. My Technics gauge stopped functioning years ago. I have a friend who is a professional audio technician who is obsessive about TT set up and he uses a Shure. Will the Shure measure down to 1/100 gram? No, but I have never found that minute variations in tracking force were significant. But then I don't alter my VTA for each record either.
Yes, thanks, I see the point.
I think this is also the case (at least for me) when simpler is better :)
Regards
I've had one or two for years. With the one I still have, I checked it against a strong magnet, and nothing. I have an electronic one also, but it can vary quite a bit if the stylus tip is off of the center by just a small amount. It is a cheap $50-60 ( I think ) though.
I have an older Shure gauge as well and tested it with a magnet I have at home - the gauge plate is NOT magnetic...no sticky...magnet falls off.