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what is the problem with too much tracking force?

I have a Lyra Delos on a Michell Tecnodec.  The dealer set it up for me.  2 years later, I would like to learn to do this myself.  I bought the MOFI Geo Disc alignment tool, a digital stylus scale, a powerful magnifier, and an ultrasonic stylus cleaner.  I am ready to up my game with my vinyl hobby.  I was on the sidelines too long!

The first thing I did was to weigh the VTF with the scale with my table set up as it has been for a couple of years.  It came in at 1.95g.  The Lyra documentation suggests 1.75, so clearly I am tracking too heavy.  Before I correct this, what is the issue?  Is there something I should look for when I change it to 1.75?

Any advice before I do this adjustment would be much appreciated!
marktomaras
inna
7,296 posts
 
Too much tracking force can cause skipping too, by the way.
I would set it at exactly 1.7 to begin with and listen. If Lyra gives such a tight range, they must have a reason and want you to be quite precise, you are tracking too high - if your gauge is correct.
If 1.7 doesn't sound quite right, I would then set it at 1.8.
As others pointed out, analog set-up is a complex system, one small change will affect other elements to various degree.
I was impressed how my Nottingham Spacedeck/Spacearm with Goldring 1042 MM set-up reacts to small changes in anti-skate, more than changes of VTF but less than changes in VTA.
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 

What does ''optimal VTF'' mean? Certainly not ''recommended

VTF''. We often see something like : 1,5 -2, 5 g. But this make

no sense. Look at J. Allaerts specifications. Those ''allow'' an

deviation of 0,2 g from the recommended VTF. This imply that

Allaerts uses exact and reliable suspension material . The story is

that he somehow got a block of 100 years old natural rubber.

From this block he cuts the ''rubber rings'' for his carts. His own

story is that he will stop to produce carts when this block is used

up. The ''optimal position'' of the cantilever in relation to the

magnets is probably a better description of the problem. Alas we

can't see this position in our carts. This parameter is , so to

speak, of ''optical nature'' rather than ''weight nature''. Aka the

first should be translated in the later.

stevecham
3,340 posts
 
As I recall, the Delos is physically designed such that, at the correct albeit narrow range of VTF provided, the optimal position of the coil relative to the magnet is assured.  

Jonathan? 
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 

stevecham, yes your  description is more correct than my but

I was aiming at the same correlation. There is this ''joint pipe''

in which the cantilever is glued and on which the coil and suspension

are fastened. The VTF is working on the  cantilever and coseqently

on the coils (position) and suspension.

To judge from provided specs J. Alaerts is more precise regarding this  ''optimal position'' than Jonathan.

stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,478 posts
 
There is only 1 absolutely proper tracking force which puts the magnets/coils, suspension load etc. in its optimum position ...all balanced with each other as the designer intended.  Sure, it will play at the range that the manufacturer says it will....without damaging anything, but the cartridge is designed for that one vtf.   If the cartridge was manufactured with loose tolerances, then who knows, but Lyra is a good manufacturer, and I would respect the design.
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