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Stylus force digital scales

Digital scales from Clearaudio and others range from $200-500. Amazon has 'em for $20. Why cant I use one of these instead and save big bucks?
tbromgard
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cleeds
6,014 posts
 
dover.
... Most dynamic balancing is applied with a spring which is designed to provide a restorative force to the arm. The actual tracking force at the stylus will be unpredictable and variable depending on the cartridge compliance, size and gradient of the warp and speed of the record. The competing forces are far more complex - it would be almost impossible to provide a constant tracking force over a record warp.
Provided that the phono cartridge and arm are properly matched, a dynamically balanced arm will provide precise VTF within a very narrow range even over a warp. There may be some deviation, but it will be slight compared to a statically balanced arm.
dover
2,262 posts
 
@cleeds 
We'll have to agree to disagree.
I do agree that the deviation in VTF with dynamically balanced arms will be less than statically balanced arms on warps, but don't agree that VTF can be precisely maintained over a warp even with dynamic balancing, unless of course you consider +- 50% precise. 
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cleeds
6,014 posts
 
dover
I do agree that the deviation in VTF with dynamically balanced arms will be less than statically balanced arms on warps, but don't agree that VTF can be precisely maintained over a warp even with dynamic balancing, unless of course you consider +- 50% precise.
Don't be silly. The effectiveness of dynamic balancing in achieving relatively constant VTF over warps can easily be observed by watching the deflection of the cartridge cantilever.

A 50 percent deviation from ideal VTF would cause serious mistracking with many cartridges.
jbny
38 posts
 
You absolutely can use the inexpensive digital scales. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. I have been using this stylus gauge for the last year, it's $14 shipped.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XC2AQN4/

I have a set of calibration weights (I use the 1g and 500mg weights) that I use to check it is accurate, so far it's been perfect each time I have tested it. These kinds of measurements devices have been figured out some time ago, no need to spend a lot of money for a digital scale.
folkfreak's avatar
folkfreak
1,349 posts
 
@jbny  unless you have calibration weights that are magnetic and non magnetic you will not see the effect we’ve been discussing

my scales all weigh the same with calibration weights, but once you use a MC cartridge it’s a different matter. And most of the China sourced metal ones read the same, no doubt because they share the same internal electronics. It’s only the custom designed plastic ones that give different results

now most setups will not be sensitive to +/- .05g VTF but unfortunately mine is, needing 1.70-1.75 exactly to perform at its best so I have no choice but to pay the $150 cost of entry for the Rega
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