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Slight increase of tracking force = Big Improvement

I have a Kiseki Purple Heart cartridge on my SME 20/2 with an SME IV mk vi tonearm.  For a while now the sound quality I was getting from my analog rig was less than satisfying.  It didn't sound bad, it just didn't move me the way it had in the past.  This was not always the case.  I can't explain why there was sound degradation.   

I thought my cartridge must be worn out and started shopping new ones (still haven't ruled out an upgrade, but that's another story).  Then, last night I decided to up the tracking force a bit to see if that would help.  I had been running 2.0 grams the entire time I've had it, and that seemed to be great for most of the time I've had it.  I adjusted it to 2.25 grams and immediately noticed a huge improvement.  It was night and day.  Everything is a lot better now.  Imaging, dynamics, bass, midrange and treble are all dramatically improved.  

It's funny because I had never given tracking force adjustments any serious consideration in achieving the best sound from a turntable.  I figured it was best to set it at the lightest recommended setting and as long as it sounded good, don't mess with it anymore.  This revelation is something that has changed my strategy going forward when setting up and tweaking in the future.  

The Purple Heart specs recommend tracking force between 2.0 and 2.6 grams, with optimum force being 2.4 grams.  I am planning to experiment some more in the next few days.  

128x128snackeyp
tablejockey
3,892 posts
 
Kiseki Blue owner here.
I've always maxed the manufacturers settings for carts.

Can't say I can hear a difference between the recommended settings.

Maybe a good thing-I avoid audio nervosa
noromance's avatar
noromance
9,769 posts
 
I have a pal who sets his tracking weight at the highest recommended VTF because he prefers deep bass and warm sound. I find music sounds veiled and muted at high settings, and can't understand why he likes it like that. I track at the lowest end and find it airy, spacious, transparent with cleaner snappier bass. De gustibus non est disputandum!
tooblue
1,927 posts
 
I always start out at the middle of the recommended range and dial in with small increments going both ways and no I don't always hear the difference between one small adjustment but always do with at least 2 in the same direction letting me know that I am headed the right way. Sometimes I even exceed the max suggested range but only by 10 to 12 %, this has been the case with my DRT XV1s and my Koetsu RSP but most the time find the ideal spot at max or just below. This is one of the things I love about vinyl, when you get it dialed in, WOW.
snackeyp's avatar
snackeyp OP
455 posts
 
As a side note, the SME tonearm is really great at locking in the VTF setting.  Just flip the lock lever open, turn the small dial the direction you desire to reach your target VTF, and flip the lever to lock.  I set mine at 2.0 grams a year ago and when I checked it yesterday it was still at exactly 2.0.  Tonearms that have a simple threaded weight and no lock feature will come out of adjustment relatively quickly.  You need to check VTF monthly at least with those.  
tooblue
1,927 posts
 
@noromance , you know what you said about the difference between the lighter and heavier settings is spot on and you can tell from my response that I fall on the darker side of things, with that said I use two different record clamps on my system, the BDR 1 piece clamp and the Stillpoints LPS clamp/weight, and they do the exact same thing, the Stillpoint is the one that has the flavor you describe. Just thought that might be worth mentioning.
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