Setting to Recommended Tracking Weight Is Wrong

Maybe that's why Koetsu doesn’t give a specification for track force.

Their suggestion is to "set it by ear," although the importer can give minimum / maximum to play around with.

During such testing, a precision stylus force gauge is helpful. It confirms repeated "best sound settings" and allows for immediately return to reference setting, should you bump the weight or swap cartridges.

Amen brothers!

Another variable is room temperature. At CES (in the Alexis Park) where you leave the doors open to the outside, it's like the difference between indoor and outdoor tennis.

As the day wore on and the temperature shifted upwards by a good 10 degrees (Farenheit) or so, we'd bump the tracking force on our ZYX Universe by about .05 grams.

Makes a difference on a cartridge like this !

Cheers,
Thom @ Galibier

I thought tracking force should be reduced in hotter temperatures. I saw that posted somewhere quoted from dynavector somewhere. Correct me if I am wrong please.

Dear Stefnal: The manufacturer minimum/maximum range is the right way to start about VTF.
Where we have to be carefully is not to pass the maximum VTF recomended for the manufacturer because over that maximum VTF the coils will be out of center, the suspensión designed characteristics will change for the worst, probably the stylus could run out faster and maybe you can ruin your records faster too. I always ask the manufacturer which is the maximum " safe " one VTF on their cartridges.

I agree with Tom about the temperature influence on the cartridge performance.

Albert, I think that Koetsu does not give any advise about because that is part of their " odd philosophy ", because even Koetsu has to have a maximum VTF limit.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.