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Tracking Force Gauges

I have only coarsely adjusted VTF on my cartridge using a Shure gauge and taking into account the ~ 0.3g overshoot some have reported.

I would like to embark on a careful study of the sensitivity of the sound attributes to small deviations within the recommended mfg's range. I'm curious to know what high VTF sounds like compared to low VTF and to find an optimum setting.

To do this I'm interested in your recommendations on digital VTF gauges with 0.01g accuracy.

I've heard about the MyWeigh scale and others. It seems like the my weigh scale is a traditional looking digital scale in that the measuring platform is very wide with the load cell likley centered beneath the platform. I'm not sure that one gets repeatable and accurate results if the cartridge were to be placed near the edge of the platform if the arm can't be moved in such a way.

Any thoughts on accurate VTF measurements?

Andrew
aoliviero
sirspeedy70680e509
1,064 posts
 
Opalchip,I can't say that I'm not a sucker,at times.-:)

Also,I really DO believe that though the Winds is a fabulous guage(my friend has it,and I've used it extensively),the asking price is going to be it's downfall,now with this new 95 dollar job being so darn good.

The only thing,IMO,keeping this new guage from being the "ONE" to have would be its long term accuracy,and reliability.Let's hope it holds up.Then it would be "sayonara" to the 600-800 dollar Winds guages!Or any other,I guess.

Best!
aoliviero OP
269 posts
 
Vetterone,

Thanks for that input. I was planning to purchase a calibrated weight and checking it for accuracy AND repeatability. It is good to know you are getting good results on both.

Andrew
tobes's avatar
tobes
436 posts
 
Opalchip said:
"BTW - in my own experience, subtle changes in antiskate have a larger effect on sonics than equally subtle changes in VTF. Everyone's different, but I need about two tenths of a gram change in VTF to hear a really significant change, while less than a 1/10 gm. change in A.S. can make a huge difference to me."

Opalchip, I have found slight changes in VTF to have a very worthwhile effect, but I actually wonder if I'm not adjusting VTF to sync with a particular antiskate setting. The former obviously influences the later, and VTF is usually adjustable in much finer increments.
I find myself setting suitable AS first, then dialling in VTF to lock in the sound. If AS is adjusted, then VTF must be fine tuned again.
IMO a single best VTF for all AS settings doesn't exist.
aoliviero OP
269 posts
 
ALL,

Key question. Does the $95 gauge have a magnetic surface that the stylus would be positioned on? Will the magnet in a cartridge affect the accuracy of the reading with this gauge?
xactaudio's avatar
xactaudio
156 posts
 
Aoliviero, the surface that is used to rest the stylus on is non-magnetic genuine stainless steel. It also has a thin plastic or nylon type pad with a bull's eye glued to the recessed center of the scale's metal pad. This "landing zone" is slightly concave. I guess this is there to help center the stylus and give more consistent readings as well as potect the stylus. If you place the stylus on the bull's eye, your stylus has no where to move but up hill. While this unit is built to a price point, it is also well thought out. It has nine felt feet on the bottom to protect your platter, you can turn the readout light on or off and the scale pad has a built in cover to keep the dust off the LZ to help keep your little diamond clean. It comes with a 5 gram test weight, three batteries, a vinyl case and you can calibrate the readout. Unlike many gadgets in our beloved hobby, this one has real bang for the buck.
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