Stylus Force Guages - why extreme accuracy?

Anyone remember their college physics? How much of an error will be caused by having the stylus 1/2 inch higher or lower than the record surface? I doubt it is much, but haven't cracked my textbooks to do the calculation. Anybody?

Peter_s,

Having one's stylus 1/2 inch higher or lower than the record surface would have a HUGE impact on sonics, namely, there wouldn't be any! ;-)

To respond seriously, we've discussed various explanations for the audibility of SRA/VTA adjustment several times over the years. An archive search will turn up several endless (and occasionally acrimonious) threads. There's no point going through all that again.

To summarize, no explanation has yet been posited that explains what people hear while satisfying the mathematically skeptical. Conclusion: the state of scientific knowledge still trails our experience of reality in this area.

If you're serious about researching this question, I'd recommend beginning with some archive searches here and at VA. You'll find enough material to keep you reading for weeks. I particularly recommend one article in the VA FAQ's, Jon Risch's "VTA once and for all". It comes closest to explaining what I hear, yet skeptics have expressed doubt that the degree of changes involved could be audible. They would prefer an alternate theory, but no more satisfactory one has been found AFAIK.

One long and inconclusive thread here was blissfully terminated by a practical post from Tbg. He wrote, "If you hear it adjust. If you don't, don't." Not a productive attitude for the scientific investigator, but a very productive one for the music lover/audiophile.

Nice reply, Doug. I think you captured it well.
Regards,

Peter_s,

Why not try it yourself and come back and let us know what you find out? Get a scale with some degree of accuracy and precision, say .01 gram +/- .005. Then take a reading at record level and one at 1/2" above (and below if you can). Keep in mind that by adjusting vtf you are changing the static location of the windings to the magnets. Biasing the circuit in a way. So it does not work against physics to suggest that minute changes in vtf can make a difference in the sound. This is probably not going to make any difference with some cartridges but it most definitely does with others. Now through in the mechanical action of the arm and bearings involved and you can see how there may be more or less resistance to slight changes in vtf from the stylus all the way back to the counterweight on the arm. It is all physics.

I don't think it is necessary to have a vtf guage that can measure to .01 in order to enjoy good playback, but it can be very useful with some equipment. And you don't need to spend $800 on the Winds. That $95 guage being sold here by ANS works very well.

I've had the pleasure of hearing Doug's rig. It sounds wonderful with any record. I have also heard the difference on some records when he makes minute changes to VTA. There is a very noticeable improvement. Not all pressings show this but the ones that do show it it very will. Granted this doesn't speak to vtf changes but I have no doubt that the table/arm/cart combo he is using is capable of showing what differences these slight changes can make.

"If you hear it adjust. If you don't, don't." That pretty much says it all.

An "audiophile" friend was amazed at my inability to hear the results of minor VTA adjustments. He attended my house to demonstrate, fiddled with the adjustment ring, and then proclaimed himself satisfied that he had found the optimum VTA. We listened for a while and then I noticed that I hadn't locked the adjustment ring in place. "You may have moved it a little when you were changing records", said my friend. "I'll have to go through the adjustment procedure again."

This time I stood at the turntable doing the adjusting while he listened at the other end of the room. But I never moved the ring - only made a pretence of doing so. Nevertheless he "heard" changes, rebuked me for my deafness, and was sure that his preferred position was identical to the one he had determined before.

I don't feel so bad about my inability to set VTA by ear any more.