Stylus For Gauge - Do I really need one?

You most definitely need a VTF guage. If you want to buy the last one you'll ever need, check out the one offered by member Ans for $95. I have no interest in this guage other than being a very happy owner of one. The Shure is a good way to go if you're using high compliance cartridges, but the results can be off. This can be a problem with higher end cartridges. Just my opinion.

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I would second Dan's recommendation for the Stylus Force Gauge at $ 95.00.
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Here is the link on Audiogon that you can copy and paste into your browser (I did not know how to make the link able to click on and go directly from this post (anyone care to educate me on how to do that in the future ?)
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http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?accstwek&1158166832
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Rgds,
Larry
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What does a high compliance cartridge have anything to do with the Shure's accuracy?

My take is that the VTF is more critical with lower compliance cartridges because of the compliance itself. Higher compliance is more forgiving when the stylus rides over minute bumps and warps, where as the lower compliance cartridge will force the stylus into the vinyl in these situations. Like the difference between riding in my truck with heavy duty suspension and, say, a Lincoln Town Car. Just my opinion.

On the other hand, I have found both of my Shure VTF guages to be biased by not an insignificant amount when compared to the digital guage. It is also not so easy to get repeatable readings on them as compared to any decent digital guage. Again, the digital guages aren't required unless you want the best performance. I'll never go back and neither will everyone I know who has tried one. To each his own.

The gauge recognizes only stylus force; it cannot distinguish cartrige compliance.