JMW9 setup tracking problems... need help

"....looks like the arm doesnt need it, the counterwheight is in the middle when I set up this cartridge."

The purpose of the added weight has naught to do with VTF, but with tweaking the arm resonance relative to the dynamic compliance of the cart suspension. Since the DL103 is a relatively low compliance cart (though, as I said, not as low as it's specs makes it appear), you may see sonic upgrades by adding the weight (and readjusting the arm for correct VTF). At this point, however, if you've got the rig running, just enjoy some music. You'll want to establish a listening reference point before you make any changes, or do any experimenting. Though, were I you, I'd lower that VTF to 2.5 at some early point.

If you do want to experiment with adding weight to the headshell, and you've got an electronic scale, I'd suggest weighing out a blob of Blu-Tac and attaching it to the top of the headshell. That way, you don't have to remove/readjust the cart while you're experimenting. If you like the change, you can add the VPI weight for Handsome Good Looks.

And btw, congratulations on getting 'er going.

Thanks for your comments Johnbrown, of course I will try that.

Johnbrown, let me elabore more about the VTF 2.88. The reason is that the manual recomends to go to the upper setting of the cartridge, in this case manual mentions 2.5g (+/- 0.3gr) plus 0.1 gr more. This is because they compensate with more weight not using anti-skating with this arm.

The JMW9 is not a low mass arm unless your standard is the 35 gram mass of some of the old Japanese arms. I am more worried that it is a little heavy for some cartridges. Tracking heavier is always preferable to tracking too light but don't overdo it. I use about 2.2 with the Denon 110 in same arm and intend to use around 2.5 when I get around to putting the 103 I recently purchased in my other JMW9 arm.