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Cartridges & Sensitivity to VTF

Cartridges & Sensitivity to VTF

Throughout the years of my involvement with vinyl. I’m beginning to wonder if some of these cartridges are more sensitive to Vertical Tracking Force than others. I only having direct experience, in my home, with the Benz L2 Wood and the Lyra Skala, I don’t have the experience to form much personal experience. I hope to get a general understanding which cartridges are more sensitive to VTF variations when compared to others.

For those of you with your Cartridges…

Could you provide some insight on the VTF range and sensitivity of your cartridges?

Which cartridges you have owned that are very sensitive to (0.0x grams)?

Which cartridges you have owned that are very sensitive to (0.00x grams)?

Care to share any other observations?

Thanks,
Dre
dre_j
dre_j OP
159 posts
 
I'd really like to hear from some ZYX, Lyra, Benz, and Dynavector Owners on this issue.

For myself, I've found the Skala to be well behaved within it's range (1.65 to 1.75 grams VTF) I currently run the cartridge @ 1.68 Grams. I don't think the differences are readily apparent within this range of VTF. I'd have to go through the exercise again because nothing sticks out from memory on this one. Of course, others that own this cartridge my have different experiences. This is why I'm hoping to get many responses to this thread in order to gain more insight from your experiences.

Thanks,
Dre
dan_ed
2,451 posts
 
XV-1s, I find it responds to changes of ~.02 grams quite nicely. Same with a Denon 103r.
txp1
148 posts
 
Benz Ruby 3, I've used it for almost 2 years and find it is incredibly sensitive to very small changes in both VTF and VTA. Much less than a mm on VTA, e.g., a single turn of the screw on a SME IV.Vi, and 0.02 grams VTF.

Part of the reason I changed from my previous OL Encounter tonearm to the SME was due to the difficulty in making very small VTF changes on the Encounter. VTA, no problem, I could hear a single "playing card thickness" difference of change.

My previous Benz cartridges, the Glider series 2 and a Glider series 1, both demonstrated adequate resolution to VTA and VTF changes but did not come close to the Ruby 3 in their ability to respond to very small changes.

Too much time has passed to clearly remember other cartridges well regarding this issue.
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