Cartridges & Sensitivity to VTF

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.

Every MC I've used long enough to play with VTF has responded audibly to changes of
.02-.04g, less in some cases. That includes Denon 103/103R, Ortofon Jubilee, Shelter 901, seven different ZYX models and probably some others. I don't remember any MC that did not respond to VTF changes in this range.

The more resolving models are certainly more sensitive - the ZYX UNIverse is exquisitely so - but they all react in the same basic pattern. Higher end cartridges give you more for your trouble, but the same VTF-setting technique works on all of them. Thank goodness!

Note to those with arms that lack a fine VTF adjustment: you don't have to do what Txp1 did and buy a different arm (though there's nothing wrong with that). If you like your present arm in other respects and want to add fine VTF adjustment without moving that ^%$# ~! counterweight, just hop out to Home Depot and buy some O-rings. Choose an I.D. that provides a snug fit on your arm's end stub. Slide one or more onto the end stub and you'll reduce VTF in .02-.04g increments, depending on the thickness of the O-ring and the length of the arm. Simple, cheap, very fast, reliable, repeatable. Just remember to lock your arm down while adding/removing O-rings, for safety.

Dan,

Thanks for the feedback on the XV-1s. I've had some time listening to that cartridge in a friends system and it sounds great. his system produces a very nice, whole, and altogether sound. Where are you currently tracking on VTF?

Dre

Txp1,

Where are you currently tracking on VTF?

The Benz feedback is interesting. I have and L2 wood that's in the case not being used since I got the Skala. A friend has a Ruby 3 that I mounted for him but we didn't get to do any fine tuning that night. Since then he has played with a couple VTF/VTA changes although I haven't really listened to the table since then for any length of time. I'll be sure to let him know that there are a few things he can try in order to potentially get more out of his cartridge.

I've also heard the Glider on other systems and the comments on the Glider seems to align with what I had noticed on that particular system I had listened to.

I have and Incognito modified RB-250 with the Michell Tecnoweight. For a Rega style arm user, the Technoweight makes VTF adjustments really easy. My currently mounted arm can still give me that resolution of adjustment but it's not as easy.

Dre

Doug,

Is this adjustment of 0.02 grams consistent across the cartridge manufactures suggested tracking range? For example the Airy3 (I didn't find the specs for the UNIverse) appears to be 1.7 - 2.5 grams which is a pretty large range. If not, how do you find the range of sensitivity for the cartridge that is around the 0.02 gram audible region for changes?

Thanks,
Dre