Cartridges & Sensitivity to VTF

I have a Benz Ebony and a VPI Nordost arm. I have determined that there is not much difference at all settings except that there is more air - bloom around the instruments at the best setting. Ive read that you adjust by listening to the bass, but I dont find that much difference. I suspect that the stylus shape has a lot to do with this...spherical, shabata, eliptical, etc. I like that o-ring suggestion Dougdeacon.

Stringreen,

We first used O-rings to fine tune VTF on an OL Silver. Of course they'd work on any arm with an exposed length of end stub behind the counterweight. Just set your c/w for the maximum downforce you're likely to want, then reduce in increments by adding O-rings.

We later switched to a TriPlanar, which also had no fine VTF adjustment at that time (new ones now do). The O-rings really enjoyed this upgrade. They sound better on a $4K arm than on a $1K arm! ;-)

I've also posted about using (smaller) O-rings for fine tuning antiskating to a degree not possible with the sliding metal weight the TriPlanar comes with. Soon after that post a certain gentleman named HW started including O-rings along with the metal weight in the antiskate retrofit kit for the JMW's. My patent infringement attorney is looking into this scandalous appropriation of freeware for commercial purposes. ;-)

The "overall" system has to be capable of resolving the "very subtle" aspects of some of the stuff found on the best pressings.It is NOT only the cartridge.
Line noise,amongst other factors can cover up differences normally heard in the 1 to 2 hundredths of a gm increments from the better cartridges.Cables,room acoustics,noisey neighbors,or family noise around the listening room,to name some factors.Just because some cartridges seem to be "less" sensitive to very slight VTF settings,does NOT mean that "is" the case.
IMO,the better resolving the overall system,the more critical the VTF becomes.This doesn't mean we should get too nuts about exactitude.Only there are other factors that influence such things.Mostly system dependent,but......
I,myself,will be killing a neighbor's dog,another neighbor's motor cycle,and sawing off another neighbor's diving board(noisey bastards when diving from high above,by a bunch of teens showing off)in the upcoming weeks.The owl,looking for a mate,in my backyard is exempt,because he "took out" the squirrel family who kept jumping on my roof last spring. -:)
Hope this made some sense.

Sirspeedy,

Your point is well taken. For me, this is an exercise in understanding more than absolutes. I understand that this is all system dependent and I thank you for the comments.

Assuming the overall system is capable of resolving the differences, would you care to share your thoughts on how sensitive the cartridges you have experience with are to VTF changes?

Thanks,
Dre

My experience with the ZYX airy 3 is similar to others in that it responds to small changes in VTF and VTA. I have a hard time separating the tweaks of VTF and VTA because if I make a small move in VTF, i unvariably will tweak VTA afterwards to find the best sound to my ears. I must admit my system is not a high performance system compared to others but i have really learned to appreciate the value of slight adjustments.