What to listen for when setting VTF?

Nice detailed post. Thanks for answering my question about overhang.

My system, VPI Scoutmaster with Zu Denon 103 sounds the best when the VTF is 4.0g (violin without distortion)???? What am I doing wrong? Would it be wrong to leave it that high?

"My system, VPI Scoutmaster with Zu Denon 103 sounds the best when the VTF is 4.0g (violin without distortion)???? What am I doing wrong? Would it be wrong to leave it that high?"

Picture your cartridge as a plow and your vinyl record is the snow.

That is more than double the rec tracking force, I can't imagine that is very good for your records. I would think that something else is off requiring you to over compensate with the extra weight.

If it were me, I would start by leveling my platter and start set-up from scratch. That's way heavy.

Toufu,

Are you certain you're actually playing with VTF at a true 4.0g? How are you measuring? The dials on some tonearms are notoriously inaccurate. Some Shure balances were (idiotically) manufactured of magnetic steel, which exaggerates the measured downforce. Etc....

Unless you're weighing with a reasonably accurate scale, you can't be sure you're actually playing at that seemingly outlandish tracking force.

But if you are, I agree with Zenblaster. Something is very wrong if you have to play a Denon 103 at 4.0g to sound good. What happens if you play in the normally recommended range? What sounds "bad" about it?

Stop! In the name of love - for your LP's, not to mention your 103.

I got a digital gauge to measure the VTF, I am pretty sure it's at least in the right ballpark. It still sounds good at 2.0, but for some classical recordings, the strings have some silbius or distortion, that are corrected by going to 4.0. I am still running it at around 2.2, but was curious why it is that way. By the way, I have messed around with the VTA as well, but the problem went away only after I set the VTF. Thanks!