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Tracking force and Unipivot tonearms

I have a Benz Glider and the "recommended" tracking force is 1.8 to 2.2 grams. I am tracking at about 2.4 or 2.5 just to keep it in the grooves during hot peaks on some records. A audiophile friend told me it is not uncommon especially with unipivots to set tracking force at 10 percent or higher than the recommended tracking force. The cart sounds much more full, less sibilant and a more solid sound at the sacrifice of a less air at this heavier tracking force.

Has anyone else found it absolutely necessary to set tracking forces much higher than the recommended force? My friend said it will not damage the cartridge or records at 2.4 or 2.5 grams. He said I should not get hung up on recommended tracking force as all tonearms are different and that it is just the "recommneded" tracking force
tzh21y
jdaniel13
129 posts
 
Tzh21y: I, too, had very infuriating tracking issues with VPI arm and Dyna cart; split-second crackle during "hot" piano and vocal outbursts. I'm currently enjoying flawless tracking and negligible inner groove distortion using a vintage AT130e cart on an extremely humble Technics DL 202 from early '80's.

So you say the Denon cart tracks with the VPI arm? That's fascinating. I'm obviously going to upgrade to a "real" TT again, but don't want to lose tracking ability again. I hope tracking is all about the cart.
glai's avatar
glai
446 posts
 
Difficult to be sure without being on site but change in VTF will change SRA at the same VTA setting. It may be worth while to adjust for a lower VTA setting and try 2.2g again.

You may have set the VTA too high and required a increased VTF to maintain proper SRA. This is done at the expense of misaligning the coil.

If your VTF gauge is thicker than the record, it will also measure a slightly higher VTF than actual VTF at the record surface.
tzh21y OP
1,654 posts
 
I have done VTA adjustments until I was blue in the face. The comment by Jdaniel is interesting. After thinking about it, I am not sure if their is much difference in tracking when comparing what I remember in my first turntable, remember the old MCS JCPenney direct drive table and the Scout JMW 9. Maybe their is more detail and a lower noise floor with the Scout but I certainly expected a better result considering I paid $1,800.00 for it. It seems because of the antiskate that VPI does not believe in, it causes considerable wear on the stylus thus hampering performance. I mean if you spend a grand on a cartridge, you would want it to perform well beyond a month.
tzh21y OP
1,654 posts
 
The denon does indeed track well on this table. However, after about a half hour, my ears feel like they are about to bleed
jdaniel13
129 posts
 
That's unfortunate about the Denon cart's sound. I, too, miss the lower noise floor and greater dynamics of my Scoutmaster/Dyna compared to my thrift Technics but that's about it. The AT cart throws a warm, detailed and "big" sound in which I revel daily, hooked up to Vandersteen 3a sigs, LOL. The ability to just play any record with complete confidence is priceless. I wish though I had tried the AT120 cart or 150mlx on the Scoutmaster before selling the whole thing. It just seemed so counter-intuitive.
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