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Electronic stylus force gauge question

I recently bought my first electronic stylus force gauge. It's a generic type made in China, but looks and feels a surprisingly decent quality. It was purchased from Mehran at SoraSound for those who happen to have it.

I noticed that when I try to measure the VTF, the gauge begins to display a minus reading of -0.01-03 g as I'm lowering the tonearm to place the stylus on the black dot. It then displays a steady reading once the stylus is placed on the dot, which appears to be accurate by comparing with the Shure gauge I used in the past.

I make sure that the platter is secured so I'm not quite sure why the gauge displays the minus reading before the stylus lands in the measuring spot.

Has anyone else experienced this with their electronic gauge? I realize the minus value is arguably negligible, and the issue might be of no practical significance, but I'm trying to get my Delos to track as close to 1.75 as possible so I wonder whether I need to adjust for the minus value. I'm also curious why this is happening.

actusreus
raytheprinter's avatar
raytheprinter
1,234 posts
 
Jeez,so he wants to know that his VTF is deadnuts on 1.75 gr. ,nothing wrong with that! Someone is having a bad day,no need to take it out on Actusreus!
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
My apologies if my post came across as patronizing. I did attempt (not so successfully) to acknowledge what you just said, that, "Many of us just want to set our system up and listen to music, not tweak it for every record."

The last bit of my post that you quoted spoke to that, "..we all have our own way of enjoying this silly hobby. It certainly won't do any harm to play at that downforce."

Bingo on the gift of sensitive hearing also being a curse. We have had to walk out of restaurants because the piped in music was insufferable. Fifty years ago my mother used to leave the room when certain popular vocalists came on the radio or TV. My father would happily listen while she was stuffing cotton in her ears. (I've heard those vocalists again recently, on those TV promo ads for oldies collections... Paul and I run and hide with my mom, lol.) We don't tweak because we want to, we tweak because we have to.

Again, my apologies for belaboring a point that was not what you were asking.
actusreus OP
733 posts
 
Doug,
I very much appreciate your response. If I used too strong a language in my post, please accept my apologies as well.

Btw, I suspected that a sense of hearing so acute must be to a large degree genetic, not learned, even though I'm sure one can be trained and learn to listen for certain things as well. Thank you for sharing it.
moonglum
619 posts
 
Dear Doug & Stringreen,
There is an old saying that in order to prove that something doesn't work at 1.75g you must at least be allowed the dignity of trying it first without being heckled?

Since 1.75 is the central reference point, I'm sure once this has taken place, Actus is experienced enough to know whether he needs to go plus or minus 1/100th of a gram?
Kind regards....
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Moonglum,

Your assumption that, "Actus is experienced enough to know whether he needs to go plus or minus 1/100th of a gram", is belied by his own words. He clearly stated that he has no intention of doing so. I often find it helpful to read what people actually say before making assumptions on their behalf.

By way of clarification, no one has been "heckled". Heckling involves gibes or challenges offered with the intent to disrupt, upset or goad. The intent of all comments on this thread has been educational. A debate of ideas and practices does not constitute heckling.

Thanks for your input,
Doug
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