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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
actusreus OP
733 posts
 
Suteetat
I always have similar but not exactly identical problem with most of my cartridges. If I turn on digital scale on first and let it zero first, as soon as I move my cartridge over the scale, it gave negative reading. However the number usually does not fluctuate wildly. The reading is very much reproducible every time. I assume it was just magnetic interference from cartridge or something along that line. Usually I just move my cartridge above the scale first then turn the scale on and let it zero itself then. This happened with my airtight koetsu dynavetor and Lyra with 2 different scale (same made though) so I thought it was normal.

Suteetat (and others),
Do you have any concerns that the magnetic interference might negatively affect the cartridge long term? Beyond inconsistent readings, the icing on the cake would be to damage a few $K cartridge with a cheap scale while trying to dial in the VTF!
suteetat
435 posts
 
Hmmm I thought it was the cartridge that interfered with the scale. The
amount of time spent on the scale is very minor in comparison to the hours
playing record so I never even thought about it. please don't give me
another thing to worry about :) already nervous enough when playing
records as is :(
actusreus OP
733 posts
 
Haha, I hear you! Same here. Consider the question never asked :)
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,492 posts
 
Actus....I'm not pontificating ...just wondering why anyone would find an electricronic scale so important ( or the Counterintuitive, etc.) As I said before...there is some (not a lot, but some)variation in the building of cartridges et al that nullifies any exact claim of perfection of downward cartridge force. I have posted this because it is MY expectation that others will also post (on this free and open exchange) giving insights on how to further MY understanding of this crazy hobby. If you agree with my observations fine...of not, fine as well. I believe nothing from the internet, however, I put all information through my "filter" to decide what findings I want to retain, and which to dump. I really like the back and forth though because of enlightenment I find on this glowing screen. By the way...Zie Gazundt means that I wish all who reads (even those that don't) these pages Good Health.
suteetat
435 posts
 
Actually, I think good scale and countertuitive are actually very helpful. Granted VTF number is just a guide but good scale and countertuitive for VPI great strenght is about reproducibility. You can do everything by ears but sometimes it is a pain. You find an exact sweetspot once. As most people are, you always have to fiddle beyond the sweetspot to make sure that you really reach the ideal spot. Coming back is so much easier if you have some kind of a target. Once you been there and mark the spot, it is nice to get back there quickly without all the listening step in the middle if you have nowhere to go but only your ears. Lyra's very tight VTF's range and their optimal VTF value also get you very close to the sweetspot very quickly. With Lyra's QC, I doubt that the ideal VTF would differ too much from what Lyra recommended.
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