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Tracking Force - Where to set it?

So a few weeks back I posted regarding distortion I was getting out of my right channel (Rega p25 w/ shure v15 xyz). I got a lot of help, much appreciated. It turned out that my real problem was not with the cartridge or table, but that I had followed Shure's recommendation to set tracking at 1-1/2 grams! Turns out that the bottoming-out and distortion I was hearing was cured by turning the tracking force up to about 1.75 to 2-1/4 grams, depending on the record.

The question now is, (1) is there an optimal tracking force, and (2) will force as high as 2-2.5 grams damage the stylus or vinyl?
dogrange
twl
3,251 posts
 
The cartridge VTF should be somewhere near the range recommended by the manufacturer. Sometimes going slightly out of the range is okay. High VTF forces, in the range of 2.5g - 3g will not damage records, if the cartridge is designed to work at those forces. If anything, going too low in VTF is more likely to cause mistracking, which is that major cause of record damage.
jimbo3
304 posts
 
Remember that tracking force dials are notoriously inaccurate. If you used the dial on the arm as your reference for tracking force, try using a separate gauge to get a more accurate idea of the actual tracking force.

Regards
Jim
sdcampbell
2,136 posts
 
I second Jim's suggestion -- check the VTF with a gauge. Even an inexpensive gauge such as Shure's SFG-2 is far more accurate than the dial on your tonearm. I have owned many Shure V15 models over the past 30 years, and have always found them to offer excellent performance at the recommended 1.5 grams VTF.
sean
6,231 posts
 
If i can remember correctly, you have to adjust tracking force appr 1 gram higher than normal to compensate for the brush. As such, you would have to adjust the arm for 2.5 grams to achieve an actual tracking force of 1.5 grams. Sean
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pbb
1,140 posts
 
Do get a gauge, do not rely on the calibration found on the arm. The Shure V15's tracking force has to be set higher (the 1 gram stated above, I believe, is correct) to compensate for the brush stabilizer. In fact, the V-15 normally tracks perfectly well at the minimum tracking force recommended and does save hardship on the delicate grooves, just be sure you actually have set that weight correctly. If in doubt (which should not be the case when using a gauge), set it a tiny bit higher. Good day.
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