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setting VTF with a digital guage

Hello AGoners,
When I first purchased my VPI classic 1 I used the supplied shure stylus force guage. I decided to try a digital guage and then purchased a acoustech digital guage. My question is about the height of these guages. Both the shure guage and the acoustech digital are taller than even a 200gr LP. I have tried to make a small cardboard pedestal to place the guage on to make it level with a 180gr. record since that is what I play the most. Are you guys setting the stylus force guage on top of the platter or do you try to set the stylus force guage level with the playing surface?
andyprice44
effischer
560 posts
 
You definitely want to set the tracking force at the playing surface. Tonearm balance geometry generally alters tracking force if it set at a horizontal plane different from that of the record.
sbrownnw
693 posts
 
I measured out a stack of cds plus my scale as tall as the platter and mat with a record on. I then took off the platter sand used the cd scale stack to set the VTF. The diff was .07g and I have my ortofon mc-3 turbo tracking at 2.05g and my RP6 is sounding better and better as it breaks in and I dial it in. :)

I use this scale: Pocket Digital Scale APTP445, which can be found on ebay for $12 including shipping and is quite accurate.
harold-not-the-barrel
895 posts
 
Definitely at the playing surface, otherwise incorrect measurement ! Nearly all digital gauges measure at too much high level, so you need to measure without record.
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Just make a weighing step that hangs off the side of the digital gauge, with its surface at a typical record height.

That's close enough. It's best to fine tune VTF and most other adjustments by listening anyway, so why fuss over the last decimal place?
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