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Tracking Force Gauges

I have only coarsely adjusted VTF on my cartridge using a Shure gauge and taking into account the ~ 0.3g overshoot some have reported.

I would like to embark on a careful study of the sensitivity of the sound attributes to small deviations within the recommended mfg's range. I'm curious to know what high VTF sounds like compared to low VTF and to find an optimum setting.

To do this I'm interested in your recommendations on digital VTF gauges with 0.01g accuracy.

I've heard about the MyWeigh scale and others. It seems like the my weigh scale is a traditional looking digital scale in that the measuring platform is very wide with the load cell likley centered beneath the platform. I'm not sure that one gets repeatable and accurate results if the cartridge were to be placed near the edge of the platform if the arm can't be moved in such a way.

Any thoughts on accurate VTF measurements?

Andrew
aoliviero
johnbrown
195 posts
 
seems to be the same, but only weighs to hundreths. However, less money, and seems accurate, etc. Shipping was very fast [1 week +/- ]

http://cgi.ebay.com/DIGITAL-STYLUS-GUAGE_W0QQitemZ180000183049QQcategoryZ64620QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
aoliviero OP
269 posts
 
I bought the $95 gauge and I'm extremely happy with it. Very repeatable and reliable. Highly recommended.
aoliviero OP
269 posts
 
Guys,

One more thing to add about the 95 gauge. I've noticed that as the cartridge is lowered down onto the gauge, and just before touchdown, the gauge begins to read negative. In my case it can be as mach as -0.03 g. Although the gauge is advertised as being non-magnetic, I suspect that there is some magnetic attraction between the cartridge magnet that slight pulls the gauge in its direction. The actual negative component is probably greater when the needle is on the surface. Therefore, the actual VTF is probably higher than indicated, albeit repeatable.

Have you experinced this?
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rauliruegas
12,814 posts
 
Dear Andrew: Yes, with the Clearaudio.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
dan_ed
2,451 posts
 
Andrew,

Mine does this as well. I did check that the metal around the target area is not magnetically attracted with a pretty strong magnet. I didn't pay attention to what that magnet did to the readout since we were just concerned with the possibility that the cartridge would attract the metal. Like you say, it does seem repeatable and that's what really counts.

Best,

Dan
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