I have the Shure gauge, a Technics electronic gauge, and an AR gauge. I have seen many electronic gauges reviewed. Many of these are quite expensive. I would, however, consider one were there an advantage. What is the experience out there?
I am tracking my Ortofon SPU presently at 4 grams. None of my gauges goes beyond 3.5. Yes, I do remember 5 and 6 grams as well as tonearm that were quite substantial.
I bought an .01 scale here and have pretty happy with it. The Shure just got to be a PITA, and I'm lazy. And cheap, no way was I going to spend a couple of hundred!
Tbg...Is 4 grams what Ortofon recommends? Last time I was seriously interested in phono pickups 2.5 grams for some MC models was the highest. And they had to make apologies for this, saying that low stylus mass resulted in low wear despite the "high" VTF.
I bought a 0.01 gm scale here on auction for $40.00. I checked it with calibration weights I have from my diamond scales which weight to an accuracy of 0.005 of a gram. The scale was off by 0.01 of a gram at different points but mostly accurate. I then checked the stylus tracking force on my SME V on my Nottingham Hyperspace @ the platter lever (by removing the graphite top portion of the platter which is the approxamite thickness of the scale) and above the platter by placing the scale above the platter. At both planes the gram weight remained the same on the scale. Just my 2 cents. I don't know what it all means but once it sounds great it is amazing. Once it is out I just know it & keep on adjusting all my settings. Nothing like doing it by ear. The scale servers its purpose mainly when you switch between cartridges
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