Digital stylus force gauge vs turntable tracking force adjustment.
- Thread starter Athalwolf
- Start date
Balifly
Listening
Some counterweight designs are engineered to be accurate and repeatable. But knowing whether yours is one of them is best determined with a digital gauge.
Some of us need to remember to wear our bifocals......
jnoyes
Super Member
And...if there are inaccuracies indicated by using the pennies, you can determine a correction factor to apply. The balance doesn't need to be perfectly accurate, just consistent and relatively linear.
$10.04 works for me!
Jon
I checked all my Technics tables with a digital scale. Each of their counterweights were accurate to within 0.02g. I tell people this in an attempt to kill the urban myth that counterweights are wildly inaccurate.
jnoyes
Super Member
That's great, but I don't see anyone here saying they are wildly inaccurate. I'd be surprised if you can actually determine the accuracy within 0.02g How much of an adjustment to the counter weight does it take to make a difference of 0.02g
gusten
Addicted Member
As I see it counterweights are more than good enough generally. We must understand that when playing a record the VTF varies a lot, normally around +-0,5grams, sometimes more, sometimes less.
If we like digital scales, that´s fine, but for setting VTF they certainly aren´t needed.
If we like digital scales, that´s fine, but for setting VTF they certainly aren´t needed.
iLUVanalog
Addicted Member
Placement and elevation of the digital scale may be important.
Make sure it is on the same level as the top of the platter, approximately.
Yes...this is a must. I always remove the mat and place the scale directly on the platter...this simulates similar thickness to mat plus LP.
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gusten
Addicted Member
It will depend on how under-slung the arm is.
I've heard that the Chinese calibrate their scales by filing the weight until it reads 5 grams
And then selling the filings!
iLUVanalog
Addicted Member
Oops...yes, I meant the mat! Ugh...I really should proof-read before clicking "post reply"!!!! I corrected the goof.
Thanks for catching that!
jnoyes
Super Member
No one here made any claim that these balances were accurate to 0.01g or that that level of accuracy was required.
Jon
jnoyes
Super Member
My battery is about four years old and the accuracy is spot on. Seriously, how often would you use it?
Jon
arts
Addicted Member
My point was that,for many of these units,even the more expensive models,there is a direct correlation between battery level and accuracy.I can't speak for your unit.
Secondly,batteries degrade whether or not they are being used,so whether or not the unit is in frequent service is a moot point.
jnoyes
Super Member
No it's not a moot point, battery life is based on age and usage.
If you're worried about the accuracy, surely you have a penny you could use to verify it. The cost is $0.01
Look, if your happy with what you have great, but you're offering opinion based on no real world experience.
Does anyone need to have a digital balance to set VTF? NO!
It's a tool that can be accurate and work well.
Many of the negative comments here are from people that have never owned one, used one, or verified anything about accuracy, reliability, or any other aspect of these tools.
Others are making straw man arguments about accuracy, etc.
My digital bathroom scale is a POS, therefore these must be too!
Really, what nonsense!
Jon
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arts
Addicted Member
Yes Jon, ''Really,what nonsense!''.
jnoyes
Super Member
That's true about the batteries in these gauges; sometimes I wonder just how strong mine is in my scale, and think about just of "off" it may be throwing the readings (though the batteries were new, as well as the scale, so I don't think this applied in my case). Still, there is something to be said about the possibility of batteries getting weak and throwing readings off; sometimes -- just sometimes (please don't flame me, folks who love the mega-tweaking before playing any record) -- I wish there was a premium solution (not one of the cheaper p-mount offerings) for a nice turntable that offered a plug-in-play platform which didn't require all the weighing, tracking, skating, etc etc...
Seriously, a shiny penny weighs 2.500g. The US Mint makes them to a high standard and they are accurate enough to verify the accuracy of your balance. They haven't been in circulation long enough to have worn significantly. If your battery is causing a problem you will see the inaccuracy when you weigh the penny.
Jon