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How to determine best tracking force

arcorob

arcorob

Addicted Member
Hello,

I have a ADC ZLM Cart on a Marantz 6350 TT. The cart says tracking from .5 to 1.25 gr (currently I have it set as 1.25) but my question is, how does one determine the best setting ? Is it strictly by ear or should it be slightly under the high end (say 1.0 to 1,1 )

Currently the toenarm adjustments (VTA, Overhang, tracking force, etc) are as close as my amateur self can get with tools - and it sounds great...I just don't want to have undue pressure on the cart or my vinyl...

Thanks !!!
 
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its often the same as the Tracking force. best way is to use a test disc or song with equal L+R channels then do a comparison on something like audacity. you can also use the DB scale on say a tape deck.
 
G'day mate, in general terms I generally go with the recommended manufacturers recommendation or the 'middle' of the recommended range.

For example with my Shure M97xE, I use 1.25 grams as per the Shure recommendation (1.75 grams with the 'brush' in use), and with my AT95E's I use a neat two grams (roughly middle of the recommended range). Regards, Felix aka catman.
 
I think the best way to fine tune is probably by ear. For me, if I set the tracking force a little higher I get better bass but less high end detail. It is all a matter of taste and tweaking, especially when one considers all the different types of cartridges and tonearm setups. I use a Denon DL-103R and a MG1 Air Bearing Linear tonearm. It allows VTA on the fly which is very nice.

I probably wouldn't go much past the recommended max weight, though I don't think you risk damaging LP's or the cantilever with 1.25g.
 
Okay ..so I am currently set at the high end

High end set at 1.25...So I may try 1.10 or 1.0 and see if there is a discernable sound difference (that I enjoy)

I am really tempted to replace the stylus (because I don;t know how old it is) but to be honest, it sounds awesome so maybe I should just go with it.

Thanks to all for the advice...:-)
 
Hehe. You sound like me back in the seventies when I would fret about tenths of a gram difference to ensure minimum record wear.

These days, I just put it near the top of the range and enjoy. OK, I admit I still sometimes mess around with the VTF to see if I can hear differences though.

:D

Doug
 
Low tracking force can damage your vinyl more than excessive force. You must maintain contact with the groove at the highest velocity your record has. Find a store with a microscope to determine the wear as this will ruin records also.
 
Oh, and don't get me wrong. That stuff is what adds fascination to vinyl reproduction.

As long as it doesn't become the focus of the whole thing.

I guess growing older just mellows a person out a bit.

Doug
 
Bellair said:
Low tracking force can damage your vinyl more than excessive force. You must maintain contact with the groove at the highest velocity your record has. Find a store with a microscope to determine the wear as this will ruin records also.
Click to expand...

Well, the first part of your statement is a bit more complicated. It all depends on the tracking ability of the cartridge.

A lower force with the stylus staying in contact with the groove walls will always result in less wear than with a higher force.

It is only when the VTF is too low and the stylus loses contact with the groove walls that low tracking force becomes a problem.

For instance, say you have a cartridge with a tracking force range of .75 - 1.5 grams. If you can get away with setting the VTF to .75 grams and the stylus stays in contact with the groove walls at all times, it is better for wear than if you set it to 1.5 grams.

Now, if you are saying that, if you don't know the actual tracking ability of a given cartridge, then yes, it is better to set the VTF closer to the higher limit of the range to ensure less chance of mistracking.

Yes, understanding and dealing with stylus wear is very important to avoiding record wear.

Doug
 
I suspect if your audio room is cold these days (it's winter, after all), you might benefit from increasing tracking force to the heavy end of the range if you haven't already.

For the most part, I usually run mine a little toward the heavy end of the recommended range and then adjust by ear later if I notice anything that warrants it. I don't sweat the record wear issue, though. These records aren't heirlooms. If it took 3 or 4 grams of tracking force to make them sound good that's what I'd use.
 
G'day all, regardless of 'what' tracking weight one uses, what I think is ultimately more important is its 'accurate measurement'.

That means properly using a good tracking weight balance or digital weight measurement device!

Although I'm getting better at floating and balancing the tonearm for 'zero grams', I still do not 'trust' this approach given that counterweight calibration can be notoriously unreliable and quite inaccurate, speaking from personal experience! :yes: Regards, Felix aka catman.
 
I agree. I just ordered another digital force gauge as my original one doesn't seem to work anymore (even with new batteries).
 
Doug G. said:
Oh, and don't get me wrong. That stuff is what adds fascination to vinyl reproduction.

As long as it doesn't become the focus of the whole thing.

I guess growing older just mellows a person out a bit.

Doug
Click to expand...

Doug my friend, let's not confuse older, with perhaps a slight bit of laziness. :D

Test discs are worthless.

Use real music to set up a cartridge. Yes, I agree, heavier is better than too light, but heavier will never let you hear the best of what a cartridge can give.

VTF will change. VTF will not optimally be the same from a new cartridge, to one that's broken in, to the same cartridge three years down the road.

Cantilever Suspensions,and compliance change. Changes in room temperature can change compliance, What works in 80F degrees may not work the same in 70.

I know many people might say "Oh the hell with it", but for those who have invested mucho money into your system, then also invest some time.

These differences might not make such a change with a cheapo MM, but they most certainly will with an expensive MC Cartridge.

The way to properly do it..... Set VTF to some midpoint, then begin to back off VTF, and yes, back off in 1/10's of a gram. Keep backing off until you begin hearing distortion. Then ever so slightly increase VTF until disappears.

You will then be at the optimum VTF for that time, and age of your cartridge.
There you will achieve the best balance of good bass, and airy, detailed highs.
 
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Okay..if you guys keep it up

My OCD will kick in and I'll be adjusting this thing till it dies...LOL

I am running now at 1.25gr measured by a Shure Tracking force gauge

I THINK I have my alignment set with a protractor for overhang BUT ...it seems like I hear different things on different albums..Like the bass is high on one side, voices higher on the other. I hate the 45 disk marantz supplies...too much room for error

I am currently using the paper cutout protractor while I await a plastic one I ordered

I began to worry my cartridge was not aligned 100% perfect ..sheesh..now I will OCD like crazy....ARGG
 
About an hour ago I just got my Shure scale to test my tracking force and was quite surprised to see just how accurate the marks on my two tone arms actually are.

My Marantz 6100 was low by a thenth but the Technics 1300 seemed to be almost right on the money!
 
Flammaster said:
About an hour ago I just got my Shure scale to test my tracking force and was quite surprised to see just how accurate the marks on my two tone arms actually are.

My Marantz 6100 was low by a thenth but the Technics 1300 seemed to be almost right on the money!
Click to expand...

I have found that the calibrations on my SL-1200MK2's counterweight are extremely accurate, as confirmed with a digital scale.
 
I found

I found with the shure Scale that I did have to recalibrate. so now the counterweight and dial accurately show the 1.25 it is set for (as per the scale).

Received my official protractor today with mirrored bottom so I am going to check overhang and tracking. I think I am spot on but lets just see what Mr. Protractor has to say :yes:
 
Doug G. said:
Well, the first part of your statement is a bit more complicated. It all depends on the tracking ability of the cartridge.

A lower force with the stylus staying in contact with the groove walls will always result in less wear than with a higher force.

It is only when the VTF is too low and the stylus loses contact with the groove walls that low tracking force becomes a problem.

For instance, say you have a cartridge with a tracking force range of .75 - 1.5 grams. If you can get away with setting the VTF to .75 grams and the stylus stays in contact with the groove walls at all times, it is better for wear than if you set it to 1.5 grams.

Now, if you are saying that, if you don't know the actual tracking ability of a given cartridge, then yes, it is better to set the VTF closer to the higher limit of the range to ensure less chance of mistracking.

Yes, understanding and dealing with stylus wear is very important to avoiding record wear.

Doug
Click to expand...

I totally agree Doug, it's a real challenge to properly set the VTF, that's why i use a test record, the setting it's perfect and both of them[record and stylus] should be happy:yes:
 
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