Riverstone Audio Stylus Force Gauge

[Logic6]

https://www.riverstoneaudio.com

This looks like a good one. $28.95 on amazon with 108 customer reviews. Also read the other
reviews on the internet about Riverstone.

 

[savatage1973]

Not really seeing any reason for it to be twice the price of any other digital stylus gauge available any day of the week. Great marketing site, though--slap the word "audiophile" on anything and you can charge double for it.

I especially like the (non-ferrous, hard plastic case) as being an "advantage". Cheaper--yes. Relevant--no. At least my $12 Chinese scales have SS and aluminum cases, and a "pleather" carrying case and tare weight.

 

[AdlerW]

I have this one and it has a weird quirk: it takes one AAA battery but if you leave the battery in there, the battery dies within a day. Even if you turn it off, it’s still using the battery. It’s like it never really turns off. So just make sure to take the battery out when you’re done using it.

 

[MCM_Fan]

I have this one and it has a weird quirk: it takes one AAA battery but if you leave the battery in there, the battery dies within a day. Even if you turn it off, it’s still using the battery. It’s like it never really turns off. So just make sure to take the battery out when you’re done using it.

That's a serious design flaw that earns it a hard pass from me. The one I have cost less than half as much, and after two years of fairly regular use is still using the original button cell that came with it.

Also, their record level "feature" seems like a complicated solution in search of a problem. I just remove my turntable mat and place my $11 scale directly on the platter when taking my readings.

"And, with this VTF gauge, there is no need to remove your platter mat"

Yeah, because that is REALLY hard to do.

"PLEASE NOTE: Although no tools are required, installation of the record-level cantilevered extension arm requires a good pair of glasses, a bit of technical savvy, and a good dose of patience. The VTF must be placed on a level, stable, draft-free, surface during VTF measurement and during any recalibration procedure. Requires one Alkaline AAA battery (sorry, battery is NOT included)."

Sounds to me like getting this thing set up and calibrated takes a lot more time and effort than the "problem" it's supposed to solve (removing and replacing the platter mat when setting your VTF).

 

[MRL_Audio]

Also noticed the presenter has a tough time turning it off. When he does this at the halfwayish point it goes back and forth with the tare mode before it actually turns off. I think the price is still fair vs the $12 ones since it comes with two tare weights and balance beam. I'd buy one net of the battery issue. Deal breaker. Not going to pull the battery every time I use it. Also no mention of setting the anti-skate to zero before doing this measurement.

 

[Logic6]

I have been reading a lot of comments on stylus force gauges. There is a lot to read on this subject. The gauges are flawed. For example one gauge has battery problems. The same gauge I
own does not have any problem. You just have to be lucky.

 

[bimasta]

I don't like to kick a guy when he's down, and you guys hit him pretty good, but to say a record-weight is also a clamp is a pet-peeve of mine.

And whoever wrote the ad-copy should be banned from writing.

 

[MRL_Audio]

Bought one to try after reading the reviews on Amazon. There is a post about the battery. 1 post of 108 that talks bad battery. The reply from the seller, assume it's Riverstone, made me feel ok about being a buyer. Hard to go wrong at $30...

 

[MRL_Audio]

Holy carp. My unit arrived today. Incredibly nice fit and finish. So far so good. Goes together easy, has a nice case, solid written directions, great warranty. I'll let it sit for a few days and see how the battery is. Still can't get over the fact I got it in one day.

 

[Montycat]

It does look good for the price. Hopefully the battery thing is not as bad as it sounds.

 

[vwestlife]

Their claim that the height of the measuring platform (2 to 3 mm) is the same as the thickness of a vinyl record is wrong. Most LPs are 1 to 2 mm thick:

So if you use it on a turntable with a dynamically-balanced tonearm, you may get an inaccurate reading unless you remove the platter mat or device some other way to make sure the measuring platform is at the same height as the top of a record is when playing.

 

[MRL_Audio]

If you review the video they provided you can adjust the platform height to fit your needs.

 

[sanlanman]

I bought the original version of the scale that is on the left in the webpage and it has been just fine. They were about $20.00. At the first of the year I put a second one in my Amazon cart then decided to move it to "Saved for Later" and a couple of weeks later it went "Unavailable". Too bad/my bad.

I had a duplicate that was a generic Chinese brand and a crack in the housing at the battery hole made the generic one unreliable. The generic was about $13.00 and did not have a sticker on the scale plate. I can't even find the generic one anymore.

 

[Blowby]

Picked one up months ago and it works as described. I leave it on and it automatically shuts off in maybe 2 min when not in use. Same battery and if I recall it’s an alkaline energizer.

 

[kmp14]

I also have one FWIW, no issues with battery.

 

[AdlerW]

It’s very possible mine is a lemon.

 

[MRL_Audio]

Possible. I checked the DC voltage on the battery a day after it sitting for 24 hours and it's the same as it was the day before. To the second decimal.