Tracking Force

[Rocker8822]

I need to find out what the tracking force of my TT and its cartridge/stylus is... before I can set it on my TT... Do I need a tracking force gauge for this? Where can I get one? What is a good one? thanks

 

[Mopic5]

Hi Rocker,
Info sheet with your cartridge will list tracking force. If you don't have one you can go to any cartridge database on the web and look up your make and model. You can also list it here and usually somebody will run it down for you pronto.
The Shure stylus guage is a good standby - accurate to about +/- .1 gram. About $25 new.
- Mario

 

[Nat]

Most tonearms have some sort of calibration, very often on the counterweight. What would help us help you is both the cartridge and the arm models, or a picture. Ultimately tracking force should be set by ear, so if the calibration of the arm isn't perfect, its not really a big deal, since its just a place to start. Most cartridges have a range specified, and if you start something above the middle of the range, you will probably be fine unless your arm is terrible. (The thing that really destroys grooves is when the stylus looses contact with the walls of the groove and goes careening around smashing stuff, so low tracking force is worse than high. Assuming normal limts of course -- eight pounds is a terrible idea.)

 

[jcmjrt]

Mario is right. The Shure Stylus gauge will do what you want for a reasonable price. You can get one from turntablebasics.com for $15 but be prepared for it to take a couple of weeks to get.

 

[Nat]

What kind of turntable or arm? And what cartridge?

 

[Rocker8822]

I may be dealing with some less known cartridges, etc... so I think I will order one of those Shure gauges, so I have it and I can find out the tracking force for any TT i find around and set it properly.

Next... does anyone have a link for info about "how to setup a TT"? I would like to get into more detail because all I know is the TF and that other knob that you set the same as TF (or just higher).

 

[ferninando]

get the user manual for your TT and setup will be in there

 

[hakaplan]

If you give us the model numbers of the cartridges and the turntable we will be able to help you better.

 

[Spin Doctor]

I'd recommend getting a stylus gage. The accuracy of a built in gage depends on how accurately you can balance the arm to zero. It should be close, but I'd rather know for sure.

 

[ozmoid]

There are probably hundreds of posts detailing set-up (both simply and with great intricacy) if you hit the search and read a while - but to basically get going without a gauge:

move the counterweight until the arm balances level, unsupported. Hold the counterweight still - it should have a ring on one end that will rotate fairly freely, and have numbers and slashes on it... holding the weight itself still, roll that around until it reads "0". Now rotate the entire weight toward the pivot until the slash for your tracking weight lines up with the registration mark (where you set the ring to 0), and you're done.

I have a scale, it is more for peace of mind than anything as my current TT is pretty accurate. Not all of them have been... and some tables (like early AR's) don't have markings! But these instructions will get you close enough to get started...

 

[Rocker8822]

How does the Shure gauge compare to the little scales that are all over ebay? Is one better or more accurate? Are they even for the same purpose?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Model-53-Digita...VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247

 

[Nat]

One disadvantage of the digital scales I've seen is their thickness and general bulk. Ideally you would measure tracking force at the height of the record since measuring it higher or lower means that the tracking force is different than it will be at the actual operating height. Its difficult to get some scales close enough to the path of the arm without bumping into the platter or arm rest, or controls. The Shure has a low enough profile that you can just place it on the platter and be pretty close to correct height.