biodigitaljazz Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 I have had a Debut Carbon since March. Gone through two stylii. Never had a tracking force gauge, just free balanced the arm. I was reading the TDAGARIM thread and saw some pictures of a Debut Carbon user who had improperly balanced tonearm, and his cartridge was riding dangerously close to the record. He adjusted his tracking force and the cartridge lifted off the stylus more when tracking and it looked much better. My cartridge has always looked like the former. I'm wondering if I have been riding with an excessive tracking force that's damaged my stylus because whenever the stylus hits the grooves the cartridge continues to lower onto it like it has some give. Heres how it should look right? http://i.imgur.com/0GLeuQe.jpg Here's mine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajxd Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Buy a gauge. Balancing tells you nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biodigitaljazz Posted September 4, 2014 Author Share Posted September 4, 2014 Is there a chance that improper weight has wrecked the cartridge? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxmartinxx Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 It would take quite a bit of weight to compress the stylus, so it would have to be really really off and it could be the VTA, but I agree. Buy a tracking force gauge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biodigitaljazz Posted September 4, 2014 Author Share Posted September 4, 2014 I ordered a $20 gauge off Amazon that arrived today and it appears to be defective Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxmartinxx Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 I ordered a $20 gauge off Amazon that arrived today and it appears to be defective Why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biodigitaljazz Posted September 4, 2014 Author Share Posted September 4, 2014 Not turning on. Debating between just taking the $20 loss and buying a different one and trying to return it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxmartinxx Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Not turning on. Debating between just taking the $20 loss and buying a different one and trying to return it. Did you pull out the batteries and make sure they're in correctly and aren't covered with any plastic? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biodigitaljazz Posted September 4, 2014 Author Share Posted September 4, 2014 You're my hero! Working flawlessly. My balance was spot on and the gauge showed 1.76g. Yet the cartridge is riding so low. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxmartinxx Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Make sure the tone arm is relatively parallel to the platter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biodigitaljazz Posted September 4, 2014 Author Share Posted September 4, 2014 Very much so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxmartinxx Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Honestly, I think if you took a head-on shot similar to the one you linked, it would look roughly the same. I wouldn't sweat it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biodigitaljazz Posted September 4, 2014 Author Share Posted September 4, 2014 Yeah. It's so easy to be paranoid when things can be so fragile and delicate on these scales we work with. It just seems like it could be lifted way off the record more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antoniofhowe Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 My 2M Blue runs really low like that too, I'm running it at 2g... I read somewhere it's normal for Ortofon 2M cartridges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antoniofhowe Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 I just threw on my 2M Red out of curiosity and yea, it's the same as yours. I don't think you have anything to worry about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allenh Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 Does it sound ok? There will always be a bit of deflection of the cantilever when you lower the needle onto the record so if the scales say you are fine then you should be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.