akross Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 Is there a way for me to test if the tonearm is pressing too hard, short of seeing the vinyl being shredded as it rotates? Maybe a better question is, what is the best way to set the weight on a tonearm? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xfedaykinx Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 just heavy enough that it doesnt skip at the slightest sign of dust or a scratch on the record. also try to listen with headphones so you can hear that its making good contact, if that makes any sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vinylme Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 Stop the platter. Install the cartridge. Twist the counterweight as far back as possible. The tone arm should be pointing up. Slowly twist the counterweight forward until the tone arm/cartridge barely floats above the record. (Think of the balance scale from science class.) Hold the counterweight still and twist the dial to zero. The tone arm now has "zero" weight. Slowly twist the counterweight inward until the dial indicates your desired tracking force. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sherlock Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 i think he wants to know what exactly that desired tracking force is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xfedaykinx Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 i had always understood that you start with the tracking force set to zero then, move in the counterweight until the tone arm lies parallel to the platter. then, adjust the downward pressure dial until the needle rests comfortably on the vinyl [ie. mine is set to 1.5] and the anti-skating [outward force] should match the downward pressure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akross Posted May 15, 2008 Author Share Posted May 15, 2008 i think he wants to know what exactly that desired tracking force is. While a generally accepted value would be nice (the table was already set to 1.5, but the anti-skating is at 0) I am curious to learn how to do these things as I am stupid in the ways of good tables. Would matching the anti-skating to the tracking force value help stop it skipping each time someone walks by? I know something is going right with it, because it plays through the loop-skip on Goddamnit that my Sony table gets stuck in (no adjustable weight on that one...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flicker Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 http://www.theturntablefactory.com/balance.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ps Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 you need a force gauge.... I have this one http://www.needledoctor.com/Shure-SFG-2-Stylus-Force-Gauge?sc=2&category=423 it works great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxmartinxx Posted May 15, 2008 Share Posted May 15, 2008 I have the Shure gage, too. Good times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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