Tracking Force Gauges

That big ad on the Acoustic Sounds web page got me spooked so I went ahead and ordered one from Audio Note Singapore. SirSpeedy, seems like you're having pretty good results with yours. It is definitely better than the scale I have.

Dan,you owe me a cheap bottle of Chardonnay!

Admittedly, $100 isn't a lot of money to worry about for most of us, but why are audiophiles such suckers? For me it's the principle! Why would you want to spend more than this:

http://saveonscales.com/product_jennings_js50x_digital_pocket_scale.html

Or if you want to get really crazy, this:

http://saveonscales.com/product_jennings_digital_diamond_scale_10.html

The "stylus" gauges being marketed to audio people are just relabeled, doubly marked up diamond scales.

Oops I sent before done. To continue - it doesn't matter AT ALL if the scale is accurate on an absolute basis. All that matters is that its results are nearly identical over multiple passes (repeatable). Because ultimately, if you're going to set up a table really right, the VTF that you measure is only a starting point and later a reference point.

Every cartridge/tonearm/table combo has different characteristics (not to mention interplay between VTF and anti-skate settings), so the manufacturers' VTF recommendation is just a rough estimate which becomes immediately irrelevant. You'll ultimately adjust VTF up and down BY EAR until it SOUNDS AND TRACKS BEST. and then you'll re-measure with the scale to note the result ONLY so you have a reference for when you need to reset the VTF later - e.g., your cartridge suspension has softened up. But that's all - the scale by itself only serves as a somewhat random starting point even if it's accurate to a gazillionth of a gram.

(Nor does it matter, as has been speculated here, whether the arm is in it's exact vertical "playing" position. Do an experiment if you'd like - lift your scale up on top of an old Mariah Carey lp with a couple of quarters and watch how much the VTF changes. Not much - it's a simple vector calculation.)

SirSpeedy, will a gallon of MD 20-20 suffice? Or Boones Farm perhaps?

Opalchip, I have a guage very similar to the one's in your links. The difference here is the the scale we're talking about (assuming the claim is valid) has precision that is a magnitude greater than the range we care about. This extra precision means we are using the scale well within its limits. We know that absolute accuracy isn't as important as repeatability. It also, and most attractive to me, has the feature of weighing VTF very close to the surface height of a record on the platter. I could fabricate a jig as others have done but I'm not sure that it is worth my time to save a few bucks. Though I have no idea what it is, the shipping charge must be fairly hefty if it is coming from Singapore.