Audio Additives vs Acoustic Sounds Digital Scale


I have an Acoustic Sounds metal digital scale. It looks identical to the Audio Additives one. On my Acoustic Sounds scale, the cart magnet makes the platform and scale read negative numbers prior to lowering the cart onto the scale. I use the tare button to 'zero' the platform prior to lowering the cart.

The Audio Additives scale on the Music Direct website says the metal case is non-magnetic. Does this include the scale too, unlike the Acoustic Sounds scale?

Anyone who uses the Audio Additives scale, could you please let me know if its magnetic or not? In other words, does the scale require taring due to suspending the cart over the scale making it move from zero?

As a side, I have heard some say the taring in a magnetic situation is not needed and when you lower the cart onto the platform, it weighs the actual weight/force of the cart. This doesn't make sense to me as before the stylus touches the scale platform it should read zero in my mind and not, for example -0.051g.

Thanks in advance for any info.
philb7777
There isn't a need for an electronic scale... I have one, but the Shure is good enough. You get it in the ballpark and LISTEN. The results will tell you if its right or not.
Orftofon DS-3 is excellent.

I have had one for over 12 months.

Works very well and at the approx height of the lp?

It is cheaper to buy direct from Japan outside of the eBay rip off prices, but you need to then use a Japan forwarder service. EBay price is not as high as it was 12 months ago

Enjoy
Stringreen, , I agree with you with one exception (and provided that one's Shure balance is made from non-magnetic material... some aren't).

The exception is anyone who swaps out cartridges frequently. They may benefit from a scale that provides precise, repeatable results, as it allows rapid dialing in of the known, preferred VTF for a particular cartridge. Tweaking by ear is quicker if you start within .01g or so of the ideal.

Horses for courses, of course.
Doug, would you mind elaborating a bit on how to fabricate a DIY weighing step made of non-magnetic material. Any hints on suitable material and method for bending it would be helpful and very much appreciated. TIA!
Bill,
I used a plastic library card that was a bit thinner than a credit card. I cut off the magnetic strip just in case, and needed to make it more narrow anyway. I then bent it so that the weighing step was at the record's level. I then used blu-tack to attach the other half to the weighing surface of the scale. Voila.

Phil,
Why don't you place the stylus on the scale, and then turn the scale on? If the scale is calibrated correctly, once you turn it on, the reading will indicate the VTF only with a negative sign. I tried this way many times with my electronic scale that was also showing a negative reading as I lowered the cartridge, and the results were consistent.