tracking ability definition

Do not confuse tracking error, which is the degree to which the stylus remains tangent to the groove as it traverses the record, with tracking ability, which is the ability of the stylus to maintain constant contact with both groove walls while playing highly modulated passages. The importance of this is two fold, if the cartridge loses contact with the groove wall, the sound will distort, but of more importance, when the stylus engages the groove wall once again, it can damage the soft vinyl and essentially take a divot out of the groove wall, much as a golfer takes a divot when swinging low upon tee off. This damage cannot be reversed. Interestingly, proper tracking ability in modern cartridges has more to do with the compatibility of the arm and cartridge, and correct alignment geometry, than in any specific tracking problems of the cartridge itself, Decca cartridges excepted.

Dear Viridian: +++++ " tracking ability in modern cartridges has more to do with the compatibility of the arm and cartridge, and correct alignment geometry, than in any specific tracking problems of the cartridge itself, " +++++

Your statement it is not exactly true, the cartridge itself is the first subject on the tracking ability issue.

Take any 5-6 modern cartridges, each one matched with the tonearm and make a test of tracking ability ( usually in a test record at 315 Hz ) and you will find that each one has different tracking ability: 70um, 80um, 100um, etc etc.

The tracking ability subject is a critical issue and the cartridge designers take care in extreme about.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Raul, my friend, I would agree with you as far as test records are concerned, but most of the modern cartridges that I have used in a sympathetic arm will track all modern, undamaged, records without tracking distortion, the Telarc 1812 excepted. I would certainly defer to your experience though, as you have tried far more cartridges and arms than I ever will. Or anyone else probably will as well!

Fadeawayman, click on Rauls system if you want to know why he is a true authority on all things analog and has a fantastic base of experience as well. It will be worth it.
Marty

those are GREAT explanations, thank you! I have learned a lot so far. Raul you said:
++IN two cartridges with similar performance I will choose the one with better tracking ability.++
i am having a hard time deciding between 2 cartridges, the trackmaster II AE and the pros40.. punchy bass is very important to me (for rock) and that is how the pros40 is described. however the trackmaster is described as having better tracking ability, and in your opinion tracking ability is paramount.

however, you also aim for accuracy (and probably acheive it to a high degree), which is a luxury i cannot afford.. i think at the level i am at budgetwise (poor music lover) it is all about deciding what KIND of distortion is acceptable (please let me know if you disagree). will it be 'punchy bass' or will it be 'emphasized midrange' or something else.

listening at home is a lot of rock, pop, electronic music and classical. in classical my favourite things to listen to are solo piano, cello, guitar and violin. not so much orchestral music however.

one knows what a piano sounds like, one knows what a cello sounds like. when they are distorted, it becomes obvious and ugly. an overdriven guitar amp or a drum machine on the other hand have no frame of reference and therefore do not require an accurate playback system as much as acoustic music. sometimes, in my experience, a distorted (i use this term loosely to describe any discrepancy between the recording and the playback) playback system will embellish or 'sweeten' a rock/pop recording (especially given that many rock/pop recordings are sub par, overcompressed etc, their aim is to sound good on car speakers and ipod headphones).

sorry i go off on a bit of a tangent here because i am thinking out loud in the context of choosing a cartridge/stylus that will be best for me playing all types of music, but wanting 'impact' with rock/pop.

raul i had a look at your system and oh my do i feel like a novice (which i am of course). i am also impressed with your commitment to attaining neutrality and accuracy through a 'less is more' approach.

its real hard making buying decisions without hearing...

Dear Marty: +++++ " but most of the modern cartridges that I have used in a sympathetic arm will track all modern, undamaged, records without tracking distortion " +++++

I agree. However this is true at low recording velocities. Where the tracking ability is really showing is on those tracks or part of a track where was recorded at higher velocity, maybe ( till today ) you never put serious attention on it but I can asure you that ( between some limits ) you can perceive changes in the sound reproduction between two cartridges because the tracking distortion, those changes usually are not evident but exist, usually like sound " colorations ".

This tracking ability is like a car on the road: any car can track very well almost any road at 60 mile/hour but tracking that same road at 100 mile/hour is different, maybe two differents cars could track but certainly there will be differences ( because the car suspension and tires type ) on how well each one do the tracking. You know what I mean?

The tracking ability on a cartridge is of great importance and many of us don't think about to often but for the cartridge designer is one of his more important targets. Remember, at the end, that the very hard/critical/delicate task of any cartridge is that: tracking a record, this ability ( at any recording velocity ) is of paramount importance for the quality sound reproduction.
The cartridge tracking ability has to handle not only the low or high velocities but the instant changes in velocity that was on the recording, like I say: very hard task!!!!.

Btw, thx for your kind words.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.