Recently, I've seen several references to extremely high tracking force
recommendations for the Dynavector XV-1s cartridge - forces as high as 2.5
to 2.6 grams which is considerably above the 1.8 to 2.2 grams specified by
the manufacturer.
Comments made on various audio forums also referred to several reviewers
recommending that the XV-1s be set up in this manner. My experiences with
the XV-1s is not in agreement with these observations. My results show the
low side of the recommended range to work with the two samples I have been
running in - even during the early stages of break-in when the cartridge's
suspension is the least compliant.
Even more relevant than any absolute number is the fact that high resolution
cartridges such as the XV-1s as well as the ZYX Airy-3 and Universe are
sensitive to changes of .05 gram tracking force.
My most recent demonstration of this was 10 days ago, for Lynn Olson. I
showed to his slack-jawed amazement, the effect of .05 gram change to a
Dynavector XV-1s on a Triplanar tonearm. Earlier that evening, we were
running an XV-1s at 1.92 grams on a Schröder Reference tonearm (ebony arm
wand - 18 gram effective mass). We moved a second sample of an XV-1s onto a
Triplanar and set it to the same 1.92 gram tracking force.
The setup sounded a bit sluggish - as if the turntable was running slowly. I
verified that the table was running on speed. The effect was that of Ricki
Lee Jones' band (on her self-titled first album) sounding as if they had
endured an all-night drive through Wyoming in a mid-winter blizzard - with
their white-knuckled bass player at the wheel. If you've ever driven
through a Wyoming blizzard, you know how spent you feel the next day.
I reduced the force to 1.87, and voila! The band sounded well rested and on
tempo!
Certainly, the .05 gram difference between the two samples is easily
accounted for by cartridge break-in time as well as minor sample to sample
variation. The cartridges did not have the same number of hours on them.
The relevant point is that a single sample was sensitive to a .05 gram
change.
People tend to think of tracking force in terms of mistracking, or in
extreme instances from the perspective of maintaining the windings in the
linear area of the cartridge's magnetic field. You never hear mention of
under/over damping of this resonant system.
The first observation you'll correctly make is that a subtle change in
tracking force affects the VTA/SRA as you load/unload the cartridge's
suspension. In the course of our experimetation, we adjusted the VTA/SRA
both up and down - well beyond any change that such a small tracking force
adjustment would have on the angle of the cantilever. Both the Schröder
Reference and the Triplanar have easily repeatable VTA/SRA adjustments. The
effect you'll observe is different in character than the result of a VTA/SRA
change.
The above anecdote is but one reason I tend to read most comments made by
audio reviewers with great amusement. I don't want to sound dismissive, but
I can count on the fingers of one hand, references I've read in an analog
review which consider subtleties in setup like this.
You've no doubt seen quite a few electronic stylus force gauges for sale as
of late.- gauges accurate to within .01 gram. One thing to bear in mind is
that you need to measure tracking force at record level.
Depending on the tonearm, you can measure as much as a .3 gram difference
between measuring on the scale's weighing surface and at record level. With
the Schröders, the difference will be on the order of .3 grams. With other
arms the difference will be quite a bit less.
This variation among brands has nothing to do with the absolute "goodness"
of one arm over the other - we are after all tracking at record level and
not 3/4" above the record. There is an argument for tracking force
increasing as a tonearm rides the downhill side of a warp
On a related note, every Shure gauge I've cross validated measures about .3
grams optimistic - with a 2.5 gram reading being in fact be closer to 2.2
grams. If have a Shure gauge, you can work around this error to some extent.
Frank Schröder clued me in to this trick. Position the Shure gauge so that
the 2 outer pads at its base overhang the record platter. This will lower
the scale slightly. Depending on your tonearm, you may not be able to cue
your stylus down, but if you can, you'll get closer to an accurate reading.
The scale will be slightly tilted, so take this into account as you line
the pointer up in the mirrored area.
Repeatability and precision will still be an issue for you, and for this you
will need a more sensitive scale, but at least you can get closer to the
real number with this trick.
