Tracking Force Suggestions for Stanton 500.v3 Cartridge?, DJ cart with range of 2 - 5 grams. Using for hi-fi play Options

[Knowzy]

Supposing I've got a brand new Stanton T.92 USB turntable and I'm getting ready to produce some samples.

It comes with a pre-mounted (and presumably pre-aligned) Stanton 500.v3 cartridge. As a DJ cartridge, it has a wide range- 2 to 5 grams- and no specific recommendation within.

The tonearm is balanced and the counterweight dial zeroed. What tracking force do you think I should set?

Normally the consensus is to set the tracking force near the top of the range and I'm inclined to use 4.5 grams.

However, as a DJ cartridge, the top of the range is designed to ensure stability amidst violent scratching motions, which I won't be doing. Maybe 4.5 is overkill for trackability.

So, I'm throwing the question open to HA to see if we can't come to an agreement before I began sampling.

Balanced and Awaiting a Tracking Force Figure

This post has been edited by Knowzy: Jul 8 2010, 07:09

[botface]

Don't you have a test record? If not I'd set it at around 3 grams and play something with sudden loud peaks. That should make it easier to spot any mistracking. Then increase if necessary. Being a spherical stylus I wouldn't go below 3 grams. I'm not saying that out of any special knowledge just that the Shure cartridge in the M75 series that had a spherical stylus had a recommended tracking weight of 3 grams so I doubt that the Stanton would be able to do any better

[Arnold B. Kruege...]

Don't you have a test record? If not I'd set it at around 3 grams and play something with sudden loud peaks.

Good basic advice - try some demaning tracks from a test record, and then maybe add a half a gram for some safety margin.

Being a spherical stylus I wouldn't go below 3 grams.

I don't know about that. Back in the day when sperical styli were all we had, tracking under 2 grams was pretty common. Trackability is about the dynamics of the cartrdige which are dominated by other parts of the stylus assembly than the diamond tip. Elliptical stylii tend to have smaller contact areas and so they need lighter tracking for equal levels of record wear.

I'm not saying that out of any special knowledge just that the Shure cartridge in the M75 series that had a spherical stylus had a recommended tracking weight of 3 grams so I doubt that the Stanton would be able to do any better

IME Shure has been the king of tracking in any part of the cartrdige market.

[Knowzy]

Don't you have a test record? If not I'd set it at around 3 grams and play something with sudden loud peaks.

Good basic advice - try some demaning tracks from a test record, and then maybe add a half a gram for some safety margin.

Yes, I like this idea.

I use HFN002 and The Ultimate Analogue Test LP in testing each turntable. I bought new copies for this round of testing.

HFN002 has a set of four tracks with a 300Hz test tone at increasing levels: +12dB, +14dB, +16dB and +18dB. The latter is referred to as the "Torture Track."

What do you think of this plan:

• Use the +16dB track
• Start with 2.5 grams
• Each time I detect a mistrack, I'll add .25 grams
• Once it tracks succesfully, I'll add .5 grams, as Arnold suggests

[botface]

Aren't those tracks for setting bias? I have HFN001 and the tracking tests are all on side 2 and are at +15dB. Still, I don't see why you couldn't use the test tracks you're referring to for ascertaining a suitable tracking weight. I'd start with the lowest level cut and with a weight at the high end, say 4 grams. Reason being that once you've caused mistracking you've damaged the record so it's best to start with something that should be safe and go from there. My approach would be :
1) Use the +12dB track at 4 grams
2). If that's OK try the +14dB track at 4 grams.
3) If that's OK try the +16dB track at 4 grams
4) If that's OK repeat the tests at 3.5 grams
and so on. If at any stage you get mistracking add .5 grams and start again from that point. Once I was happy I'd double check by using the tracks on side 2 (assuming HFN002 is the same as HFN001)

I actually still use HFS75 for this purpose. You might be interested to know that it's sleeve notes say that +14dB "represents a typical hi-fi standard, achieved within the range of most high quality cartridges". So, I wouldn't worry too much if +16dB proved unachievable

This post has been edited by db1989: Sep 20 2011, 21:35

Reason for edit: deleting pointless fullquote of prior post

[Knowzy]

Aren't those tracks for setting bias? I have HFN001 and the tracking tests are all on side 2 and are at +15dB.

Gee, using the tracks designed for the task at hand makes a little too much sense.

I'd start with...a weight at the high end, say 4 grams. Reason being that once you've caused mistracking you've damaged the record so it's best to start with something that should be safe and go from there.

More sound advice.

Here's my revised plan:

• Use the middle "tracking ability" cut on side 2
• Start at 4 grams of VTF
• Work my way down .25 grams at a time until I get a mistrack, then...
• Bump it up .5 grams and commence sampling

Sound good?