Pickup scales

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Pickup scales with the pickup / needle on top

A pickup scale or tonearm scale for short is a device that can be used to measure the contact force of a pickup on a record .

It is used to set the tracking force or the weight of a pickup in grams (unit symbol g). The tracking force is sometimes given in the unit millinewtons (mN). The manufacturers of pickup systems give a recommended range of tracking force.

Determine the required tracking force

The typical tracking force of a moving magnet (MM) or moving coil (MC) cartridge is between 1.5 g and 3.0 g. Each manufacturer provides information on the optimal tracking force. A special form of MC pickups are SPU (Stereo Pick Up) pickups, also known as "sound boxes". A slightly higher tracking force is specified for SPU pickups (e.g. 2.5 - 3.6 g).

Types of scales

  • Mechanical beam scales for determining the tracking force
  • Electronic or digital scales (generally the easiest to use)
  • Spring balances with a correspondingly precise measuring range in grams (alternative solution, requires its own measuring setup).

Measurement setup

For an exact measurement, the tip of the needle must be measured at the height at which the record is normally located during playback. The scale is placed on the turntable and the tonearm with the pickup is slowly lowered to the point provided for it until the pickup needle rests on the scales. Make sure that the measurement setup is stable so as not to damage the pickup needle.

practice

  • The material of the scale must not be magnetic. Otherwise the magnet of the pickup will react with the scales and thus falsify the measurement result.
  • When switching on an electrical or digital scale, the zero position should be automatically calibrated.
  • The accuracy of the measured values ​​can be checked with small reference weights.
  • Special test and measuring records help in a purely acoustic way to check the set tracking force.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ By Rol, KraftIn PhonoTests on July 22nd, 20167 minutes reading time: Test Ortofon SPU A95 / TA-210 MC cartridge / tonearm. In: FIDELITY online. July 22, 2016, accessed on April 13, 2020 (German).
  2. ↑ By Claus Volke In PhonoTests on September 24, 2017 3 minutes reading time: Ortofon SPU # 1 E MC pickup. In: FIDELITY online. September 24, 2017, accessed on April 13, 2020 (German).
  3. ↑ Electronic or mechanical? Tonearm scales in the test - Vinyl-Fans.de. Retrieved April 13, 2020 .
  4. ↑ Hearing test and reference LP. Retrieved April 19, 2020 .