The reason the tracking force is essential for your music collection is the weight on your records.
Tracking force to damage vinyl.
Note that the at3600l moving magnet s stylus has a recommended tracking force between 2 5 to 3 5 grams.
If you apply too much tracking force you will hear distortion a reduction in detail and booming bass.
Slamming into them so to speak.
This is why we need to optimise the force for the best sound quality and to protect your vinyl.
Alexandrovieh showed how a shibata tipped line contact stylus is capable of creating a unique type of damage if the tip itself is damaged.
If the cartridge stylus manufacturer recommends a tracking force range from 2 grams to 5 grams try setting it around 2 5 or 3 grams and do a listening test.
Remember setting the tracking force too high will wear out your vinyl faster.
That may result in wearing down your records or damaging the records from the excess drag.
Too little tracking force is a formula for severe vinyl damage as this will lead to severe mistracking.
Yes hi force wears the record more rapidly but too low will damage thegrooves in a profound way.
Using the same technique mr.
If the weight of the stylus on the record is too light you have a chance that the force from the grooves will throw the cartridge up and the needle will skate across the record.
How to adjust tracking force.
The stylus tracking force control will indicate the weight applied to the vinyl groove.
You re likely to hear more distortion and in some cases it can damage the record.
Too much tracking force is especially risky while using a worn stylus which can create unnatural stylus tip edges and scour the surface of the groove.
Ive read that the stylus presses on the vinyl at about 40k psi.
When you set the tracking force too high it puts extra weight on your records.
Too much tracking force could do damage to records if the suspension is bottoming out on the loud passages.
You possibly did a little damage here and there to some records but maybe not.
This will lead to the music skipping and potentially scratching the vinyl.
Physical vinyl ploughing damage is a risk from excessive tracking forces.
3 grams is not a gross amount.