Is it all its cracked up to be?

[CJSF]

I bought these DIB, which were recommended by Drummerman, great little scales.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/0-01g-x-200g-Digital-Pocket-Jewelry-Scale-Mini-Electronic-LCD-Gram-Scales-New-UK-/400624898880?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item5d471ad340

I bought myself some of these scales, and as I had a bit of time to myself this morning thought I'd have a tinker with the tracking weight ( you'd be proud CJ! ).

Started from scratch, set the dial on the RB300 to zero and carefully using the counterweight got the stylus floating to a point no more than 1mm above the LP.

The recommended weight for the 2M Blue is 1.8gm so re-set the dial on the RB300 to a point just over halfway between 1.5 - 2.0. Set the anti-skate to about 1 so job done. OK so far. Then I placed the digital scales underneath to double check the weight, and to my surprise the weight was reading 2.10gm, a difference of 0.30gms! When it comes to tracking weight that seems a big disparity. I changed the dial on the RB300 down to 1.5gm and re-checked with the digital scales, bang on 1.8gms. So the same difference of 0.3gm.

I must presume that the digital scales are the correct reading, so is it normal that the RB300 measurements can be so far out?

.

I know I bang on a bit DIB, but what you have discovered is why. Pay all that money for a tone arm that it is so far out on its down force scale, you dont stand a chance of getting a decent sound with such poor accuracy. By the way, when I was using a Rega arm, mine was about that much out.

Dont be satisfied with 1.8g, now you have an accurate reference, you can move a couple of points either way, see how you like the sound? I seem to remember my 2M Blue became rather airey as it got lighter towards 1.5g . . . 1.9-1.8 was about right for me.

Why try different down forces . . . it gives an incite in to how the system sounds for future reference, and you may prefer a slightly different setting, dont know till you try? :?

CJSF