Using Stylus Force Gauge on Pioneer PL-550 Question

[Mahgeetah]

I want to measure the VTF on my newly acquired PL-550, is there a way to manually lower the tonearm? The "down" setting is after the "on" setting on the switch at the moment I can't get it low enough to measure without turning it on. I was thinking I could put on a record and unplug the power chord as a work around but would prefer to not have to do that just to get a quick measurement.

Thanks!

 

[mkane]

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1181787/Pioneer-Pl-550.html

 

[JamVal]

You're not supposed to plug it in until after you've setup the tonearm for the correct tracking force. Not sure what you mean by you want to measure the tracking force. The tonearm is like a teeter totter with an adjustable weight on one end and the cartridge/stylus on the other. Depending on the cartridge it could weigh 4 to 4.5 grams for your turntable. What you want to do first is balance the tonearm horizontally using the adjustable counter weight. This is the 'zero' point. Then you want to turn the counter weight to the correct tracking force for the cartridge you have mounted. You're really not taking a measurement, you're balancing the tonearm, then applying the required tracking force Anyhow, here's the procedure from the PL550 user manual:


Do you have a cartridge mounted? If so what model? Do you know the tracking force for your cartridge? You need to know the tracking force for the cartridge to continue to the next step which is to simply turn the counter weight from zero to the correct tracking force.



You can get the full user manual here: https://www.vinylengine.com/library/pioneer/pl-550.shtml
It requires that you sign up for a free membership.