Limitations of the HFNRR bias test

Vinyl Asylum

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I wondered if anyone has experienced that very large adjustements on the third of the four bias tracks on the Hi-Fi News test LP gives no distortion; that is, the vertical tracking force is evidently so high that the test has stopped working (the tones are not music, after all). I would hardly think that upping the tracking force eliminates the need for setting bias (although some people reportedly believed that in the olden days).
The recommended range of my cartridge is 1.8-2.2 g (relatively high, I guess), and when I tried out the upper part of the range, this happened. Maybe it could be that other factors, like the stylus rake angle, come into play, too, for exactly at what force this happens.
I thought that this could be a source of error for some (even) less experienced users, in that they think they sail through the three first tracks, and then the noisy fourth seems to be nothing to do about, so bias is good.
It's not a complaint. In fact, on a Linn FAQ I saw, this phenomenon was claimed to be normal (it was written with reference to test records in general), and the suggestion was to lower the tracking force, and then, if desired, raise the tracking and anti-skating forces in due proportions.

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Topic - Limitations of the HFNRR bias test - Helge Gundersen 02:26:16 09/29/00 (4)

Re: Limitations of the HFNRR bias test - Klaus 06:27:29 09/29/00 (3)

Re: Limitations of the HFNRR bias test - Helge Gundersen 09:09:59 09/29/00 (0)

Re: Limitations of the HFNRR bias test - Rob Doorack 07:20:27 09/29/00 (0)

Re: Limitations of the HFNRR bias test - JM BOURDEREAU 06:49:41 09/29/00 (0)

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