M
EASURE IT E - electr. tonearm weight scale - Project

Turntable accessories - Tonearm scales

A few grams decide everything: the contact force with which the needle runs in the groove is one of the most critical parameters on a record player. Too much pressure and the groove edges are literally ground off - irreversibly, inaudibly the first time, devastatingly over time. Too little, and the needle loses contact with the groove, distorts, jumps, scrapes uncontrollably. The tonearm scale on the counterweight? It is a rough guide, nothing more. The Pro-Ject Measure it E delivers the truth: in 0.002 gram increments, reproducible and immediately readable.

Developed by Pro-Ject Audio Systems - the Austrian manufacturer that has been one of the benchmarks of analog playback for decades - the Measure it E is not a no-name jewelry scale with a phono label. It has been specifically designed for use on the turntable: a compact layout, a defined black measuring point on which the needle tip rests exactly at the height of the record surface - because only there does the measurement result correspond to the real conditions during playback. One-button calibration with the enclosed 5 g reference weight and the scale is ready for use.

The scale on the tonearm counterweight is a first approximation - nothing more. Even a deviation of 0.3 to 0.5 g from the manufacturer's recommendation can produce measurable differences in sound: if the contact force is too low, the stylus loses secure contact with the groove edge, distortions occur particularly in dynamic passages, and in extreme cases the stylus jumps. If the force is too high, on the other hand, the vinyl is mechanically overstressed - high-frequency details are literally ground off and the sound appears compressed and compressed. Valuable or historical first pressings can be permanently damaged in just a few hours if the pressure is permanently too high.

The Measure it E makes this mistake avoidable: The 4-digit LCD display shows the tracking force in 0.002 g increments - precise enough to safely adjust even demanding MC cartridges with narrow tolerance windows. Professionals also recommend checking the tracking force every six months: Counterweights can become slightly misaligned over time, and vibrations and shocks do the rest. With the Measure it E, this is a matter of two minutes.

The scale is placed directly on the turntable - the measuring platform is therefore exactly at the height of the record surface, which is crucial for correct measurement. Scales that are measured sideways on a table do not correctly record the actual tracking force in the actual playback position: The tonearm works on a lever whose geometry depends on the VTA and the actual height. Pro-Ject has solved this correctly.

Calibration is carried out using the tare button: set the zero position, place the enclosed 5 g reference weight on the tonearm, check the display - done. Then remove the stylus protection, move the tonearm over the measuring platform and carefully lower it to the black measuring point. The display immediately shows the current tracking weight value. Thanks to the 30-second automatic switch-off function, the LR43 button cells included in the set will last a long time, even if used occasionally.

A practical bonus: The Measure it E supports four units of measurement - gram, ounce, pennyweight and carat. For everyday use, grams is the relevant unit; the other modes are based on its function as a precision scale and open up universal application possibilities if required.

The Measure it E is the logical choice for anyone who operates a turntable with an interchangeable cartridge - from a solid entry-level device to a sophisticated high-end system with an MC system. Anyone who regularly changes cartridges or wants to actively protect their collection cannot do without a reliable measuring tool. Cheap no-name scales from the net may look similar - but in terms of measurement repeatability, workmanship and reliability of calibration, they are worlds apart from a tool from a renowned analog specialist.

If you want to go one step further, the Pro-Ject Measure it DS is the logical next step: factory-calibrated, with a non-magnetic weighing surface specially designed for MC systems and can be used regardless of cartridge shape and weight. The Measure it E is the accessible, compact precision tool - the right introduction to serious tonearm adjustment.