ClearAudio Weight watcher touch

A few tenths of a gram are enough to separate a cartridge that tracks cleanly from one that skips during demanding passages or wears out the record prematurely. A tonearm’s graduated counterweight gives only an approximate indication of this tracking force. This small scale, made in Germany by Clearaudio, sits on the platter, supports the stylus and displays the value to a hundredth of a gram.

A reading accurate to a hundredth of a gram

Tracking force is the vertical pressure the stylus exerts on the groove. Cartridge manufacturers specify it as a target value with a tolerance, for example 2.2 g plus or minus 0.3 g. Too low, and the stylus loses contact during strong modulations, distortion increases and bouncing damages the groove walls. Too high, and it accelerates stylus wear and strains the cantilever suspension, the small shaft that holds the stylus.

The Weight Watcher touch measures from 0 to 100 g with a tolerance of ±0.01 g. This precision places the setting at an exact point within the recommended range rather than at “about two grams”, and makes measurements repeatable from one session to the next, which matters as much as the absolute value when fine-tuning a setting by ear. The display switches between four units: gram, ounce, carat and grain. The gram remains the reference in hi-fi.

A flat housing with no buttons to press

With a footprint of 89 × 75.5 mm, a thickness of 13.5 mm and a weight of 64 g, the scale fits on any platter beside the central spindle. Its low height keeps the tonearm close to its playback position during weighing. The name “touch” refers to the controls: ON/OFF and MODE are touch-sensitive areas operated with a light touch, with no mechanical button to press. This avoids moving or tipping the instrument when reading the value.

The top is divided into two areas. A red marker, centred on a red dot, supports the stylus. The area bearing the Clearaudio logo is used for calibration and must not be touched during a measurement. Power comes from two CR2032 button cells housed in a compartment on the back, and the device switches off automatically after three minutes without use. No cable therefore trails across the turntable during adjustment.

Measuring tracking force step by step

Before first use, remove the insulating tab from the battery compartment. With the turntable motor stopped, place the scale flat on the platter: its accuracy depends on being level, and a spirit level helps check this. When switched on, all the display segments light up for about three seconds before returning to zero.

Next, remove the stylus guard and lower the tonearm using the cueing lever so that the stylus rests on the red dot. The cartridge body must never touch the scale, as this would give a false reading. Then raise the tonearm, turn the counterweight, lower it again and reread until the target value is reached. On a height-adjustable tonearm, it is best to reweigh after each height change.

Calibration you can check at home

The scale comes with a 100 g calibration weight. Holding MODE for about three seconds displays “CAL” followed by the expected weight. Centre the weight on the logo area, wait three seconds and lightly touch ON/OFF: the screen displays “PASS” and calibration is complete. This check can be repeated at any time, without returning the unit to a workshop or needing any additional accessories.

The sensor has physical limits. Above 100 g, the screen displays “O-LD” and the load must be removed immediately, as overloading can permanently damage the instrument and void the warranty. A cartridge applies only a few grams at the measuring point. The risk is more likely to come from finger pressure or an object placed there by mistake.

Its place among Clearaudio tools

This is the scale listed among the setup tools in the manuals for the Clearaudio Clarify, Verify, Tracer and Unify tonearms, as well as those for the TT3 tangential turntable and several of the brand’s cartridges. It is also included, together with its 100 g weight, in the Professional Analogue Toolkit case. Its use is not limited to Clearaudio products, however: it measures the tracking force of any cartridge, whether moving magnet or moving coil.

Below it in the range, the Smart Stylus Gauge is a printed card requiring no battery that estimates tracking force from cantilever deflection, between 1.5 and 3.5 g. It is suitable for an initial setting, not for fine adjustment. The previous Weight Watcher ran on AAA batteries, measured from 0 to 20 g and had a stated tolerance of ±0.05 g. The touch version increases the range fivefold and reduces the permitted deviation by a factor of five.

Technical Specifications

General Specifications

• Maximum capacity: 5 kg
• Precision: 1 g
• Units of measurement: g, kg, lb, oz
• Backlit liquid crystal display (LCD)
• Tare function
• Automatic shut-off after 2 minutes of inactivity

Power Supply

• 2 AAA batteries (included)
• Low battery indicator

Physical Characteristics

• Dimensions: 23 × 16 × 2 cm
• Tempered glass platform
• Touch surface
• Weight: 450 g

Features

• Automatic unit conversion
• High-precision sensors
• Overload protection
• Memory of the last unit used

Operating Conditions

• Operating temperature: 10 °C to 40 °C
• Maximum humidity: 85%
• Indoor use only