Wayne, The damage caused by setting tracking force too lightly is exponentially greater than setting it at the top of the range. Even if you can't hear audible mis-tracking it may still occur and you can't tell without a scope. So I try to err on the heavy side. Studies I have read claim that the extra force really has very little effect compared to the horrific damage done by mis-tracking. You can hear this sometimes on used records that have been tracked to lightly, it destroys vocals. I track my Denon and Empire at 2.5 grams and after many playings cannot hear differences between my records and different copies of the same recording played on other systems. The Shure people did a study on this years ago using high powered microscopes to visualise grooves before and after repeated playings at different force levels. Even though they build carts. that are renowned for using low tracking force they still suggest you set at the highest level of their recommendations. I know you are aware of this but some may not be and consequently set their tracking force too lightly. The electron microsope photos show the needle clattering in the groove and actually peeling sections of high frequency modulations right off the groove, even without audible mis-tracking.
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