Anti-skate

Thanks Sirspeedy for another great description of your listening experience. I've heard a few linear trackers myself, and long ago, I owned a Mapenoll linear tracker. That table/arm was an operational nightmare, but it did sound good the few moments that I got it to work.

Mmakshak, I think it would be a good idea, as you suggest, to optimize antiskating for the inner grooves where cartridges are particularly challenged when it comes to tracking the groove. I have done that myself by ear. My settings by ear have always been MUCH less antiskating than recommended by the manufacturer of the arm.

Btw Larryi,I did not mention that even in my Phantom,and previous 2.2 the VTA effects were obvious at infinite adjustment levels.I guess I had my rig maxxed out -:)

But,like you I shoot for a good averaging out,because I don't need to burn too many calories getting up/down/up.

Now,I've "really" got to get up,because I can finally eat again!!The Holiday Fasting "thing".See ya -:)

Best

Ok fella's this is alot of info for a guy like me. I did not think there was so much on the subject. I am off to the theater to see what taking the A S right out and listen for awhile. Then I will slowly work its way in until I find the right balance. Thanks, for taking the time to explain !!!!

Ghost_rider, I would like to caution you about going to far afield here, else you get lost. You can if you like, but many of these people have(or have heard)very sophisticated systems. If you get too confused, I would suggest you go with manufacturers advice(adding any experiences listed, or reviews to the mix), and maybe try lowering it very, very slightly and see if it improves the whole record. Since analog is so enjoyable, there is no rush until you actually hear what anti-skate does. I believe if records improve, you had too much anti-skate. I'de like to report a little on my VTF findings here. I believe that(since I started with too much VTF) as I lowered it, atmoshphere appeared, but the main thing VTF does has to do with getting the bass correct. BTW Ghost_rider(and this has nothing to do the VTF comment),that Eichmann Express interconnect's strong point is the bass, I believe(I own one.).

I just started really reading some of the responses here. Wow! I think these guys are giving some incredible insights on anti-skate(including that rotating headshell). Audiofeil and Larryi said something that got me thinking(and since my brain's CAT scan probably looks similar to that of a long-time methamphetimine user), and I have questions(this way I don't have to think). Did you guys resolve the compression making the inner grooves sound worse and the inner grooves should sound better due to the slower speed issue? How does the RIAA playback curve fit in this, or does it fit at all? I'm only guessing, but I would suspect compression on the inner grooves is used over expansion of the outer grooves.

I guess I forgot about the heroin effect.

>>I guess I forgot about the heroin effect.<<

Memory lapse.

A direct result of too much dope smoking.

Ghost_rider, I didn't mean the rest of your system isn't pretty darn good; I just meant that your analog looks like it is just starting(based on your "System"). For some reason the following idea sticks in my head. I use a Mana Sound Table for my Linn Sondek, and while I think it's better than Mapleshade's maple board and rubber-cork-rubber footers, I feel that Mapleshade makes a pretty darn good turntable platform.

Mmakshak I just got back from a vacation so have not followed the last bit of threads. I am still working on the process of listening and comparing. I have not had much time since i was away. That being said, while on vacation I did find a choice record shop in the Okanogan valley with lots of used LP's from the 70's and 80's. needless to say tonight it will be all to much fun dialing it all in (or at least trying)

Due to my recent experiences with VTF, I've had to revise my thinking a bit. Now, this occurred when I was very close to the correct VTF and(I believe)the correct anti-skate for that VTF. My cartridge(nude Linn Arkiv)is also old, and it has not always been in my possession(i.e., it's worn). I was slowly lowering the VTF from above 2 grams to 2 grams or lower(I only have the Shure for checking this.). The cartridge mistracked, and the VTF was still above 2 grams. So I added just a bit of weight. I was listening to Simon and Garfunkle's "Collection", which started to sound magical, and because I thought it sounded better on the last cut, I subtracted a teeny-teeny bit of anti-skate-hoping that the whole record would sound better. The magic disappeared! I restored the anti-skate, and the magic reappeared. I guess the moral of the story is to use your ears. I still think to get close to the proper anti-skate, my formula is still valid. BTW, did we notice that most of anti-skate theories that varied(note: Sumiko recommends, and I'm sure others do too, that anti-skate should be about one-half of the stated value due to harder cantilever material.) were proposed by uni-pivot arm users?

I want to point out that when you get very close to the proper anti-skate(and probably VTA, VTF, etc.), you kind of have to throw rules out the window. For instance, I thought that on my Simon and Garfunkle, "The Complete Collection", that the last two songs sounded better than(especially)the first couple of songs. So applying my theory, I, infinitesimally,lowered my anti-skate. Now, the beginning songs sounded more like the later songs, and when I turned on the turntable, there was life in the songs immediately. Better, right? Something kept nagging me, and I,infinitesimally,increased my anti-skate. There, I got excited about the music again. My guess is that you shouldn't use things(i.e.,anti-skate)to compensate for other things(in my case, the sound at the beginning seemed to be pulled to one speaker, and, also, the aforementioned differences between the beginning and the end songs). I also think that my objection to the "description" of the sound of music has to do with how this can interfere with the actual enjoyment(excitement)of listening to music.