Guys, the reason why skating forces are generated is that with an offset angle tonearm, there are two vectors involved. One is the drag of the LP groove pulling the cartridge stylus forward, and extends from the tonearm pivot through the cartridge stylus. The second vector is caused by the drag of the LP groove pulling the stylus forward but this time at the offset angle. When you sum these two vectors together (think back to high-school math), you generate a third vector which pulls the cartridge inwards, and it is this third vector that we refer to as the "skating force". The strength of this vector will depend directly on the drag from the LP groove and the angle of the offset.
So as long as you have a tonearm with an offset angle, skating forces will be generated. In other words, if you want to eliminate the skating forces (and the need to apply anti-skating, you have to get rid of the offset angle. Even if the stylus is aligned as well as possible within the geometry of the tonearm, skating forces will still be generated. No exceptions.
How the anti-skating compensation is accomplished obviously depends on the individual tonearm designer, and how well he understands his stuff. Depending on how competently their anti-skating mechanism works (or how well they can get it adjusted), some listeners may therefore prefer to avoid anti-skating. But please don't subsequently jump to the conclusion that a preference for no anti-skating with a particular tonearm means that it doesn't generate skating forces, or have a need to cancel such via an anti-skating mechanism. Because if the tonearm has an offset angle, skating forces will be generated. Again, no exceptions.
regards and hth, jonathan carr
So as long as you have a tonearm with an offset angle, skating forces will be generated. In other words, if you want to eliminate the skating forces (and the need to apply anti-skating, you have to get rid of the offset angle. Even if the stylus is aligned as well as possible within the geometry of the tonearm, skating forces will still be generated. No exceptions.
How the anti-skating compensation is accomplished obviously depends on the individual tonearm designer, and how well he understands his stuff. Depending on how competently their anti-skating mechanism works (or how well they can get it adjusted), some listeners may therefore prefer to avoid anti-skating. But please don't subsequently jump to the conclusion that a preference for no anti-skating with a particular tonearm means that it doesn't generate skating forces, or have a need to cancel such via an anti-skating mechanism. Because if the tonearm has an offset angle, skating forces will be generated. Again, no exceptions.
regards and hth, jonathan carr