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noob TT setup question

I can't find an answer to this question in the archives - as I'm not quite sure what to search for - but sometimes when I drop my needle onto an LP (on the outer edge) it "jumps" into the first track. Like, it skips from right to left (looking from the front) without slowly/cleanly tracking onto the first groove.

Is this a setup issue? It doesn't happen all the time, and I've not noticed it occurring with any sort of pattern (like, only on 180 gram LPs or something like that).

The table is leveled, VTF is within the manufacturer's range, and I set azimuth with a Fozgometer. Initial cartridge setup was with a Mint protractor designed for my table/arm.

Thanks for the help!
jerico

Showing 1 response by dougdeacon

dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Occasional, sudden slides inward on sloped LP lead-in ramps is actually a sign of a good tonearm (i.e., one with very low friction bearings). My TriPlanar, which has some of the world's best bearings, does the same thing. IME cheaper tonearms with higher friction bearings actually resist this much better.

You gave us a clue in your original post when you said you "drop" the stylus onto an LP. No one who watches me cue would choose that verb. Do not just flip the cueing lever down and walk away. You must "carry" the stylus all the way into the lead-in groove. Keep control of the arm with the cueing lever until the stylus locks in. Only then should you let go. This extra caution is especially necessary when using a periphery clamp, where precise cueing is vital to avoid stylus damage.

BTW, make sure you biased the tonearm wire in the right direction. If you turned it the wrong way it would drag the arm inward, exacerbate this tendency and mess up tracking for the whole LP.

Do NOT use extra anti-skating (by wire twist or any other method) to prevent this. That is a mis-use of anti-skating and will result in very excessive amounts during actual play.

Practice makes perfect...
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