Tracking issue with dynavector 20XL

Try this: toss the HFN record into a corner and play the most dynamic record you own with antiskating set to zero. Reduce VTF in tiny increments until the cartridge starts to mistrack (buzz) on the R channel. Now add just enough antiskate to eliminate the buzzing and bump VTF back up by a couple hundredths of a gram - no more. Play your favorite records. I'll wager you'll be surprised by the sonic improvement.

You know Doug, it seemed to me that going through all the intricate details oF VTF, VTA & then leaving the anti-skating to the band on the HFNRR records was missing something. Now that I'm into setting up my system after having it in storage for almost two years things are being looked fresh. Now that Kevin has come up with the prototypr RCA & DIN monting plates for ther 1200 I'm REALLY thinking how to extract the most out of the Creature.

When I'm ready I'll give your method a careful try. My only question is, will this work equally well when using a tonearm fluid damper?

There is a difference between knowing the path & walking the path. Where's HiFi Tommy?

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Psychicanimal,
Glad to hear the Creature is about to revive. Will there be a movie? ;-)

Not a movie, but a medieval saga!

Hey, the Creature's coming along...Kevin's just finished prototypes for tonearm rewiring terminals, a back mounted RCA & bottom plate for DIN connectors. Cardas tonearm wire will be standard in the mod.

Interesting question about the fluid damper. The TriPlanar's fluid damper looks very similar and operates on the same principle. However, while I know many TriPlanar owners I don't know a single one who actually uses the fluid damping. Everyone tries it of course, but its effects with every cartridge I've heard or heard about are entirely detrimental.

If the fluid damping gives you a net sonic gain that tells us our two arms are very different in the way they handle resonances. On my arm the fluid damping muffles microdynamics, harmonics, "air" and leading edge attacks. Those are what I listen for when fine tuning antiskate and VTF, so fluid damping WOULD make it harder to hear. On your arm, who knows? All you can do is try it.

As usual, I appreciate your valuable input. The situation with the 1200's tonearm is that is a cheaper version of the titanium EPA tonearm. We end up with a medium mass tonearm with ultra low friction bearings running loose. The 1200's damper actually improves microdynamics and low level decay retrieval. Kevin has stated many times that anti-skating is still needed and that the damper is not a substitute.

Here's Zaikesman's review of the damper in case you would like to read it:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/frr.pl?raccs&1033259530&read&3&4&

From what you tell me it seems your tonearm's damper wouid be to use lower mass, higher compliance cartridges. I doubt people making such a quality arm would throw a damper just for kicks. Also, how much damping fluid in the trough is up to the user.

I'll get it dialed in...but now I'm unemployed and I need to make a rack to place that heavy Densen air suspension platform & granite slab.

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