If one performs needledrops at different settings on the same section of music you will hear subtle differences due to unequal pressures within the groove. Music will sound fractionally more natural and “unreproduced” using a more optimal setting.
”Old school” thinking among the establishment many years ago (which I do not subscribe to BTW) dictated that on a blank section of vinyl the stylus should tend outwards at a rate of 5-10mm/s. This probably corresponded to the amount required when tracking extreme high-amplitude “test bands” such as the HFN/RR.
Few believe nowadays that such settings are appropriate.
These days I subscribe to the Frank Schroeder(?) recommendation of adjusting so that the stylus tends fractionally inwards on blank vinyl. (I know “fractionally inwards” seems counter-intuitive but it does *sound right* in practice.)
If you feel that you are losing “air” and HF delicacy in the RH channel then you should reduce A/S until both channels sound “the same” within a reasonable window of definition.
This unfortunately entails ignoring A/S Test Bands altogether.
Of course, there is also the redoubtable Doug Deacon’s contention that the cantilever is “stressed” when too much A/S is applied and that this can affect the cartridge’s general balance and could distort the attitude of the cantilever. He maintained that A/S applied to the “non-business end” of the tonearm whilst the groove was trying to steer the stylus like a cow with a ring through its nose created conflicting forces which were ultimately unhelpful to the mechanics of the cartridge.
His description of this scenario was far more eloquent than mine it must be said.
Sound logic nevertheless.
”Old school” thinking among the establishment many years ago (which I do not subscribe to BTW) dictated that on a blank section of vinyl the stylus should tend outwards at a rate of 5-10mm/s. This probably corresponded to the amount required when tracking extreme high-amplitude “test bands” such as the HFN/RR.
Few believe nowadays that such settings are appropriate.
These days I subscribe to the Frank Schroeder(?) recommendation of adjusting so that the stylus tends fractionally inwards on blank vinyl. (I know “fractionally inwards” seems counter-intuitive but it does *sound right* in practice.)
If you feel that you are losing “air” and HF delicacy in the RH channel then you should reduce A/S until both channels sound “the same” within a reasonable window of definition.
This unfortunately entails ignoring A/S Test Bands altogether.
Of course, there is also the redoubtable Doug Deacon’s contention that the cantilever is “stressed” when too much A/S is applied and that this can affect the cartridge’s general balance and could distort the attitude of the cantilever. He maintained that A/S applied to the “non-business end” of the tonearm whilst the groove was trying to steer the stylus like a cow with a ring through its nose created conflicting forces which were ultimately unhelpful to the mechanics of the cartridge.
His description of this scenario was far more eloquent than mine it must be said.
Sound logic nevertheless.