To antiskate or not antiskate

I set up turntables all the time and one of the best, most consistent has been Dr. Feickert.  Atlas cartridges are also quite good.  Let's get back to antiskate.  What I do, no matter if AS is used or not in any given situation is to check the stylus for wear.  Usually twice per year is enough.  I use microscopes to do this.  I would be happy to do this for anyone for free, but in this day and age it might be easier to just buy yourself a digital microscope.  Anyway, the idea is to look to see if the stylus is wearing evenly and adjust AS accordingly.  Like I have said in other threads, the need for AS is complex and it varies.  Truly the need for AS varies across the arc of every record you play.

I haven't dug into the other threads here on this topic, but I have done a fairly thorough investigation of anti-skate and have some compelling experience with adjusting it.

First of all, just because you bought a 12 " tonearm, doesn't mean you're off the hook when I comes to anti-skate. Just watch J.R. Boisclair's video on the topic.

Second, as far as I know there is only one tool out there that will give you and accurate measurement of how much anti-skate you are applying, the WallySkater.

I have a WallySkater and have used it with several turntables and tonearms and I can tell you, without it you are just guessing.

Now, you will sometimes hear claims that certain tonearms sound better without the anti-skate applied. That may very well be the case, but the reason is not that that tonearm is defying the laws of physics and is immune to skating force. Rather it is because that tonearm has its own horizontal torque force and applying more is simply adding too much. Incidentally, this indicates that the tonearm has issues that should be addressed, such as tonearm wires that are twisted or stretched in a way that pulls on the arm.

My recommendation is to get a WallySkater, measure the anti-skate you are applying and get it to the recommended 18 - 20% of your VTF. Then make adjustments by ear using different records.

Classical orchestral records with complex passages are helpful, especially concertos where you have a soloist up front and the orchestra behind. When you have your tonearm set up well, and that includes getting the anti-skate right as well as other adjustments such as azimuth, the soloist will be more 3-D and the orchestra will be clearer and more present with the instruments in the back of the orchestra easier to make out.

This is just one approach, but it works well.

I've actually found that with both of my turntables, which are different and have different tonearms and cartridges, my records sound best with the anti-skate set closer to 17% of VTF, so a little below what Wally Tools recommends.

Good luck!

First of all,  thank you all for good advice and helpful input. 

I have used all the tools in my possession,  had another go with the protractor from feickert, digital scale from ortofon, larger libell from ortofon ( air bubble disc thing 😳) and mini air bubble thingy small enough to fit on the arm lift and adjusted every accordingly and it sounds fantastic without antiskate . The titan does anyway. 

Tomorrow I'm going to try my zyx 4d ultimate just for the fun of it,  that one might need AS but I will be back with an update 😃

Thanks for the tip @thebrokenrecord I will order one 👍 

You won't regret getting the WallySkater.

And while you're at it, if you don't already have one of these "azimuth / vta" blocks, I find them very handy for getting the azimuth setting into the ballpark.

Later, after the cantilever on your cartridge breaks in, I'd suggest adjusting the azimuth by ear (don't bother with fozgometer they are not helpful). You can find an article I wrote on how to do that here.