To antiskate or not antiskate

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.

We went thru the anti-skate wringer in the other thread, I think worth careful reading, I put a list of simple tools and methods there.

First, verify all else is properly mounted, aligned, calibrated, anti-skate is LAST!

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/anti-skate-weight-better-sound-without-it

5. Anti-Skate (one hand always on the arm lift lever)

1. Use blank side of LP, raise arm, get platter spinning 33 rpm.
2. Lower arm, it gets pulled into the center, that is natural skating force
3. add a little anti-skating force, lower arm, a bit more. Check it at various distances from the outer and inner grooves. Find a compromise, if any allow a speck of inner skate, avoid outer skate.
4. Final, by ear, using the LP, last 2 tracks, 3 guitarists play, imaging reveals their placement, verify you can hear John in the middle and the others left and right.

finishing by ear, with an LP with no sounds except 3 guitarists, and excellent imaging, no golden ears required, anyone can hear when Paco/John/Al are distinctly L/C/R.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friday_Night_in_San_Francisco

1. Use CD version to confirm all system connections are good for L/R Balance
2. AFTER 1 above, Use LP version to refine anti-skate by ear

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I had a 12.5" effective arm, it needed some anti-skate. Every arm is unique, I would take control rather than trust that long arms don't need it.

I prefer lighter tracking cartridges. One of the side benefits is that inward skate is relative to downward force, sooooo, less anti-skate will be needed if/when tracking lightly, and any error, will be LESS forceful