Anti-skate

Dan_ed, I'm not sure you meant for your car analogy to be applied this way, but here goes. Try driving a car in smaller and smaller circles. Which way, outward or inward, does the car want to go? I was hoping here to simplify anti-skate so the beginner could experiment. Yes, I know cantilever stiffness and other things have an effect. I also know(and I believe Conti's arm is unipivot also)that anti-skate is different on uni-pivot's. But, I was not trying to preach to the learned. We have kids getting into vinyl. We have people setting their anti-skate with the anti-skate records(which may or may not work), and thinking that their anti-skate is perfect. And that's not even mentioning azimuth, VTF, and VTA. That doesn't mean that I don't enjoy this discussion, but we also want/need other people to join us.

Yes, the car leans to the outside because of centrifugal force is pulling it that way. So why doesn't the car go flying off to the outside? Friction, the force acting between the tires and road surface. Overcome that and you skid out. But, I digress.

The Vector is a modified uni-pivot. It is that small bearing that keeps the pivoting in only 1 direction, looking from a line drawn through the bearing and perpendicular to the tonearm.

Larryi,regarding my being in a position to compare the "fascinating" Kuzma 4 Point to their own Air Line....I doubt that is going to happen,unless I get lucky.

I "have" absolutely been able to make a meaningful comparison of the superb Air Tangent and then it's replacement of a 12.6 unipivot(I hope my "opinion" helps you).All at a close friend's home,and I've heard both arms in the exact set up a load of times.I know the differences each brought to "that" system.Actually,Im more familiar with "that" system than my own as of late!

I LOVED the "specific" Air Tangent my friend had(it had some mods,including a huge and different pump mechanism than the usual A.T.'s in the field).

To me,and sorry to the other folks for going off topic,but Larryi did ask....

The A.T.(as run at my friend) "is" the finest audio component I've ever experienced!Mainly because of how it allowed a vinyl rig to "allow for a certain presentation",and for the obvious loss of some intangibles when it was gone from the set-up.Even though the replacement arm is quite fine,now.

I am not able to describe this actually.You really had to hear this,and many of our friends loved it,and miss it.But do accept the re-worked alternative.....Yeah,I'm wiping my eyes as I keyboard this -:)

Larryi,I assume you'd like some specifics.....

The 12.6 replacement(a VPI,soon to be the new 12.7)also sports the Titan-i.Everything remained the same,so I could easily perceive the differences.Trust me,the system was quite good regarding equip(CJ ART,etc).

Originally the 12.6 was a big disappointment!I did not have the heart to mention "that" to my friend(I'm much braver on the web,but that's not really "me").Of course all of the "group" thought there was a big downgrade.

There was no longer the "amazing" sense of "relaxed body and textures" that the A.T. brought to the set-up.

This factor alone had a huge impact on everything, now being more hi-fi like.Still,if you'd not heard the LT you might not be disappointed.Or if you only like power rock,it would be fine.

We listen to Classical and old Jazz mostly(there are many subtleties on much of the discs my friend likes to play for us which showcase his full range,beautifully textured and super detailed system)though I am on a big "Avante Garde Classical" kick,for the last few years.I guess it's not a "kick" anymore.

I'd had ten years of "two" different A.T. configurations there.I actually was amazed that my pal(someone who'd coached me on LP collecting,and music for decades)who had/has real "cred" could "not" hear the downgrade.So I thought!

There was a "totally" different way the bass pitch definition impacted everything in the music.Along with,what I assume(still a good guess)was the possibility of "now" hearing the inner groove distortions,which were not previously present.Of course,the fact that there was "now" a contact bearing did not help.In comparison,it was sort of slightly pinched sounding.Only compared to what came before,IMO.

Still,my pal had a secret agenda(thank God)because "he" is well connected to some very skilled and knowledgable folks.....So....

About four months later,riding into town like some kind of "hired gun", came the likes of one Richard Foster(he lives in Canada,my pal in Brooklyn).He is an amazing and capable fellow(writes for HiFi Plus,btw).

Richard is a good natured guy(loves to "talk" the hobby)who has the most spectacular LP collection in existence(that I know of at least).An obsessed LP collector,and I'm not kidding(I mean it as a compliment).He also is blessed with amazingly good hearing,and the ability/patience to go "hands on" with much componentry.He has years of "quality" experience.

Fortunately he too had the A.T.(a move forced it to go elsewhere).He now has the 12.7 which my friend Sid is about to get.....So,after much deliberations and sweat(alot) he changed things in the set-up of the arm/table/cartridge.Btw,they are best friends.

He did a "great" job,because there was now a "big" improvement in virtually all areas I'd been so disappointed with before.The system now sounds great,by any standard!!My pal is getting a bit long in the toothe,and wanted to make Lp replay easier.He just did not want to deal with the LT maintence cycle any longer,and knew he could be happy with the VPI,as he'd always liked their stuff.I can respect that....But...

In all honesty,to me there is simply "nothing" like experiencing a very good,full range, high resolution set-up employing one of the "elite" linear arms!I admit I've been more than satisfied with my Grahams(and they are fabulous)but that is because I am a little lacking in patience these days(for good reasons)and "lazy"!I don't want to go through the "care and feeding" of an LT!Well,the cash outlay too.

If I had more time(maybe if retired)I'd certainly think about it,because a LT is an incredible "beast"....Tame it,and you're into another level of sound.

That's my feelings!!However it "must" be one of the "better" LT designs.Some are not going to get you to where I've been!Virtually everyone I know,who've experienced them or owned them in the past,agree there's some serious intangibles they bring to the "listening table".Let's face it,we're all here because we like to feed our ears!-:)

Best

Sirspeedy, I find your story fascinating and very much on topic, as a linear arm has no anti-skate. Larryi, I forgot(or didn't think of) the stylus is being dragged inward like you described(Is it yelling and screaming the whole way?). I do think, though,that the general principle still holds for anti-skate. Audiofeil(and others) has made some interesting points. For instance, there are 2 points where a normal tonearm/cartridge are at its optimum, and one thought I had was maybe getting the anti-skate correct between the inner point and the end of the record may have some merit. Ultimately, we have to use our ears(while paying attention to specs., what others have experienced, and/or theories).

Thanks Sirspeedy for another great description of your listening experience. I've heard a few linear trackers myself, and long ago, I owned a Mapenoll linear tracker. That table/arm was an operational nightmare, but it did sound good the few moments that I got it to work.

Mmakshak, I think it would be a good idea, as you suggest, to optimize antiskating for the inner grooves where cartridges are particularly challenged when it comes to tracking the groove. I have done that myself by ear. My settings by ear have always been MUCH less antiskating than recommended by the manufacturer of the arm.