Anti skating on Michell Tecnodec - Yes No Maybe ?

Hi Mark,

I’ve never understood the recommendation that is provided by some manufacturers of turntables and tonearms to set anti-skating to be numerically equal to VTF. Frankly, and consistent with what you have found, IME/IMO it is ridiculous.

Opinions among experienced audiophiles vary as to what setting is likely to be optimal, though, and as you may have seen that question has been the subject of controversy in a number of past threads. Some advocate zero, while others advocate a relatively small fraction of VTF as determined by listening.

What I would suggest, though, is that you first try the procedure I suggested in my two posts dated 4-11-2016 in this thread, and then fine tune by listening if and as you see fit. I’m not certain that the procedure I describe would be usable with cartridges having particularly low compliance (with which I have no experience), but I suspect it will be suitable for use with your Delos.  And yes, I wouldn't be surprised if the right answer in this case turns out to be just a little bit under 1 gram.

Best regards,
-- Al

The only way you'll know for sure is to set the arm with and without a/s and listen yourself.  I've done this a number of times and always come out with no anti-skate sounding the best to ME.   I believe that a/s damps the cartridge in its use, and therefore decreases the stylus's ability to move freely..thus affecting the sound negatively.  There is no way to determine the correct setting....its changing all the time....just listen and make the determination yourself.

What Almarg said, and to a certain degree, what Stringreen said.
Your dealer has a right to his opinion, but he should have made it clear to you that his is just an opinion.  No matter what one does, there IS a skating force present when using any pivoted tonearm in which set-up the stylus overhangs the pivot, which is nearly all of them.  The problem is, as others mentioned, the skating force is a moving target across the surface of the LP.  Moreover the vectors of the forces that combine to generate the skating force also change direction.  My approach is to start with the most minimal amount of AS permitted by the mechanism and then listen for signs that you might need more, most notably distortions that localize to the R channel.  (Usually, I find that the minimal setting for AS works fine.) Like Al said, the idea that AS should equal VTF in magnitude is preposterous.

So far so good.  I had AS set to 1.75 o match the VTF and it was too strong.  I dropped it to about 1 or a touch more, and it seems better.  Haven't had time to critically listen yet.  Will keep you posted.  Thanks!

The Tecnoarm is a fantastic arm. I have one of these as well as an Audiomods arm. I am particular with anti-skating and feel that setting your arm and cartridge up appropriately will save your canti down the road, even if you don't hear a difference with different settings.