Antiskating .... The last analog secret

Dear Thomasheisig: +++++ " What do you think? " +++++

that's what you asked on the subject. Well I already posted my experiences about along that in theory we need AS.

The AS subject is so complex that almost any " think " is valid.
There are to many parameters involve on the AS subject that makes so complicated to have the right scientific answer.

In our ( my self ) today tonearm design we are trying about and we don't have the right answer yet and maybe we can't have it.
From my point of view the AS subject is a whole/big complicated project ( a scietific one ) by itself and I'm not sure if it is worth to go seriously in deep about even that I'm a " perfectionist " on the sound reproduction targets.

I don't want to go inside of the different " roads " ( posted here ) to set-up the AS because IMHO no one is perfect and no one is even near the " target ", almost all are to " simple " for say the least.

In the AS subject we have to take in count between other parameters/things that affects it: eccentricity of the LP that it is different on each LP, deformation/waves on the LP that is/are different on each LP, the recording velocity on each track and the different " velocities " on each track!!!!!!, the differences on 33rpm, 45rpm and 78rpm that affects in different way to the AS subject, each cartridge suspension/compliance/stylus design, each tonearm whole design, VTA/SRA, VTF level, Azymuth, temperature that affects the cartridge compliance suspension, AS tonearm method, etc, etc.

Due to that complexity and over the time I go from full AS to 50%, to 30% to 20% to none.

Am I satisfied?, certainly not, so what to do?.
I make/take a " reference "/status: to set-up/mantain with almost CERO tolerance all cartridge/tonearm/TT set-up standards ( VTA/SRA/VTF (near the high limit )/overhang/etc, etc ) and try 50-30-20-none AS values trying to hear degradations or improvements on the quality performance and after many testings TODAY I choose not to worry ( in my system )
on AS or maybe 20% to stay on " mind-calm ".

Now, there are two important things on the whole AS subject: the cartridge quality control and the tonearm quality control on each cartridge/tonearm out there, IMHO the necessity of more/less AS ( other that the whole set-up ) depends on that high/low cartridge/tonearm build quality control.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Upon further review "Slow is better", "A little bit goes a long way". These jingles have to be inserted into your arm cartridge adjustment log.

I have also returned to slight AS making the smallest moves possible. Also slight moves to VTF and VTA. The graph in the Vacuum State cartridge setup paper opened my eyes up to the possibility of missing the sweet spot of adjustment by making to large of a move. I'm using one no.8 brass washer as the weight for AS for now and its all the way back on the lever.

No doubt that it could be very easy to miss better sound by making to large of a move. This is a tedious time consuming task but will pay huge musical enjoyment. After 5 hrs of tuning last night i most certainly brought better focus, micro detail, to my rig.

This is just the beginning as i am on the hunt and will get my arm cartridge to the best position for superior sound. This is going to be my New Years resolution.

Good one Thomas.
I think this thread will be an important one for those that have the interest and especially "patience" to do any follow ups themselves on this subject.

For year's I have always set and kept near minimum setting for anti-skate and never gave much thought to it.
If my tonearm acted up or jumped across a particular Lp, I'd simply tape a quarter to the head shell and re-play it....just kidding

Raul covered a few cause and effect's of this constantly changing skating energy and there is no set methods including any real rule of thumb to follow unless we all had the exact same gear and Lps.

Anyway, I'm with you Stltrains.

no A.S. for me.

Going as far to tie up my AS lever on my Triplaner to find the limit in one direction was a test of sound in that position. In my case that magical holographic sound was not completely closed from the right side but reduced. For my ears AS is dictectly the reason for the magic sound vinyl playback can deliver. Slight reverse movements of AS from none to where i am now has opened up the magic. Another jingle "Patience is a vertue" applies to TT setup.

Its hard for me to believe after my return to Vinyl 5 years ago that i did not know all that i thought i did about setup. My years of vinyl playback before CD also counts but at that time knowledge of adjustments was not as easily available, more of a trial and error time. It seems to me like i said above AS is the magic, VTA VTF is the timber of the musical sounds. My making of slight moves with height and weight i am hearing better sounds of voice and instruments.

My choice of music is classic rock which is electronicly produced with ampfacation. I am lucky in this choice because all audio gear is electronic. We dont know the sound with out amplification like classical and chamber music which uses the room or hall for increased volume. I do know how rock sounds at a concert from the many i have attended. The dynamics of a rock concert are impossible in the home though i can and do reach the 100+DB level at times. Reproducing the timber of a rock band is the trick for me. The bass drum guitar, lead guitars, and all else involved including full blown orchestras. These sounds are a personal choice in our adjustments. Because i discovered these adjustments are a tone control also.

We are use to the fast paced world of today along with that competitive life we live. Vinyl playback came from a time of a slower world. If you can try to make these small adjustments and listen for a while you will be reworded with better sound.

Well off to see the Saints finally and then back to my passion for better sound.