What is more accurate: magnetic anti-skating, or barrel weight attached a fishline?

Dear @ct0517 :   """  Here the linear tracker reveals a very different soundstage, and it plays clean on the last songs of records .....very often the best songs ! But until you hear this in your own room to make a direct comparison - you don't know """

I did it with 3-4 LT in my system and listen on very well know friend's systems and yes the soundstage sounds different but nothing that really matters enough to pass from pivoted to LT tonearms and soundstage can " sounds " different for other factors as simple as the material or combination of materials used on the tonearm manufacturing by design. Soundstage comes not because an intrinsic LT characteristic but for several other factors.

LT units are imperfect ones nothing is perfect and LT has its own trade offs.
If the magic " key " on tonearms was  the LT design then you can be sure not only me but any one used to own it instead pivoted tonearms.

Perhaps AS is the least important parameter/factor involved in the very complex cartridge/tonearm/accurate set up/LP quality level performance including that "  it plays clean on the last songs of records " that we  can have with pivoted tonearms too.

As everything in audio LT is an alternative but till today pivot tonearm is the " king " of the tonearms that surrounded almost all audiophiles and for very good reasons.

LT works for you, good for you, have fun with!.

Regards and enjoy the music,
R. 

Dear Sunnyjim,  Don't let this rambling discussion defer you from enjoying the wonders of music on LPs.  Hang on to the first principles, with which everyone agrees: (1) Skating force varies due to predictable and unpredictable factors across the surface of the LP, and there is to this day no sure Anti-skate mechanism that can sense variation in Skating force and automatically adjust accordingly.  That's the bad news.  (2) The good news is that a very tiny amount, for many, the least amount of AS, is "good enough" to eliminate  or dramatically reduce both audible distortions and wear on LPs and styli that result from the skating force, without any need to worry about variations in the skating force.  And finally, if this message still leaves you feeling anxious, there's always the linear tracking tonearm option.  No matter how you slice it, LPs rule.

I use a blank record and set the antiskating to keep the arm inn the same position. I have tried placing it near the outer edge, the center, and close to the inner part and noticed no difference.

I use an Ikeda 407 Long arm and their 9TT cartridge.

tbg....this method doesn't work....a waste of time.

Sonnyjim....I agree with lewn.   Either use a very little a/s or none...but listen to your music with enjoyment.  A/S is a tiny accomodation to the setup.  Overhang adjustment, VTF, and proper azimuth means so much more.