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HELP! Technics SL1200GR/Benz Glider Anit-Skate Setting High

I just mounted a Benz Micro Glider on a LPGear Pro Headshell which looks like the standard Technics headshell but is not up to the same quality as an original and I think is lighter.

When I first mounted it, I couldn't set the VTA correctly because the cartridge height was too low.  I had a plastic "angled" shim that I had from an old Dual DD turntable I had in the late '70's.

I installed that and was able to get the vta set OK.

But, when playing, I noticed that if I set the stylus down at the end of the last song on a side it would just fly into the label area.  I usually set the anti-skate at about 10 below the tracking force.  For the Glider the tracking force was set at 1.9 so I set the A/S at 1.  I kept increasing it until the cartridge would not fly into the label.  I ended up at 3 (the max.) A/S force.

I've never had this happen before.

I tried adding weight to the headshell and resetting everything and the anti-skate setting doesn't change still high.

I've often read many times that people usually have the A/S set too high even when they have it set to the same value as the tracking force.  Mine is set at least 10 higher?

Any ideas?

Thanks, Nick
nicktheknife
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
Without the shim or some type of shim I can’t get the arm parallel to the record surface unless I use an extra thick mat which I’m afraid will change the sound maybe for the worse.

then you need a mat like SAEC SS-300 or anything same thickness instead of something between the cartridge and headshell.

Do you have a problem with every LP with real music or just with Hi-Hi Test LP ? 
Not every cartridge can pass the suspension test on Hi-Fi Test LP, especially the last two grooves with very high modulation, only a perfect cartridge can do that, most of the cartridges will jump out of the groove. 

nicktheknife OP
194 posts
 
Chakster,

I guess it's just the HiFi News Test lp tracks.  
On my previous tt with a Rega RB-300 tonearm and Mitchel CW I could usually get through the third track at the recommended A/S setting.  
I can't get through the third track with the A/S set at 3 (max).
Just seems odd.
tzh21y
1,654 posts
 
I keep my antiskate below 1, about .80.  sometimes lower.
nicktheknife OP
194 posts
 
Well, I tried the putting the anti-skate at 0 to see how it reacts to the HiFi News tracks.
It got past the first track and that was it.  The seconds track I immediately got buzzing in the right channel so this is telling me that the A/S mechanism is at least having an effect.
nicktheknife OP
194 posts
 
I just incrementally brought the a/s up from 1 where I was getting buzzing/breakup in the right channel. 
Each increment brought just a little bit less breakup until I reached 1.9 where it went away. 1.9 grams is what I have my VTF set at so the A/S setting coincides with that anyway.   
It still won't play the third track without breakup so I'll listen to records with this setting to see how everything sounds.
I really want to invest in a good headshell.  I got the LPGear Pro headshell which is a Technics knock-off for $20 just so I can get the Benz mounted without removing my Ortofon MC Rondo Red from the headshell that came with the turntable.  
One with azimuth adjustment and less chinzy.  Maybe that would make a difference?  IDK.
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