Warning: Linn tonearm anti-skate not accurate


Hi,

After repeatedly having problem, including ruining a perfectly aged Koetsu Urushi, I found with the aid of HFNRR that the Linn Ekos antiskating is not accurate.

With 3 different cartridges tracking between 1.7 - 2.0g, the optimal anti-skatings were found to be between setting the tonearm anti-skating dial to "2.4-2.6 g". I checked with the anti-skating setting tracks on HFNRR test record (most MC can cover the first 2 tracks, but Shure V15 can go through 3 tracks).

After using my cartridge on the Ekos for about one year, playing about 100 hours, at 1.9g VTF, anti-skating dialed to '1.9g', my cantilever was slanted about 5 degree to the left (view towards the rear of tonearm), indicating undercompensation.

Another fellow Linn users told me he found same thing with Akito tonearm and also had a slanted cantilever.

So please check your setting before ruining another cartridge.

www.extremephono.com
extremephono
i agree with a comment above the linn mk 1 akito seems to be a bit heavy on the tracking and my arm moves outward when set to zero.....the denon dl-110 cart seems to track anything i put on even with the tracking off and set to zero...i put it to 1 just in case ...but the deck seems to sound much better with very little on it tracking wise....
I think you will find that while many arms are marked with antiskate 'settings' that there really isn't an established standard. IOW the antiskate forces at 1 gram on one arm will be different from that of another arm. As a result the best method seems to be by gosh and by golly as shown with this thread.
Use the HFNRR record and then experiment. Nothing is fixed, only the music. You are the final judge of what setting is best.
Float the arm and level it correctly, then put the cart on with a mint LP or other good protractor. I had an Ekos and 2 Ittok LVII's and a Basik LVX and never had a problem. Set the anti-skate a bit lower than VTF. 1.7g for VTF. Best of luck.