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VPI Scoutmaster - Anti-skate again..

Hi,
I'm sure this has been covered, but I couldn't find it...

As we all know, the coiled wire of the JMW-9 tonearm provides anti-skate force naturally, and is seen by VPI as preferable to any mechanical implementation.

VPI now provides a mechanical anti-skate with the Scoutmaster turntable. It is supplied but not installed. VPI still stands by their original position on anti-skate.

Now, for my experience.

I started without the use of the mechanical anti-skate. Listening, backed up by the Hi-fi+ test LP, convinced me that more anti-skating force was needed. I twisted the lemo connector counter-clockwise to apply more force, but I didn't notice any difference.

I then implemented the mechanical anti-skate. I found by visual inspection and confirmed with the test LP that, even at the lowest setting, far too much anti-skating force was now being applied.

Listening tests with the mechanical anti-skate engaged were a mixed bag. I found the image to be more centered, rather than leaning to the right, but I also noticed a loss of fine detail. For instance, when a fast sequence of plucked guitar notes were played, each note stood out more independently WITHOUT the mechanical anti-skate. With the anti-skate engaged the notes smear together slightly.

Has anyone had a similar experience? I am hoping to find a solution that will enable me to focus the image better and not lose any detail. It seems to me that I need a way to provide a little more anti-skate, but not a lot more. (and I am slightly baffled as to why the lemo twist method seemed to have no effect whatsoever.)

Cheers.

Tom
tfkaudio
dodgealum's avatar
dodgealum
1,404 posts
 
Tfkaudio. Interesting. Either we have different anti-skate rigs or one of us is wrong. First, the weight on mine does not slide along the post--it is fixed in position closest to the fulcrum. It is immovable. If it did move the amount of anti-skate added or subtracted by moving the weight would be extreme indeed. This is why you move the fishing line on the other post--it provides a much finer adjustment. If you are somehow moving the weight along the horizontal post you are adding (or subtracting) significant weight and this, I would offer, is why your sound is getting screwed up. Second, I do not understand your description of how to position the string. You say position it so that it is parallel to the table when the arm is in the rest. Given where it mounts this is going to be exactly the same for each and every table. Why make it adjustable at all if it serves no purpose other than to be parallel to the table?

I'm of the opinion that you use the position of the string to adjust the anti-skate and that the weight remains fixed in position. I could be wrong here but what you suggest doesn't make sense to me. I even went over to my table to try to pull the weight toward the outer end of the post--it won't move.

I'd really be interested in hearing from others or, better yet, Mike from VPI on this one.
sberger
146 posts
 
honestly the coffee stirrer trick didn't work for me. i use my eyes and ears. i try to get the cantilver& cartridge body as squared up as possible, and then listen. i'll use both mono and stereo lp's to get my center image as focused and stable as possible. once in a while i'll do a small adjustment after i reset vtf with a new cart, but normally i set and forget.
tfkaudio OP
591 posts
 
Sberger,
Once you got the azimuth dialed in, where was the counter-weight setscrew? Mine is a couple millimeters right of dead center on the arm tube (looking down on the arm, standing in front of the table).
Just wondering if you and others arrived at the same place as I did...

Cheers.
sberger
146 posts
 
without looking at it, that sounds about right, maybe even a bit more. i know it's not dead center.
coffee_nudge
120 posts
 

Dodgealum:
I finally decided to install the mechanical antiskate on my Scoutmaster. My understanding is the same as TfkAudio's. The weight on the AS adjustment has a very small hex screw in it that holds it in place. You loosen that screw, and move the weight up and down the post. The manual that came with mine said to put the fishing line so that it is parallel with the table.

I would imagine that you can install this AS on a Scout, which has the junction box mounted on the plinth, rather than on the metal platform coming off the arm bearing housing, so that you would use a different position for the fishing line.

Anyway, that's my understanding. Maybe Mike will read this and chime in here.

Cheers.
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