I believe that some antiskate is absolutely necessary to really lock in top quality sound. The question is: how much?
I think AJ Vandenhul is probably on the right track with his recommendations, which vary as to stylus profile:
http://www.vandenhul.com/artpap/phono_faq.htm#9
There has been a trend lately among audiophiles toward generalizing & recommending less and less (or no) antiskate which I think may not be good advice for everyone. While I don't think my spherical/conical Denon 103R is used in a "cheap" system as per Mr. Vandenhul's faq, I do think it definitely sounds better with antiskate adjusted to approximate tracking force. Line contacts or FG stylus profiles may benefit from considerably less AS (approx. 1/3 of VTF according to Vandenhul) with ellipticals perhaps running somewhere in the middle?
I think you just have to experiment and do it by ear. That being said, I don't think you will damage records by not using AS or using very little. Not sure if you'll damage them by using too much (beyond VTF may be considered too much I guess). The damage will come from tracking the cartridge too low, but that is a different matter altogether.
I think AJ Vandenhul is probably on the right track with his recommendations, which vary as to stylus profile:
http://www.vandenhul.com/artpap/phono_faq.htm#9
There has been a trend lately among audiophiles toward generalizing & recommending less and less (or no) antiskate which I think may not be good advice for everyone. While I don't think my spherical/conical Denon 103R is used in a "cheap" system as per Mr. Vandenhul's faq, I do think it definitely sounds better with antiskate adjusted to approximate tracking force. Line contacts or FG stylus profiles may benefit from considerably less AS (approx. 1/3 of VTF according to Vandenhul) with ellipticals perhaps running somewhere in the middle?
I think you just have to experiment and do it by ear. That being said, I don't think you will damage records by not using AS or using very little. Not sure if you'll damage them by using too much (beyond VTF may be considered too much I guess). The damage will come from tracking the cartridge too low, but that is a different matter altogether.