Anti-skate

A'feil makes an often overlooked point and underscores the reason that 45s sound so good.

Audiofeil raised an interesting point about the effective velocity being reduced for the inner groove. When I said earlier that there was no obvious reason why skating force should be different for the inner groove, I did not consider the change in velocity. This is obviously a big difference between inner and outer grooves (funny how things are so obvious once someone else thinks it up).

But, I am less certain about whether the lower inner groove velocity would increase or decrease skating force.

From my own experience, whenever I found asymmetric distortion (one channel more than the other) when playing the inner groove, it has lead me to decrease antiskating. While this suggests that skating forces are lower for the inner groove, it could also be the case that my arm does not apply the same force at all positions and has simply increased antiskating too much for the inner groove position. Greater minds are needed here.

My Moerch DP6 has a string on a spring kind of anti-skate mechanism that is progressive in nature. It pulls on a point attached to the base of the tonearm, so that the force exerted increases as the tonearm base pivots and the arm moves more toward the center.

Basically I've found that setting the anti skate so that that the needle falls exactly in the same groove when raised and lowered again (using an outer groove) sets it pretty much perfectly to my ears. There is virtually no anti skate on the outer groove and a bit more on the inner groove as the tonearm pivots and the anti-skate string/spring is pulled taughter.

Don't know if this is any use to anyone, but I thought I'd share.

Bob

SonofJim...Yup, when I removed the whole device, the sound really popped. I suspect that there is a resonance from the gizmo, like (all?) others which is why Harry doesn't like the devices at all. Never the less...if you find no anti-skate to your liking, (I know it's a pain), but remove it and listen...you can always replace it again.

Hmm,is there any wonder why a good LTT arm sounds so good?

Anti-skate issues? Nope! Inner groove distortions? Nope! Mnay folks going to the lengths to have/experience this kind of music presentation(yeah,it "presents" music a good deal differently than the pivoting crowd,like me,is used to)? Nope!

Folks owning the better Linear Arms selling them soon?

UM, NO WAY!!!

For the uninitiated,go hear a good set-up utilizing a superb LTT arm and be "amazed"!!

Bring familiar LP's,and don't worry about the hassle of traveling, to experience what the best LTT's bring to the table......"You're going to be well rewarded,and you will listen a bit differently to your own system"!

Just imagine:This anti-skate issue is "only" one component of "correct" LP replay.Not to mention tracking error/distortions just vanish with a good Linear Arm,if set up well.

I've heard the benefits of a superior linear design on SO many occassions that I've gotten spoiled,yet still come back to my unipivot....Why?...Because I'm lazy,and freely admit to rationalization,like SO many of us!

The best Linear Arms are costly,and a bit of a hassle to set up,and maintain.What they bring to the table is absolutely "addictive",if you actually have been listening to "good" LP's for a "long" time.

Some,like the Forsell,and "maybe"(it may still be sold in small quantities)the fabulous Air Tangent(some feel this arm was light in bass...."not" if you went the extra mile,and replaced the standard pump,amongst some other things)) are no longer made,but do appear on the used market.....BUY THEM!!!

Then send me a nice bottle of Barolo as a thank you gift -:)

To me,they are like "pre-war" Martin Acoustic Guitars.Once you've heard them "do" their thing,you know it's not going to get any better than this!Especially if you've owned a few pivots over the years,and have spun a load of LP's.

Usually I'd add IMO....This time it's just plain "fact"!

Hear what I'm talking about!Ask a lucky(smart) owner to let you give his rig a listen!

Maybe a nice/classy guy like Albert Porter(I believe he has a Walker)can be coaxed into renting out his listening room and system while he's at RMAF next week? It won't be cheap though -:)

Best