Are you using anti-skating or not

"Just to clarify things...do you guys deny that a skating force exists" Eldartford, I don,t deny it, a skating force does exist! I beleive this year they are called THE BOSTON BRUINS! Cheers

> Has2be
> I don,t deny it, a skating force does exist! I beleive this year they are called THE BOSTON > BRUINS! Cheers

LOL!

Why is there such a dichotomy about the antiskating issue? Some of you say: it is crucial to set the antiskating right, while others say: don't bother, I don't even use antiskating... It is too confusing! Are here also proponents who are fine tuning AS by means of hearing? --> Does this "setting AS by listening" work? Or is it only a joke? If that isn't a joke then the people who don't use AS at all are doing it wrong. Sorry but I'm very confused now.

Chris

One good reason is that some people think AS necessary because their gear won't track those stupid test records without it.

In actuality amplitudes found on test records are seldom, if ever, found on every day vinyl. In this regard, test records are useless. However, many of the other tracks can be helpful.

Alignment is really the key. With today's sophisticated stylus shapes and excellent tonearms, anti-skating is an afterthought IMO.

Are here also proponents who are fine tuning AS by means of hearing? --> Does this "setting AS by listening" work? Or is it only a joke?

No joke. I've posted a simple and effective set-by-ear method several times:
1. Start with no AS and dial VTF in carefully (by listening!).
2. Play real music and enjoy.
3. If you hear R-channel mistracking on difficult passages, add just enough AS to control it.

SUMMARY: leave AS at zero unless you hear the specific problem it's designed to address. Then use just as much as you need to control the problem, no more.

If that isn't a joke then the people who don't use AS at all are doing it wrong.

Not true. The method above starts with no AS. If the rig plays your toughest LP's cleanly then you stay at no AS. That's where my rig is. I've actually removed my AS mechanism altogether because I don't need it with my current cartridge and the arm's noise floor is lower without it, but YMMV depending on your rig and the LP's you play.