2. analog
  3. 1264959190

Anti-Skate::Playing LP's vs. 12

I notice the right channel seems to mistrack sibilance on some of my Dance/Club 12" singles and not on my LP's and the problem seems to be a bit further exacerbated on playing 45rpm 12" singles. I'm using a Benz-Micro Ebony H on a VPI Scout/JMW-9 Signature arm and I use small weights to add/remove anti-skate but I don't own a test record yet so I have no way of telling where my tracking force should be set other than listening for mistracking in either channel. I'm thinking if I add more anti-skate force to fix the distortion that it will actually be too much then on my LP's. Or it may be a function of the records being cut louder than my cartridge can track them.

If I try adding more anti-skate for my 12" singles will it be too much for my LP's?

Any suggestions on a test record to help me get the anti-skate set?

Do 45rpm records need more anti-skate due to faster platter
speed and more centrifugal force?

I listen to:
Jazz, Classical, Classic Rock, Electronic, New Wave, R'n'B, Funk, Dance/Club, etc.
n803nut
hifitime
715 posts
 
I myself never heard of a separate setting for 12" 45's.They are not that common though. Maybe since they have bigger grooves,it might be amplifying a tracking problem that is not noticeable on LP's.If you could change your antiskate and put it back to the same spot afterward,why not give it a try?With the distortion in the one channel,it is most likely causing extra wear on your stylus and records.VinylEngine is a good site.LINKS>>[http://6moons.com/audioreviews/guru/guru.html][http://www.lpgear.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=LG&Product_Code=ANTISKATEWT&Category_Code=PTS]
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,468 posts
 
I suspect that some of your dance club singles et al have been damaged. Don't drive yourself nuts with anti-skate. It is not that important. Technically speaking, because 45 rpm is faster than 33, there is an additional inward force, however, it is probably academic.
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,468 posts
 
..by the way N803 - that Ebony H is one fantastic cartridge. I am very acquainted with it. It's greatness however is only fully realized at the VTF that it "likes". Do not be haphazard in selecting a force...listen carefully. A change of the smallest amount can reveal great increases in performance.
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Test records will not help you set antiskate, except for playing test records. You're already using the correct method, listening to the records you actually play.

Stringreen's suggestion that you may be hearing permanent groove damage is a good possibiliity. Test for that before going nuts about A/S. Here's how. "Play" a passage with a noisy R channel by spinning the platter by hand, v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y. The music will be a very LF growl but groove damage, if any, will be much sharper and crisper. There's no way you could confuse it with music, because the transients from groove damage are much faster and sharper than any music cut into a record.

If these noisy records are NOT damaged, try increasing A/S in tiny steps as you replay a noisy passage. It's BARELY possible your VTF is set right on the edge of mistracking, in which case A/S might prevent it. When you have enough A/S to balance the noise in both channels, you have enough A/S.

For checking VTF you need a balance or scale. No test record, just a scale to find out where it is and your ears listening to real music to decide where it should be.

You have good instincts, keep workiing and the sound will get better.
More to discover