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

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]

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.

..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.

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.

I would go with the manufacturers specifications, while checking with maybe the record companies that produce 45 rpm. I would also not use anti-skate(or VTF, or anything else)to correct for something else(such as channel balance). Try slightly moving anti-skate(etc.)a little until you can hear what it does. Until you can identify what it does, you are just guessing. One good way to identify that it is better(closer to correct)is: does it make you want to listen more to your records(excitement)? There is no hurry. You can sleep on it.