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Setting Antiskate - visually

I just installed a Kleos onto my Nott 294 with stock arm. For setting antiskate, the Lyra instructions say to observe the cartridge and cantilever as it settles into the record grove - if the cartridge settles to the right or left, adjust the antiskate so it remains vertical.

Well, this is a really tough thing to observe. But, after raising and lowering the tonearm several times with the lever (not by hand), I could watch the cantilever literally walk to the right or the left across the record - one or two or three grooves at a time, and easily observe the skate effect. Just to the left or right of the space between songs provides a good fixed reference spot on the record. Adjusting the antiskate weight to its max and min setting had a clear observable effect on its behavior.

It seems to me that this "method" is consistent with Lyra�s instructions, but does avoid the skating effects, if any, imposed by the rotation of the record. So, has any one used this �method� and/or have any comments?
poonbean
moemoney's avatar
moemoney
158 posts
 
I saw this on You tube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIBtZR941Yw&feature=youtube_gdata_player
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
It seems to me that this "method" is consistent with Lyra’s instructions, but does avoid the skating effects, if any, imposed by the rotation of the record.
Not sure what this means. The method should be performed while the record is rotating. Is that what you did?

Also, what I do to deal with the difficulty of visually perceiving small deflections is as follows:

1)Adjust the anti-skate setting until there is a small but readily perceivable deflection in one direction (as viewed from directly in front of the cartridge, of course), relative to the deflection (if any) when the stylus is not on the record.

2)Adjust the anti-skate setting until there is an equal amount of deflection in the opposite direction.

3)Set the anti-skate setting to the mid-point between the settings that were determined in steps 1 and 2.

4)Check that there is then no perceivable deflection when the stylus is lowered onto the rotating record at points near its beginning, middle, and end.

Regards,
-- Al
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Why do people obsess about adjusting an AUDIO playback system by VISUAL means? Would you fine tune a telescope or expensive camera by listening to it?

Except for roughing in a setting, which takes all of 30 seconds, I make every adjustment on my rig whilst listening to music. Isn't that why I spent all this money, to listen to music?

Of course this wouldn't work if I lacked a good internal reference for what real music actually sounds like. In that case, however, visual tweaking wouldn't help. Listening to live vocalists and instruments and paying attention to how they sound would (and has).
poonbean OP
42 posts
 
Almarg - Thanks, that is straightforward enough. Yes, your question about my approach identified the big flaw. I did do it without the record rotating, duh. (though it was easy).

I'd also say to dougdeacon that at least one of the reasons to use your eyes is to get it real close, if not spot on. You/me might not know how good or great the playback can be if simply relying on your ears and trial and error to dialing in your system. I will also note that, unlike say amplifiers which are largely plug and play, analog playback and cartridge and arm design assume a very precise geometric relationship between the cantilever and the record surface - which is affected by many significant variables, including overhang, alignment, vtf, vta, effective length, speed stability, etc. To assume you can nail all that with your ears is silly.
inna
7,170 posts
 
Mr.Poonbean, even such an esteemed mathematician as you are should mind his manners here.
Dougdeacon, I agree. Fine tuning is always done by ear.
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