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How do I set anti skate on Nottingham Anna arm????

Please help me get the last adjustment dialed in on my new turntable that is finally ready to use. I have been trying to wait patiently to start listening to records. Last night I was lucky enough to have my buddy come and help me set up my table/arm/cartridge. We couldn't get the anti skate figured out. Please let me know if I am missing something. Thanks very much.
nicksgem10s
ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62
3,291 posts
 
Don't use the blank groove on the Nottingham platter "dust cover". As per Tom Fletcher:

"set the anti-skating so that the arm slighlty stalls at the leadout groove before gently moving towards the spindle".

You could always buy a copy of the Hi-Fi News test record with the tracks for setting anti-skating. I have one, but don't care to use it. I just do what Tom suggested.

Oz
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Fully agree with Oldears and Ozzy. The blank disc method is flawed in principle.

The antiskate tracks on the HFN&RR test record mentioned by Ozzy are also flawed. It's easy enough to use the three "tracking test" tracks on side 2 to adjust antiskate, but the method described by Oldears is equally effective.

Antiskate is a compromise adjustment that can never be "perfect", so there's little point in going crazy over it. Once you've gotten accustomed to the sound of your (nice!) new rig, you can fine tune it by listening to music.
john_tracy
343 posts
 
If you notice that your cart. is mistracking in one channel only, that is an indication that the anti-skating needs adjustment. If I remember correctly (and I sure if I am wrong someone will correct me) the inner groove wall is the right channel and the outer wall has the left channel information. So, say the cart. is breaking up in the left channel. That would indicate that more tracking force is being applided to the inner wall; so you'd increase the anti-skating force to compensate. Conversely, if it was breaking up on the right channel you'd decrease the Anti-skating force. This is an issue with my Shelter 90X. Tracking near the mfg. limit, the anti-skating has to be close or it will break-up in one channel or the other on the inner grooves near the label.
ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62
3,291 posts
 
BTW, you can do much to improve the sound of your rig by ditching the MDF plinth that comes with the Spacedeck in favor of a Neuance platform. Just as an experiment, try the table directly on your rack, sans the Nott base. I think you will like what you hear. Then get in touch with Ken Lyon and have him make you a custom Neuance shelf. It really opens up the sound and improves dynamics.

Oz
john_tracy
343 posts
 
I can ditto that! I have a custom Neuance shelf for my Hyperspace. The charchol color of the shelf is almost an exact match with the carbon platter of the TT. Very cool looking. It replaces the top shelf of my rack.
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