Just found this too, quite informative, from Soundsmith's Peter L - He believes in some AS adjustment, but not by a test record.
https://www.sound-smith.com/faq/how-do-i-adjust-anti-skating-my-cartridge
The only way to figure out what the anti-skate force is would be to somehow measure it, and I am trying to find a way to do it. But as Lederman/Schoeder say, the amount of this force needed would depend on VTF. Therefore, SME's approach of setting anti-skate as a percentage of VTF appears to be correct. Beautiful arms!
Thanks. I've always liked longer arms, and I always loved SME's
I agree. I also think the damped spring in the SME AS mechanism in their newer arms also varies the force during the length of the record side, which I think is consistent with the varying skating force. The string/weight mechanism of the SME 3012R also seems to vary the force as the arm swings inward.
Having just watched Lederman's video, I plan to do the same test that you did on the deadwax portion of an LP to see the results.
Great stuff in the SME arms. I am actually beginning to realize that the VPI anti-skating device - that V shape thing - is also varying anti-skate by virtue of its V shape as it rotates, based on where the right-hand leg falls relative to a logical vertical line, and it seems to me that it decreases the force from start to finish of the LP.
Thanks Peter. I had no doubt the V-12 would be a better arm in this regard than the 3012R. Keeping the arm motionless in the dead wax is probably not a good setting to select.
So I am wondering if the length of the arm plays a role here. Lederman/Schroeder say it's this headshell offset angle that creates this sliding force - not sure I agree entirely, because if the platter and LP are not entirely flat then they would also affect it - and under that assumption, would/could the arm's length make this force smaller or larger. Not sure, just throwing a question and idea out there.
Jadis, thanks for this link. It is excellent.
My Linn Akito 3B arm is 9". I believe the 10" would be called the long arm.
As far as I see these methods are equivalent to setting bias for optimum tracking with a groove with 30-40% modulation. The nominal 0 dB Reference Level is 5cm/s , but is this level the 100% modulation? According to "Information and Measurement" by J.C.G Lesurf most cartridges will track at levels 20 dB above the reference level.
Great question. I think one has to test by listening to a variety of favorite music. It seems inexact at best, but a good method to achieve a useful compromise. If it fails during extreme cases, readjustment may be necessary.
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