Does antiskating matter with spring disabled?


Hi
I am planning to use Expessimo counterweight with Rega arm.With internal spring disabled do i need to touch antiskating?Thank you .
overhang
Yes. AS is different from VTF. You still need to counteract the tendancy of the arm to twist toward the center of the record.
I tried one of these counterweights on an RB-300 and went back to the original -- liked the sound better. YMMV.
I am using the Expressimo heavy counterweight on my Rega RB-900, and have the VTF disabled (by turning the VTF gauge all the way up). And unlike Dopogue, I was really quite amazed at the improvement wrought by the Expressimo counterweight.
Fact - When you install the new c/w and disable the VTF spring you will have to adjust VTF by measuring it with a scale. (This is good.)

Fact - For the scale to work accurately you must zero out AS.

Conclusion - You will have to reset AS afterwards.

Recommendation - The AS device on Rega arms is notoriously inaccurate. Most people find the optimum value to be lower than the scale indicates. Nsgarch's world-famous visual AS-setting method is easy, effective and free. (I'll let him type it - again!)

>>"I am planning to use Expessimo counterweight with Rega arm.With internal spring disabled do i need to touch antiskating?Thank you."<<
[Overhang]
>>>>>>>>>

Like others that have posted, I believe you meant the VTF dial.

Here is what the lit says in regard the the Rega RB 300-600-900-1000 arms.

"For optimum performace on RB 300-600-900-1000 set dial pass 3 (this locks the spring down to prevent spring vibrations down the arm tube) then set tracking force with a gauge."

Thus moving the Heavy weight on the arm tail shaft for the proper tracking force.
Jim
Why do you want to disconnect the antiskating?
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>>"I am planning to use Expessimo counterweight with Rega arm.With internal spring disabled do i need to touch antiskating?"<<
[Overhang]
>>>>>>>>>

You do not need to do anything with the antiskate. That is separate from the VTF spring that the "Expessimo counterweight" literature is talking about. The antiskate control slide lever is at the base of the arm support.

Here is what the lit says for adjustment.
"Set the bias adjustment knob to the same number as the tracking force. Note: This setting is not critical and a figure of 1-1.5g will normally be suitable for moving magnet cartridges and 1.5-2g for most moving coil cartridges."

Where ever you had it set before the Heavyweight just leave it there.

As far as needing antiskate for the Rega arm I can't say. I believe some VPI arms do not have any antiskate control.
Jim
Jea48,

With all respect, you are confusing things.

Why do you want to disconnect the antiskating?
He never said he wanted to disconnect it. He asked if he should "touch" it, i.e., readjust for any reason.

Where ever you had it set before the Heavyweight just leave it there.
Changing the c/w, disabling the VTF spring and setting downforce with a scale REQUIRES that antiskate be temporarily disabled, as I mentioned above. Further, the use of a different c/w and a new VTF can alter skating force. He may well need a different antiskate setting.

I believe some VPI arms do not have any antiskate control.
That is not true. All VPI arms have some provision for antiskate control.

***
The simple procedure I mentioned above should produce better results than just leaving AS wherever it was before. There is no reason to assume that his previous setting, which may or may not have been optimal, will also be optimal under new conditions.
Dougdeacon, Sorry, I just assumed he would set the antiskate to zero to set up the VTF. It would be a little tough if he did not.

I will concede you know a hell of a lot more about TTs than I do. Thats a given.....

As for some of the VPI arms not having antiskate control though I do not have a VPI, I have read that from their literature. And yes I know about the twist the wire thing.
http://www.vpiindustries.com/faqs.htm#faq1
Jim