When you can't adjust the anti-skate with a particular arm, then you shouldn't be surprised when it has anti-skating problems. You might as well just get a different arm right away, because now you're going to have the same psychological reaction as the guy above. The arm is always going to be suspected, every time something doesn't sound right. It will drive you nuts.
Need help - Set up Helikon using test LP
Over the weekend, I was setting up my Helikon on a Vpi JMW 10.5 arm using the Hifi News test LP and I ran into some problems. The table was a Vpi Aries.
There are four tracks (6 to 9) on the test LP to help setting up the anti-skate. They are 300Hz pure tones. Each track is a few db louder than the one before.
I played the lowest level track (track 6) and it was fine. The 300Hz tone was beautifully reproduced on both channels with equal loudness.
I than played the next louder track (track 7). The right channel immediately buzzed, indicating the need for anti-skate adjustments. I tried twisting the arm leads both clockwise and counterclockwise, one turn at a time, up to 3 turns; but the right channel buzz still persisted.
I also played the track 8, which is a few db louder than track 7. This time the right channel buzzed loudly for a couple of seconds and it jumped track.
The Aries has been perfectly leveled. I checked it with a bubble level and a 10” carpenter level.
The tracking force was set at between 1.75g and 1.80g; it is difficult to be exact due to the limited resolution of the Shure gauge. But in any case, it is at the maximum recommended value so I doubt that was the cause.
The arm was running dry, no damping oil added.
Has anyone tried this? Any help/comments will be greatly appreciated.
There are four tracks (6 to 9) on the test LP to help setting up the anti-skate. They are 300Hz pure tones. Each track is a few db louder than the one before.
I played the lowest level track (track 6) and it was fine. The 300Hz tone was beautifully reproduced on both channels with equal loudness.
I than played the next louder track (track 7). The right channel immediately buzzed, indicating the need for anti-skate adjustments. I tried twisting the arm leads both clockwise and counterclockwise, one turn at a time, up to 3 turns; but the right channel buzz still persisted.
I also played the track 8, which is a few db louder than track 7. This time the right channel buzzed loudly for a couple of seconds and it jumped track.
The Aries has been perfectly leveled. I checked it with a bubble level and a 10” carpenter level.
The tracking force was set at between 1.75g and 1.80g; it is difficult to be exact due to the limited resolution of the Shure gauge. But in any case, it is at the maximum recommended value so I doubt that was the cause.
The arm was running dry, no damping oil added.
Has anyone tried this? Any help/comments will be greatly appreciated.
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- 26 posts total
- 26 posts total