1. Home
  2. analog
  3. 1352171457

Results from Eliminating Anti-Skate

I removed my anti-skate device from my VPI tonearm, and the improvement is nothing short of astonishing. I had anti-skate set very low since the 12 inch tonearm needs very little anti-skate. Naturally in removing the device, I had to reset the arm which may (or may not {I was very carful setting it up before}) account for the difference in sound, but with the elimination of anti-skate, there is much better dynamic contrasts, much better bass, much cleaner and clearer midrange, and sweeter highs. I think that adding anti-skate deadened the sound. Try removing the device....not just setting the gizmo to 0, but remove the entire device and have a listen. I have a VPI Superscout/Classic platter/10.5i/Benz LPS/used in balanced mode.
stringreen
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
some of the records will make stylus slide and scratch the very first track. make sure that you're landing your needle right onto the first track than to prevent sliding.
sbrownnw
652 posts
 
Do you have a grooveless record or laser disc with the center hole increased to fit a 45 adapter to test antiskate?
viridian's avatar
viridian
4,184 posts
 
Setting anti-skate with a grooveless record will result in spurious settings with too much force applied.
tdaudio
201 posts
 
Stringeen, I have run with out any anti skate for several years. FWIW, my sample size in not large. Two ZYX Universe Carts and a Tri Planer VII and a TW Acustic 10.5. But the Tri is a 9" while the the TW is 10.5"-ish. But I use no anti skate with either. One would think that shorter arms might need that more? I have tired anti skate with both but could not dial in any thing that seemed to add to better sound. No anti skate sounded the best. With a 12" arm - why? Maybe I am missing something but this seems like another issue where there is a theoretical argument that is not always proved out in actual usage.

TD
bpoletti
1,004 posts
 
I use an original JMW-12 on an Aries (extended). Doesn't have any anti-skate or a provision for anti-skate. I don't even torque the lead wire. Don't use any damping fluid. I don't have any trouble setting the stylus down on the lead in groove. Arm sounds great.
More to discover