KentTeffeteller
Gimpus Stereophilus!
I use a Stanton 681a tracking at around 1.75 grams without issue. With the EEE-S I can understand why anti-skating is necessary on some arms. The AR XA never had it either for one.
I use a Stanton 681a tracking at around 1.75 grams without issue. With the EEE-S I can understand why anti-skating is necessary on some arms. The AR XA never had it either for one.
Hi, the skating is nothing to do with the static balance of the arm really, it is a product of the rotation of the record on the stylus. This paper has a clear (IMO) explanation of how the skating force is generated by a spinning record. It does, however, depend on the tonearm geometry.Because that crude looking arm has a near perfect neutral lateral balance. No torque = no skate.
Hi, the skating is nothing to do with the static balance of the arm really, it is a product of the rotation of the record on the stylus. This paper has a clear (IMO) explanation of how the skating force is generated by a spinning record.
For the record (pun intended) it also gives clues on why adjusting the antiskating with an blank disc is a flawed method. The skating force depends linearly on a friction coefficient which is completely different in a groove or on a flat surface. Use a proper test record, or trust the scale on your tonearm.
I agree that static balance has nothing to with skating force. But I don´t think the blank disc method is flawed at all. When I have tested different spin down time with blank disc, silent groove and mudulated groove, there is not really any difference. That means that the friction force is rather similar no matter what we play, and doesn´t depend much on tip area.
gusten
Doesn't it seem counter-intuitive that the contact patch area wouldn't be a frictional factor affecting degree of stylus drag and therefore degree of skating force?
Hi gusten, have a look at the figures in the paper above. Admittedly it doesn't show a disc without a groove, but the difference between a silent and modulated groove is pretty self-explanatory. Remember that we are talking about just grammes-force here, probably not enough to noticeably brake the platter, but quite enough to change the skating force to compensate.
When you look at it the difference is taken into account in the two scales of the typical good AS dial, one for conical and one for elliptic. Of course it is just a rough estimate, it doesn't replace proper setting using a test record, but it has its use. Besides I had already noticed that stylii tend to need a higher AS setting as they grow old. That would be a plausible explanation.No opposite really, friction force is only dependant on normal force and friction coefficient. On the other hand, what do we really know about the area, nothing really.
gusten
I'm sure, but did you check the precision of your measure? Are you sure you can measure the very few gf of difference (most probably even less than that nowadays) between a silent groove and loud modulation? I ask because physically it seems really unlikely that there is no difference at all.I am very sure there is no difference in friction force, I have measured this extensively.
gusten
Edit: What I mean is of course that the force vector parallell to the groove is the same.
I am very sure there is no difference in friction force, I have measured this extensively.
gusten
Edit: What I mean is of course that the force vector parallell to the groove is the same.
When you look at it the difference is taken into account in the two scales of the typical good AS dial, one for conical and one for elliptic. Of course it is just a rough estimate, it doesn't replace proper setting using a test record, but it has its use. Besides I had already noticed that stylii tend to need a higher AS setting as they grow old. That would be a plausible explanation.
I'm sure, but did you check the precision of your measure? Are you sure you can measure the very few gf of difference (most probably even less than that nowadays) between a silent groove and loud modulation? I ask because physically it seems really unlikely that there is no difference at all.
Hi, the skating is nothing to do with the static balance of the arm really, it is a product of the rotation of the record on the stylus. This paper has a clear (IMO) explanation of how the skating force is generated by a spinning record. It does, however, depend on the tonearm geometry.
But I don't buy it...I see the principles listed and Gusten posted some very good math supporting this and there have been certain schools of thought that say anto-skate is irrelevant..
well, how about tangible proof otherwise?
We know that too much (excessive) or no anti-skate can be heard audibly to make a difference.
test - Mono record , system set for stereo , anti-skate (on arms requiring) set to zero , listen between the speakers to the mono record.
Do the channels sound equal or is the left channel louder ? Does a voice seem stronger on the left ? It should because AS is set to zero and there is less contact with the right wall. The right channel might sound dull.
Now set the AS as high as it will go. This time you will get the reverse effect.
Set it correctly and there will be total balance.
So if anti-skate has no effect, the why the audible difference ?
And why are some arms designed with no anti-skate ..I am guessing due to high VTF requirement (higher mass arms ) AND they may in fact have some bearing resistance that makes them (purposely ) less free floating.
Its school of thought folks ...manufacturers did not add anti-skate to over 90% of tables because it cost less..THEY HAD TO...with the advent of lighter arm masses, different tables.
Do you see antiskate on old old tables (50's, early 60's) ..No ..because the arms were like steel rebar...heavy and made to track heavy..
So sorry to go against the grain (ha ha pun intended) but taking the minority school of thought that anto-skate is irrelelvant just doesnt make sense.
test it yourself. If you are happy there is no audible difference, then feel free to set yours to zero, throw away and suspended weights..etc.
:yes:
This is the method I used to determine the amount of antiskate needed. I find on my Kenwoods (KD550 and KD5070) I only need about 40% of VTF (based on the AS scale markings) and a mono record balances perfectly, and any groove distortion is minimized with proper setup. Visually, deflection of the cantilever while playing is also minimized.
Of course it would. Read the paper.