Tonearm Pulls To Outside? 97 Most Correct Answers

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The tonearm will only be pulled toward the label hen playing. When balanced to “float” some arms will still have a tendency to pull toward the outside of the record. If your turntable is properly leveled and the arm is still pulling outward, then don’t worry about it.Try re-arranging the wires where they emerge from the tonearm base (under top-plate). The tonearm wires may be affecting tonearm movement. Could be a problem with anti skate setting or might be turntable out of level.When there is too much anti-skating force, it will cause too much pressure to be applied to the right or outer groove walls, causing a higher level of distortion on the L channel. This can only be measured while the stylus is sitting in the grooves with the LP playing.

Why does my tonearm move to the right?

Try re-arranging the wires where they emerge from the tonearm base (under top-plate). The tonearm wires may be affecting tonearm movement. Could be a problem with anti skate setting or might be turntable out of level.

How do I know if my anti skate is too high?

When there is too much anti-skating force, it will cause too much pressure to be applied to the right or outer groove walls, causing a higher level of distortion on the L channel. This can only be measured while the stylus is sitting in the grooves with the LP playing.

What happens if your tonearm is too heavy?

If you’re tracking force is too heavy this means the stylus is pushing down too hard on the record. You’re likely to hear more distortion and, in some cases, it can damage the record.

Audiogon Discussion Forum

Tracking is a fairly simple concept, but it can be daunting for newbies or those buying a deck with tracking for the first time. This article aims to give you a general overview of what tracking force is, how it can affect the sound of the record and also guide you through setting up your own turntable.

What is tracking force?

Tracking force is the weight with which the stylus (needle) of your turntable sits on the record. The needle must touch the record with the correct weight to produce the best sound and avoid damage to the record.

You should be able to set the tracking force on most entry-level and higher audiophile turntables such as Rega’s, Audio Technica’s and Pro-Jects. Cheaper turntables like Crosley’s or sub-$100 brands are unlikely to allow you to adjust the tracking force.

If your tracking force is too high, it means the stylus is pushing too hard on the record. You will likely hear more distortion and in some cases this can damage the record. If the weight of the stylus on the record is too light, there is a chance that the force of the grooves will propel the cartridge up and the stylus will “slip” across the record. This will cause the music to skip and possibly scratch the vinyl. That’s why we need to optimize the power for the best sound quality and protect your vinyl.

How to set the tracking force

The main component on the tonearm that allows you to adjust tracking force is the counterweight. This is usually located at the back end of the tonearm and will likely be numbered on it. You can adjust the tonearm weight by turning the counterweight to a specific number. The numbers are in grams, so if the counterweight is set to 2, the weight of the stylus on the record would be 2 grams.

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First we need to reset the tonearm so it can balance itself in the air like a seesaw. If your turntable has an anti-skate setting, set it to “0”. Now adjust the counterweight so that the tonearm balances in the air. By this I mean that the cartridge and stylus will float without touching the record/record, but will not fall up either. Your counterweight is now set to zero.

Now we need to find the right tracking force. Every cartridge has a recommended tracking force weight and to find this, consult your cartridge manual for information on this. If you don’t have the manual, check the appropriate weight online by searching for your cartridge and the specific gravity required. For example, if you use the Ortofon 2m Red cartridge, the force required to do this is around 1.8g.

Next we need to set the counterweight to the correct tracking force to use for your recording. Adjusting this is as simple as turning your counterweight or adjusting to the appropriate setting for your cartridge. Set the numbered dial on your counterweight to the required weight for your specific cartridge, which you have already looked up. This should then move the cartridge down towards the turntable or record and have the correct weight when playing music.

If your tonearm also has an anti-skate control, match it with the counterweight setting. So if it’s set to 2g, set the anti-skate to 2g as well. The anti-skate function counteracts the tonearm’s tendency to move inward as the needle approaches the center of the record, ensuring the music sounds as good as possible.

This step is by no means necessary, but if you want to further verify that your tracking force weight is correct, you can purchase a digital gram scale. One of these allows you to simply lower the pen onto its platform and a digital readout will show you exactly how much force is being applied. You can then check this against the scale on your counterweight and adjust accordingly.

How often should I test Tracking Force?

Once it’s discontinued, you shouldn’t need to check it for up to a year. Unless you move your turntable or hit the tonearm in some way. In any of these cases, simply re-zero the counterweight and use the steps above to re-adjust it to the correct tracking force.

You are done! Your turntable is now set to the correct tracking force. All you have to do is stick on your favorite record and enjoy!

How much weight should be on a turntable needle?

Counterweight Adjustment

New cartridges will tell what the ideal number is. As a rule of thumb, however, most “hifi” cartridges track between 1 and 2 grams, while most DJ cartridges track between 3 and 5 grams.

Audiogon Discussion Forum

Turntable: balancing a tone arm

There are many methods of configuring turntables, particularly turntables that are as popular as the Technics SL-1200. WSUM encourages hosts to do whatever they need to do to make their show sound the best it can be.

If you change the setup of the turntables or other devices, you are expected to restore the devices to a default setting upon completion. Everyone deserves a consistent starting point from which to serve their needs.

If you plan to play a lot of vinyl or scratch, please consider buying your own cartridges and styluses.

Pickup/headshell assembly

Mount your pickup with the screws provided. Make sure it’s parallel to the sides of the headshell. Additional weight may be required between the cartridge and the headshell, most often in a DJ application. Many new cartridges and new turntables come with these weights. If you cannot achieve the recommended tracking force, this weight is required.

Installing the cartridge unit

Insert the headshell/cartridge into the front of the tonearm as shown. Twisting the locking collar will hold the shell in place.

Tonearm Balance

With the tonearm locked, set the anti-skate control to “0” and slide the counterweight onto the back of the tonearm. Make sure the numbers face the front of the platter. Rotate the weight until you feel it click into place. Unlock the tonearm from the rest and move it toward the center, about 1 inch from the edge of the platter. Keep your arm off the surface with your right hand on the finger lift. Start twisting the counterweight one way or the other until the arm just seems to float. As can be seen in the picture, when the arm levitates properly, it does not point up or down, it remains parallel to the plate. It may take a few tries to get this right. Lock the tonearm back onto its rest.

Counterweight adjustment

Hold the rear, silver part of the counterweight with one hand and turn only the number ring with the other hand. It doesn’t matter which direction you turn it, but you’ll want “0” to face up when you’re done. Using only one hand, turn the entire counterweight (the silver part) COUNTER-CLOCKWISE until the recommended tracking force is reached. New cartridges indicate what the ideal number is. However, as a rule of thumb, most “hi-fi” cartridges track between 1 and 2 grams, while most DJ cartridges track between 3 and 5 grams.

WSUM cartridges

WSUM currently supplies Shure SC35C cartridges for general use. If you are looking for a different sound or don’t want to succumb to the habits of other turntable users, hosts can always install their own headshells and cartridges for their own use. Here are the general stats and information on the SC35C cartridge and SS35C stylus from the Shure website:

SC35C DJ Phono Needle, Standard – Scratch/Mix/Spin

Jump resistance: very high Output: high Record wear: low Sound emphasis: Clarity in the entire frequency range

This highly acclaimed favorite is the ideal choice for all-purpose DJ use. The SC35C is our standard DJ needle for all applications.

With a tracking force range of 4 to 5 grams, the SC35C offers significant bounce resistance.

Sharing Shure’s versatile Type I cantilever design with the M35S and M35X, the SC35C offers high-resolution sound reproduction at all audible frequencies.

DJ Phono Needle, Standard – Scratch/Mix/Spin

Tonearm mount – Standard 1/2″ cartridge type – Moving magnet Output voltage – Typical at 1kHz – 5.0mV RMS at 5cm/s tip speed Recommended load – 47k ohms in parallel with 250pF tracking force – Effective at stylus tip – Range : 4.0 to 5.0 Gram Stylus Cantilever – Shure Type 1: Low Mass – Heat Treated Aluminum Alloy / Tubular – 1.0 mil wall thickness / 30 mil diameter Diamond Stylus Tip – Polished Natural Gemstone: Spherical – Radius: 0.7 mil Frequency Response – Essentially flat from 20 to 20,000Hz Stereo Channel Balance – Within 2dB Channel Separation – Typical at 1kHz: 20dB Net Weight – 6.2 grams Height – 15.9mm Warranty – Full One Year Accessories Included – Additional Set of 4 Headshell Cables (4-99 ) – Needle cleaning brush – Headshell weight (3 grams) – Instruction manual – Mounting hardware – Needle guard Replacement needles – Individually with box and instruction manual SS35C – 4-pack mounted on card SS35CQ – 12-p ack Mounted on a Card SS35CZ Accessory Needle – For Wide Groove / 78 RPM r Shoots N78S

Anti-skate attitude

Adjust the anti-skate control to match the tracking force. In other words, if the tracking force is 2 grams, set the anti-skate control to “2”. The exception applies to DJs who scratch and back-cue. Your anti-skate must remain at “0”.

That’s the whole procedure! This should be done whenever the turntable is moved, transported or shipped. It’s also a good habit to do this at the start of each shift you’ll be playing vinyl for, as the last time you used them the turntables may have been modified to suit a different taste. After a few tries it becomes a 10 second job and will save your vinyl, your ears and your sanity!

What should my tracking force be?

Follow any specific counterweight recommendations and set the tracking force to the middle of the range. In most cases, the range falls between 1 and 3 grams. Keep in mind that some cartridges may set the range lower at 2.5 grams, so you want to read the manufacturer’s recommendations for the ideal range.

Audiogon Discussion Forum

When you buy a turntable and start playing music, you may find that you need to adjust the tracking force. Depending on the type of audio system you purchase, the amount of customization and customization available may vary.

Most systems allow you to adjust the tracking force to the optimal range based on cartridge weight. Realizing what your Tracking Force is actually doing for your records and why they are an important part of caring for your collection forms the basis of your plans and goals.

What is Tracking Force and what does it do?

Tracking force refers to the way your cartridge sits on the record when playing music.

You want to make sure your cartridge is seated at the ideal weight setting when setting your tracking force. Regardless of the audio equipment and quality of your system, any quality turntable will allow you to adjust the tracking force. In many cases, you add the cassette when setting up the audio system.

The purpose of tracking force is simple: it determines the weight with which your cartridge sits on the record. You don’t want too much weight, but you don’t want it to sit easily on the plate either.

The goal when setting up your tracking force is a mid-range that falls within the perfect weight to play your music without causing problems for your collection.

What is the best tracking force range?

Determining the optimal range for your tracking force depends on the cartridge. Generally, a cartridge manufacturer will provide details of an appropriate counterbalance range for the specific cartridge you have purchased for your turntable. Follow any specific counterbalance recommendations and set the tracking force to the middle of the range.

In most cases, the range is between 1 and 3 grams. Keep in mind that some cartridges can set the range down to 2.5 grams, so you should read the manufacturer’s recommendations for the ideal range.

Avoid the high end and opt for a medium setting. For example, if the cartridge requires a counterweight of 1.5 to 2.5 grams, set the tracking force at around 2 grams, rather than dropping toward the high or low end of the counterweight recommendations.

By dropping in the middle, you adjust the system to the ideal weight to play music without damaging your collection.

Why is Tracking Force essential for your collection?

The reason tracking force is so important to your music collection is the weight of your records. Setting the tracking force too high will put extra strain on your recordings. This can cause your records to wear out or become damaged from the excessive drag.

By keeping the tracking force in the right range, you keep your record collection in good condition.

While overweight is an issue for your collection, you also want to ensure that the tracking force is sufficient to play your music. Setting the tracking force too low can cause problems with your sound quality and the way the stylus moves across the record.

Slight force will cause the needle to snap across the record, possibly scratching or damaging your collection. It also causes poor sound quality when you play music on the turntable.

Adjusting the tracking force to the ideal range for the cartridge will prevent the cartridge from dragging across the surface of the record. This way you won’t damage the record as much and your collection will last longer.

The tracking force is an important part of maintaining your records and keeping your collection in pristine condition. When you play a vinyl record, you want to hear the music without damaging and wearing out the surface. By adjusting the tracking force to the ideal range based on the counterbalance recommendations on the cartridge, you will avoid unnecessary hassles with your records and you will have better sound quality when using a turntable to play your music.

Should tracking force and anti-skate be the same?

To maintain the stylus in the middle of the groove you have to set the proper tracking force and anti-skate, both are equally important. The vertical tracking force (VTA) keeps the stylus fully sited on the grooves vertically while the anti-skate will keep the stylus in the middle of the groove horizontally.

Audiogon Discussion Forum

When playing a record, the friction between the needle and the surface of the record creates a force that pushes the tonearm towards the center. This internal force is called skating force and must be counteracted or balanced. Otherwise, the sound quality may be affected and the stylus may become more prone to skipping. The device that prevents a turntable from skating is called an anti-skate.

Most turntables have these features. Turntables that do not have an anti-skate adjuster may have an internal mechanism to counteract the skating force. The fact that a turntable doesn’t have an anti-skate knob doesn’t mean the turntable will skate. It just means that the anti-skate force cannot be adjusted manually. Turntables with cartridges attached to the tonearm do not need an adjustable anti-skate feature because the cartridge cannot be changed and no counterweight is needed. If your turntable doesn’t have an anti-skate control, you can use the two methods below to check if your turntable is rolling, but you may not be able to adjust it.

How to adjust anti-skating

Phonographs work properly when a certain weight or force is applied vertically to the point of contact between the stylus tip and the record groove. This weight or vertical force can be adjusted with the counterweight. Adequate tracking force or weight will keep the stylus in the groove and allow the stylus to follow your music well. If the tracking force is too high, the stylus can damage your record and the stylus and cantilever will have difficulty moving up and down. If tracking is too light, the stylus will not fully seat on the groove and may bounce all over the place. So the right weight has to be set, not too light and not too heavy. You must follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

The walls of the microgroove form a “V” shape. The tip of the pen rides the most in the middle. To keep the needle centered in the groove you need to set the correct tracking force and anti-skate, both of which are equally important. Vertical Tracking Force (VTA) keeps the pin fully vertical on the grooves, while Anti-Skate keeps the pin horizontal in the center of the groove. If no anti-skate is applied, the needle will sit against one of the walls.

Manufacturers know what they are doing, so always trust their specs. To set the tracking force, you must first read the cartridge’s specifications to verify the recommended tracking force. Then adjust both the counterweight and anti-skate knob to the recommended weight for your cartridge. Here is a video that explains this very clearly. Minute 10:30 explains the counterbalance setting and minute 20:22 explains the anti-skate setting.

How to check your anti-skate

I know there are two ways to check if the anti-skate is set correctly.

You can use a test log to verify proper anti-skating. A test record contains recorded signals that can help you adjust or evaluate various aspects of your turntable. With Anti-Skate there is a signal for each of the channels. When you play this track, both channels should sound clean and of the highest quality. Distortions and intensity differences are indications of an incorrect anti-skate setting. You can adjust your anti-skate until the sound is clear and the level is balanced. You can listen to the track or use an oscilloscope to analyze the signals. The problem with evaluating the acoustic signal is that our hearing deteriorates with age and with our listening habits. So our hearing may not be trustworthy. For the average person, that shouldn’t be a problem.

to check the right anti-skate. A test record contains recorded signals that can help you adjust or evaluate various aspects of your turntable. With Anti-Skate there is a signal for each of the channels. When you play this track, both channels should sound clean and of the highest quality. Distortions and intensity differences are indications of an incorrect anti-skate setting. You can adjust your anti-skate until the sound is clear and the level is balanced. You can listen to the track or use an oscilloscope to analyze the signals. The problem with evaluating the acoustic signal is that our hearing deteriorates with age and with our listening habits. So our hearing may not be trustworthy. For the average person, that shouldn’t be a problem. Some people use a blank record. This is a record with no grooves, it has a flat surface with no music. In this case, place the needle in the center of the record. If the needle stays in place during playback, the anti-skate is properly adjusted. If the needle slides toward either the center or the edge of the record, your anti-skate needs adjustment. There are some people who disagree with this technique because the skate force is different on a grooved record than on a flat surface. Here is a video demonstrating this procedure.

What to do if the turntable does not have anti-skating?

Many low-end turntables do not provide an option to adjust the anti-skate force. Unfortunately there isn’t much you can do about it. My advice is to first make sure your turntable is perfectly level. Use a spirit level to ensure your device is level. If you find that your turntable is still rolling, you can try placing small index cards under your turntable’s feet to change the incline. However, this is not an accurate method of controlling anti-skate, but it can solve some jumping problems that a player without anti-skate may have.

What is an anti-skating weight?

Modified on: Mon, 7 Jan, 2019 at 12:46 PM. The anti-skating weight is a small metal cylinder secured by a piece of fishing line. The small loop (on the right hand side in the image above) attaches to a pin on the back of the tonearm (see below), and is supported by a second pin or a wire support arm.

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Last modified: Mon 7 January 2019 at 12:46 p.m

The anti-skate weight is a small metal cylinder attached with a piece of fishing line. The small loop (on the right side in the picture above) attaches to a pin on the back of the tonearm (see below) and is supported by a second pin or wire support arm.

Once looped, the anti-skating weight prevents the tonearm from drifting back toward the outer edge of your record and helps ensure the cartridge sits center-groove, giving you accurate, balanced sound in both channels .

You can see in the image below that the anti-skate pin has three different rings for the weight to hang on. The ring you choose affects the force the weight exerts on the tonearm – closer to the tonearm (1) provides less force, while ring 3 provides the maximum force.

Choosing the right ring has to do with the cartridge that is fitted to the tonearm and how much downforce it requires. The Ortofon cartridges mounted on most Pro-Ject turntables require between 1.5 and 1.8 grams of downforce, so the most commonly used Ring is Ring 2. These are recommendations only, so we recommend getting one try higher setting if you find your tonearm drifting outward and see what works for you (make sure you have your tracking force set correctly first though!).

The anti-skating weight is suitable for almost all Pro-Ject turntables.

DJ PRO LAB – Technics Tonearm Check

DJ PRO LAB – Technics Tonearm Check
DJ PRO LAB – Technics Tonearm Check


See some more details on the topic tonearm pulls to outside here:

tonearm pulls to outside – Audiokarma

I have a Technics SL 1300. When trying to balance the tonearm prior to to setting the tracking force, the tonearm drifts to the outse.

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Source: audiokarma.org

Date Published: 8/2/2021

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My tonearm keeps moving to the right and I have no idea why

How quickly is it moving to the right? It should drift slightly due to the antiskate, which is intended to pull the arm towards the outse of …

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Date Published: 6/26/2022

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tone arm drifts towards the outside when lowering

When I lower or raise the tone arm it “drifts” to the outse. … That’s what anti-skating devices do, push or pull the arm outward.

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Tonearm “Pulling Back” Because of Antiskate?

It is somewhat normal. It’s not the anti-skate that’s really at fault, but the lack of friction between the rubber pad atop the cue platform and …

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Tonearm moving to right when lowering – Lenco Heaven

The tonearm wires may be affecting tonearm movement. … Could be a problem with anti skate setting or might be turntable out of level.

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16 USER GUIDE

Seize the handle of the tone arm and move it just outse the edge of the platter so … Pull the stylus to the lower front and remove it.

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How to I stop the stylus from sliding across my records?

Check the stylus for dust or debris that can build up over time. The anti-skate setting should match the tracking weight of the tonearm, if not it can cause …

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Why does a tonearm skate towards the center of a record, (if …

Second, the pivot of the tone arm is outse the record. … this force which doesn’t let you go out of your seat and its pulling you towards the center, …

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Turntable Anti-skating 101: What Is It and How to Set It?

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Tonearm moving to right when lowering

Bibop

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Age: 59

Location: Stockholm, Sweden

Posts: 160

MemberAge: 59Location: Stockholm, SwedenPosts: 160 Tonearm moves to the right when lowering « at: Sep 02 2015 23:05:59 » Hi

I picked up a nice L78 with new V blocks but when lowering the arm it moves a few mm to the right. Any idea what could be the problem? It is flat etc. and the arm is firmly fixed.

A Logged Arnold, that’s me.

“Musical ecstasy can only be achieved at the expense of sanity”. dr Harvey “Gizmo” Rosenberg,

“There are no shortcuts to perfect sound” Farbror Barbro

Ost Spiser

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Age: 55

Location: Denmark

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MemberAge: 55Location: DenmarkPosts: 871 Subject: Tonearm moves right when lowering « Reply #1 on: Sep 2nd 2015, 23:13:32 » plate).

Tone arm wires can interfere with tone arm movement.

-kristian Logged in

Midnight Ed

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Location: St-Eustache, Qc, Canada

Posts: 560

The Lenco addict

MemberAge: 60Location: St-Eustache, Qc, CanadaPosts: 560The Lenco Addict Subject: Tonearm moves right when lowering « Reply #3 on: Sep 03 2015 1:11:25 am » Hi Arnold,

Try to clean the rubber part that touches the lift arm!

You can also use a light sandpaper or nail file to remove the shine that has built up over time!

It should fix the problem!

I wouldn’t change the anti-skating settings unless they’re wrong!

Bottom up!

Registered Eddie

“If it measures well and sounds bad, it’s bad; if it measures bad and sounds good, you measured the wrong thing.” By – Daniel R. von Recklinghausen, former Chief Research Engineer, H.H. Scott

bush baby

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Age: 71

Location: Shepperton, Middx. (in exile from Wales)

Posts: 1,550

Member Age: 71 Location: Shepperton, Middx. (in exile in Welsh) Posts: 1,550 Re: Tonearm moves to the right when lowered « Answer #4 at: 03/09/2015 18:50:02 » Hi, when you say ‘right’ you mean away from the spindle ? If so, too much anti-skating could be the problem. I had this problem – but with no anti-skating set at all – and it kind of went away, so I was never sure what was causing it. I made many adjustments and the most likely cause was physical interference from the tonearm cables, which can have a surprisingly large impact on tonearm movement.

Cheers, registered Mark

….Ah, but I was so much older then, I’m younger than this no-o-o-ow

In Vinyl Veritas

Richard

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Location: Southeast Tennessee, USA

Posts: 7,798

MemberLocation: Southeast Tennessee, USA Posts: 7,798 Subject: Tonearm moves right when lowered «Reply #5 on: Sep 3 2015 11:40:54 PM » The vertical tracking force keeps the arm against the rubber covered bow. With light forces, the anti-skate can pull the arm sideways, even if it’s right. The arch can also be tilted slightly. I don’t like Lenco’s design. I glued a piece of rubber band to the bow that has more “tooth”. This worked for me. Logs Richard Steinfeld

Author of The Handbook for Stanton and Pickering Phonograph Cartridges and Styli.

h-j hill

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Location: North Yorkshire, UK

Posts: 829

MemberLocation: North Yorkshire, UKPosts: 829 Re: Tonearm moves right when lowered «Answer #6 on: 4 seen from above).

You have verified that the top plate/plate is horizontal and the arm column is vertical.

The ‘dressing’ of the tonearm leads would be my next point (without applying an anti-skate moment).

The anti-skate works counter-clockwise: that’s what it’s for; than approximately

opposing the opposing moment exerted on the arm by the tangential drag of the record surface below

the stylus in the offset cartridge/headshell – and the latter doesn’t happen until the stylus touches the record.

Some friction is required between the bottom of the arm and the pickup lift arch due to the anti-skate.

Just for completeness: is air moving above the turntable? Signed in Hector

~ no time to play records; too busy with the works ~

Bibop

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Age: 59

Location: Stockholm, Sweden

Posts: 160

MemberAge: 59Location: Stockholm, SwedenPosts: 160 Subject: Tonearm moves right when lowering « Reply #7 on: Sep 04 2015, 18:19:06 » Thanks for all the suggestions. I’ve tried a few but no luck yet. Probably the cable in the arm, but that will take some time to sort out. Registered Arnold, this is me.

“Musical ecstasy can only be achieved at the expense of sanity”. dr Harvey “Gizmo” Rosenberg,

“There are no shortcuts to perfect sound” Farbror Barbro

Tonearm antiskatng

AnalogMagik Tutorial #5: Optimizing Anti-Skating

(For version 1 and version 2)

anti skating

There is no shortage of controversy in the market about the existence, definition, and setup methods of anti-skating. Some manufacturers don’t believe in anti-skating.

Here’s a good paper we found on the subject: Anti-Skating

AnalogMagik is more interested in how the “skating” force shows up on a distortion analyzer and how to adjust the compensation on your tonearm, rather than discussing the cause or existence of anti-skating. We are more interested in finding a solution for when distortion is detected on the distortion analyzer.

As the platter rotates, the stylus of pivoting tonearms can experience uneven pressure on the groove walls, a lateral thrust that causes the stylus to lean against one side of the groove more than the other. This lateral thrust—which is usually compensated for by an anti-skate setting—is caused by headshell offset angle, groove modulation, and other factors. If the skating force is not compensated, the distribution of the vertical tracking force on the inner groove walls in the left channel (Inner Groove Walls) is increased, which leads to distortion in the right channel and vice versa.

Not all tonearms offer an anti-skate adjustment. Antiskating is sometimes not required on 12″ tonearms, but some antiskating force is usually required on 9″ tonearms.

There are many bizarre methods advocated by many people for adjusting anti-skate.

Some suggest using an empty record groove and “watching” the speed at which the cartridge slides across the surface. Some use a mirror cut in the shape of an LP, and anti-skate is determined by watching the cartridge slide across the surface. Some use torture tracks, others use complex DIY devices that measure bearing friction. Some use test tracks like the “Esther” LP and her ear to detect audible distortion on the track closest to the spindle.

However, none of these bizarre methods correlate with what you’re trying to measure, and result in an arbitrary anti-skating force that may not correlate with what you’re actually trying to compensate.

In our opinion, any tool that attempts to measure anti-skating force without the stylus sitting on the LP grooves while the record is spinning will result in a different coefficient of friction experienced by the stylus that is not with the actual pressure and the frictional force experienced correlated by playing the pen in real time.

For example, if you use a mirror or a blank/grooveless record, the coefficient of friction will be different than a normal LP with real grooves. They show no correlation to each other and therefore lead to inaccurate results. Torture tracks are just that, they are torture and don’t reflect the normal grooves and signals of a normal music LP.

We have to take a step back to see what anti-skating actually does.

If the anti-skate force is too low, the needle will put more pressure on the left or inner groove walls, resulting in more R-channel distortion. When there is too much anti-skating force, too much pressure is applied to the right or outer groove wall, resulting in a higher level of distortion on the L channel. This can only be measured while the needle is in the grooves while the LP is running. Our theory for optimizing anti-skating is to balance the level of distortion between the right and left channels.

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Edit Delete Does the tonearm have an anti-skate setting? If so, check that it’s adjusted correctly (i.e. too much anti-skate force will cause the arm to drift outward on lift).

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Edit Deleted the correct instructions from the previous 2 posters. Use a spirit level to ensure the table is level. Also make sure that the arm is perpendicular to the table itself. If you have an anti-skate setting, it could be set very loose in the sense that it tries to counteract the TT’s rotational forces. You want the anti-skating force applied to the arm to push toward the center of the platter. Also check your pressure setting to make sure the cartridge is sitting on the surface with not too little pressure. Well here’s something that affected my setup in the same way. I had rewired my tonearm and after seeing the same phenomenon as you did, I found that the wires were aligned in a way that put some force on the tonearm. The tonearm would only move slightly as you described until I readjusted the positioning of the wires in relation to the arm mechanism. Much luck.

Dopogue details

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Edit Delete A problem here. Quoting VPI with no anti-skating and using a pivoting arm with an offset head: “Putting down a stylus on a flat, grooveless platter will cause the arm to shoot towards the center of the platter.” If you use anti-skating at all (some don’t) you want to COUNTERACT that tendency, not amplify it. So the OP’s situation is better than the opposite, but it sounds like he has a little too much anti-skating for some reason.

alarm details

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Edit Delete Check your anti-skating by looking closely at the cartridge face-on while a record is playing. Viewed from this perspective, the cantilever should be at the same left and right angles with respect to the cartridge body as it is when the stylus is lifted off the record (which is straight up on the best designed and manufactured cartridges).

In my experience, most anti-skating force adjustment guidelines offered by tonearm or turntable manufacturers result in applying too much force, and I’ve usually found about 2/3 of the recommended setting to be the correct ones delivers results.

Regards,

– Al

Dougdeacon details

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Edit Delete Assuming a tonearm is unrestricted in the lateral plane during cueing (everything level, free of dust and debris, low-friction bearings in good condition and properly adjusted, tonearm wire twist and other lateral forces eliminated, low friction between arm tube and cueing mount), then any amount of anti-skating applied during cueing will move the arm outward. This is what anti-skating devices do, they push or pull your arm outward.

Actual behavior varies from one arm design to another. For example, outward cueing drift is typical of Rega arms and its clones because (1) the anti-skate device exerts some force even when set to “zero” and (2) that force is always on. OTOH, cueing drift on a TriPlanar is avoidable. Aside from the option to truly set anti-skate to “zero”, the anti-skate device is easily adjusted so that no outward force is applied until the pin touches down.

Other designs may vary in other ways. Check all of the above factors. If everything seems fine, examine your arm’s anti-skate function. Its design may or may not allow you to mitigate outward cueing drift.

relsteamboat OP details

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Edit Delete thanks everyone.

I removed the anti-skate and the problem went away. Not sure if I can hear a difference or tracking issues.

The table is level and I’ve triple checked the VTF – all fine.

will try to clean the elevator

the table is the RM 10 project with a shelter 901 trolley.

olderbrothergert details

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Edit Delete Interesting that just in the last month I’ve noticed this behavior in my arm: an RB700 mounted on a base 2200 Sig. Both arrived new in May of this year and as I said the drift is a more recent development. It was set up for me by my local technician (whom I implicitly trust, he’s not new to this). I will check my table for the level as soon as possible.

As Dougdeacon points out, this is perhaps just a feature of the Rega arm. But if that is so, wouldn’t it have been so from the beginning?

FWIW, car is a Dyna XV-1s.

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