Are you tired of hearing that annoying hissing sound when playing your vinyl records?
It could be due to improper anti-skating on your turntable.
Anti-skating is an essential feature that helps maintain good channel balance, minimize distortion, and reduce stylus and record wear.
But how do you adjust it properly?
In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of adjusting anti-skating on your turntable, so you can enjoy your vinyl collection without any unwanted noise.
So, let’s get started!
How To Adjustments Anti-Skate On Turntable
The first step in adjusting anti-skating on your turntable is to ensure that your tonearm is properly balanced. Most turntables come with an adjustable weight at the end of the arm called a counterweight. This weight helps balance out any extra weight from factors such as cartridge and stylus assembly variations.
To balance out your tonearm, start with the counterweight at 0 grams and anti-skating at 0 as well. Then, adjust your weight until the tonearm floats freely. Your tonearm is now balanced.
Next, you’ll need to adjust the tracking force. Rotate the knob on your counterweight until it reaches your cartridge manufacturer’s recommended weight. If you don’t know this offhand, it’s usually a safe bet to go with 2-3 grams.
As the turntable spins, the centripetal force will pull the tonearm and cartridge towards the center of the LP. Microscopically, this force will cause the stylus to have more pressure on the inner walls of grooves versus the outer walls, resulting in distortions.
To counteract this force, most tonearms will have an anti-skating dial which will apply a counteracting centrifugal force, so that the stylus will have equal pressure on both side walls of the groove. Not all tonearms provide for an anti-skating adjustment.
On a 12″ tonearm, anti-skating is usually not required in some cases, but on a 9″ arm some anti-skating force is usually needed. The market has no shortage of controversies and setup methods when it comes to anti-skating.
Some suggest using a blank record groove and “to eyeball” the speed at which the cartridge slides across the surface. Some use a Mirror cut into the shape of an LP, and anti-skating is determined by watching the cartridge slide across the surface. Some employ the use of torture tracks or complex DIY devices.
In our opinion, any tools which attempt to measure anti-skating force without the stylus sitting on the LP groove while the record is spinning, introduces a different friction coefficient experienced by the stylus which bears no correlation with the actual level of pressure and frictional force experienced in real time play settings.
For example, if you use a mirror or a blank/grooveless record, the friction co-efficient will be different than a normal LP with actual groves. They bear no correlation to one another, so they will lead to inaccurate results.
To optimize anti-skating, you need to take a step back and see what it actually does. When there is too little anti-skating force, the centripetal force will cause the stylus to apply too much force to the left or inner groove walls, causing a higher level of distortion on the R channel.
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.
To set your anti-skate properly, begin by adjusting it to the same value as your vertical tracking force (VTF). This will get you in the ballpark. Listen carefully to the last few minutes of a record to determine if more or less anti-skate is needed.
Listen for distortion, perhaps most notably in sibilance (that annoying hissing sound produced when pronouncing certain letters or combinations of letters such as “s” and “sh”), and determine if it appears to be louder on one channel, left or right.
Adjust your anti-skate value until distortion is minimized. Now listen carefully at two or three different points across your record. If you used an alignment protractor to align your cartridge, listen at those alignment points.
Listen for any differences in tone, dynamics and soundstage at these points. If there are differences, some tweaking of your anti-skate adjustment may be needed.
If adjusting your anti-skate does not clear up a particular problem, there may be another reason for it. Contact your turntable manufacturer’s Audio Solutions Department for further advice.
Understanding Anti-Skating
Anti-skating is a crucial feature in turntables that helps maintain good channel balance, minimize distortion, and reduce stylus and record wear. During playback of a record, a force is produced that pulls the tonearm towards the center of the platter, which can cause tracking issues and damage to your records. Anti-skating applies a counteracting force to the tonearm, preventing it from skating across your vinyl records and causing unpleasant sound quality.
Most turntables come with an adjustable anti-skate control that allows you to set the anti-skate force manually. However, some turntables may not have this manual adjustment, but that does not mean they do not have this feature. In such cases, the anti-skate feature may be handled internally and preset at a fixed value by the turntable’s manufacturer.
To set your anti-skate properly, start by ensuring that your tonearm is properly balanced. Adjust your weight until the tonearm floats freely. Then, adjust your tracking force to your cartridge manufacturer’s recommended weight. As the turntable spins, the centripetal force will pull the tonearm and cartridge towards the center of the LP. Microscopically, this force will cause the stylus to have more pressure on the inner walls of grooves versus the outer walls, resulting in distortions.
To counteract this force, use your anti-skate dial to apply a counteracting centrifugal force so that the stylus will have equal pressure on both side walls of the groove. If there is too little anti-skating force, it causes higher distortion on the right channel. Conversely, if there is too much anti-skating force, it causes higher distortion on the left channel.
To optimize your anti-skating, listen carefully to the last few minutes of a record to determine if more or less anti-skate is needed. Listen for distortion, particularly in sibilance, and determine if it appears louder on one channel than the other. Adjust your anti-skate value until distortion is minimized.
Why Proper Anti-Skating Is Important
Proper anti-skating is crucial for maintaining good channel balance and minimizing distortion while listening to your vinyl records. Without proper anti-skating, the stylus may not remain centered in the record groove as the tonearm travels across the record. This can result in uneven pressure on the left and right channels, causing one channel to be louder than the other.
Additionally, without proper anti-skating, the stylus may apply too much pressure to one side of the groove, causing excessive wear on the stylus and record. This can lead to a shortened lifespan for both your record and stylus.
By calibrating your anti-skating feature correctly, you can ensure that your stylus rests perfectly in the groove of your records, providing dynamic sound without distortions, skips or oddities during playback. You can also prolong the life of your equipment and records by reducing wear and tear on the needle and preventing tracking issues.
Ultimately, proper anti-skating is an essential part of maintaining your vinyl setup and ensuring that you get the best possible sound quality from your records. So take the time to adjust your anti-skate properly and enjoy your vinyl collection to the fullest!
Tools You’ll Need
To properly adjust the anti-skate on your turntable, you will need a few tools. First, you will need a counterweight to balance the tonearm. Most turntables come with an adjustable weight at the end of the arm called a counterweight.
You will also need a tracking force gauge to measure the recommended tracking force for your cartridge. The Shure SFG-2 Stylus Tracking Force Gauge is one of the most accurate gauges on the market.
In addition, you may want to invest in a test record to help you fine-tune your anti-skating mechanism. Test records can assess everything from tracking to channel balance and anti-skating resistance.
Finally, you may want to consider using a toothpick or other makeshift tool if you do not have a finger lift at the right location to measure the anti-skate force. As long as you have the whole affair balanced at zero, you will be fine.
Setting Up Your Turntable For Adjustments
Before you begin adjusting the anti-skate on your turntable, it is important to ensure that your tonearm is properly balanced. This is achieved by using the counterweight at the end of the arm. Start with the counterweight at 0 grams and anti-skating at 0 as well. Then, adjust your weight until the tonearm floats freely.
Once your tonearm is balanced, you can begin adjusting the tracking force. Rotate the knob on your counterweight until it reaches your cartridge manufacturer’s recommended weight, usually around 2-3 grams.
To adjust the anti-skate, start by setting it to the same value as your vertical tracking force (VTF). This will get you in the ballpark. Listen carefully to the last few minutes of a record to determine if more or less anti-skate is needed.
Listen for distortion, particularly in sibilance, and determine if it appears to be louder on one channel, left or right. Adjust your anti-skate value until distortion is minimized.
It is important to listen carefully at two or three different points across your record to check for any differences in tone, dynamics and soundstage at these points. If there are differences, some tweaking of your anti-skate adjustment may be needed.
It is worth noting that not all turntables have an adjustable anti-skate control. In some cases, it may be preset at a fixed value by the turntable’s manufacturer. If you are unsure whether your turntable has an adjustable anti-skate control, consult your manual or contact your turntable manufacturer’s Audio Solutions Department for further advice.
Adjusting Anti-Skating On Your Turntable
When it comes to adjusting anti-skating on your turntable, it’s important to start with a properly balanced tonearm. This can be achieved by using the counterweight at the end of the arm to balance out any extra weight from factors such as cartridge and stylus assembly variations.
Once your tonearm is balanced, you’ll need to adjust the tracking force by rotating the knob on your counterweight until it reaches your cartridge manufacturer’s recommended weight. This will ensure that your stylus is applying the correct amount of pressure to the record groove.
Next, you’ll want to adjust your anti-skate. Many tonearms come with an adjustable anti-skate control, which applies a small outward force to the tonearm, counteracting the tendency of the arm to move inward (skate) toward the center of the record.
To set your anti-skate properly, begin by adjusting it to the same value as your vertical tracking force (VTF). This will get you in the ballpark. Listen carefully to the last few minutes of a record to determine if more or less anti-skate is needed.
Listen for distortion, perhaps most notably in sibilance (that annoying hissing sound produced when pronouncing certain letters or combinations of letters such as “s” and “sh”), and determine if it appears to be louder on one channel, left or right. Adjust your anti-skate value until distortion is minimized.
Now listen carefully at two or three different points across your record. If you used an alignment protractor to align your cartridge, listen at those alignment points. Listen for any differences in tone, dynamics and soundstage at these points. If there are differences, some tweaking of your anti-skate adjustment may be needed.
It’s important to note that not all tonearms provide for an anti-skating adjustment. On a 12″ tonearm, anti-skating is usually not required in some cases, but on a 9″ arm some anti-skating force is usually needed.
While there are various methods for measuring anti-skating force, it’s recommended to use tools that allow the stylus to sit on the LP groove while the record is spinning. Tools such as a blank record groove or mirror cut into the shape of an LP may introduce a different friction coefficient experienced by the stylus which can lead to inaccurate results.
If adjusting your anti-skate does not clear up a particular problem, there may be another reason for it. In this case, it’s best to contact your turntable manufacturer’s Audio Solutions Department for further advice.
Testing Your Adjustments
After you have made your anti-skate adjustments, it’s important to test them to ensure that they are optimal. A good way to test your adjustments is to use a record with very wide lead-out grooves (closest to the record label). Place the stylus in between the grooves and notice the movement of the tonearm. You want the tonearm to move VERY SLOWLY towards the spindle. Make sure you raise the arm before the stylus tip goes over any writing in the vinyl.
All you need to do is slowly lower it onto the surface and raise it right away. As soon as it hits the record, you will see the movement. Use a pair of headphones to see if your anti-skating is adjusted correctly.
You want any distortion ssssss-sound (from vocals) to be inside your head, perfectly in the middle of the sound stage and not to the left or right. It doesn’t matter if the tracking force and anti-skating force are not the same; they never are. Make sure you use a stylus force gauge when setting the tracking force!
Remember that no setup parameter can be optimized in isolation. One must try to achieve optimal settings in as many setup parameters as possible. For example, when meaningful numbers cannot be achieved under the Anti-Skating test, it could be caused by an incorrect VTF, Azimuth or even alignment. You may have to go back and forth between different parameters to achieve meaningful results and optimal settings.
Overall, adjusting anti-skate on your turntable is an important step in maintaining good channel balance, minimizing distortion, and minimizing stylus and record wear. With proper adjustment and testing, you can achieve optimal sound quality from your vinyl records.
