Are you tired of your turntable’s tonearm skating across your vinyl records, causing distortion and wear?
Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Turntable skating is a common issue that can be easily fixed with the right knowledge and tools.
In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of setting the anti-skate feature on your turntable and balancing the tonearm to prevent skating.
With a little patience and attention to detail, you’ll be able to enjoy your vinyl collection without any unwanted noise or damage.
So let’s get started!
How To Fix Turntable Skating
The first step in fixing turntable skating is to understand what it is and why it happens. Skating occurs when the tonearm moves inward towards the center of the record, causing distortion and wear on the stylus and record.
To prevent skating, turntables are equipped with an anti-skate feature that applies a small outward force to the tonearm. This counteracts the inward force and keeps the stylus centered in the record groove.
The anti-skate feature can be adjusted manually on some turntables, while others have a preset value set by the manufacturer. If your turntable has a manual adjustment, start by setting it to the same value as the vertical tracking force (VTF) used.
Listen carefully to the last few minutes of a record to determine if more or less anti-skate is needed. If you hear distortion, adjust the anti-skate value until it is minimized. Listen at different points across the record to ensure there are no differences in tone, dynamics, or soundstage.
If adjusting the anti-skate does not solve the problem, there may be excessive arm pivot friction or a loss of tension in the anti-skate spring. In this case, it’s best to contact an audio solutions department for further advice.
Once you’ve set the anti-skate correctly, it’s important to balance the tonearm. Hold the headshell while releasing the locking clamp that holds the tonearm in place. Gently adjust the counterweight until the tonearm is balancing horizontally just above the platter’s surface.
Be careful not to touch the counterweight while returning the tonearm to its rest and locking it in place. If done correctly, your turntable should now be free of skating and ready for optimal performance.
Understanding Turntable Skating
Turntable skating is caused by an inward force that pulls the tonearm towards the center of the record. This force is created by the friction between the stylus and the record surface. Skating can cause distortion and wear on both the stylus and record, leading to a degraded listening experience.
To counteract this force, turntables are equipped with an anti-skate feature. This feature applies a small outward force to the tonearm, keeping the stylus centered in the record groove. Anti-skate can be adjusted manually on some turntables, while others have a preset value set by the manufacturer.
It’s important to set the anti-skate correctly to maintain good channel balance, minimize distortion, and reduce wear on both the stylus and record. To do this, start by setting the anti-skate to the same value as the vertical tracking force (VTF) used. Listen carefully to the last few minutes of a record and adjust the anti-skate value until distortion is minimized. Listen at different points across the record to ensure there are no differences in tone, dynamics, or soundstage.
If adjusting the anti-skate does not solve the problem, there may be excessive arm pivot friction or a loss of tension in the anti-skate spring. In this case, it’s best to contact an audio solutions department for further advice.
By understanding turntable skating and how to fix it, you can ensure optimal performance from your turntable and enjoy high-quality sound without any distortion or wear on your records.
The Importance Of Anti-Skate
Anti-skate is a crucial feature in turntables because it helps to maintain channel balance, minimize distortion, and reduce stylus and record wear. Without anti-skate, the skating force would pull the stylus inwards towards the center of the record groove, causing stress on the inside wall of the groove and resulting in an imbalanced sound with too much left channel and not enough right.
Moreover, anti-skate helps to avoid unnecessary wear on both the record and the stylus. If anti-skate isn’t set correctly or isn’t applied at all, excessive pressure can be placed on the inside of the record groove, leading to rapid deterioration of the record. The impact on the stylus is equally damaging, resulting in costly repairs.
When set correctly, anti-skate ensures that the stylus tracks the groove of the record at just the right angle and pressure, resulting in great, balanced sound. However, too much anti-skate can also be detrimental as it causes excess pressure on both the stylus and record surface. This impedes movement of the record while it spins and can cause damage to both the stylus and record.
Setting The Anti-Skate On Your Turntable
Setting the anti-skate on your turntable is crucial to maintaining good channel balance, minimizing distortion, and reducing stylus and record wear. The first step is to check if your turntable has a manual anti-skate adjustment or if it is preset by the manufacturer.
If your turntable has a manual adjustment, begin by setting it to the same value as the vertical tracking force (VTF) used. Listen carefully to the last few minutes of a record to determine if more or less anti-skate is needed. If you hear distortion, adjust the anti-skate value until it is minimized. Listen at different points across the record to ensure there are no differences in tone, dynamics, or soundstage.
To fine-tune your anti-skating mechanism, set and balance the tonearm to the manufacturer’s instructions, paying careful attention to ensure the position of the anti-skate weight floats the stylus above the record. Adjust the anti-skating knob to the manufacturer’s recommended setting.
Test the needle with a test record or a single with nothing pressed on the backside to see if there is any skating or skipping of the stylus. If you notice the needle has a tendency to drift or skip outwards, the anti-skating level is too high and the knob needs to be loosened. If the needle is skating inwards, tighten the anti-skating knob.
If adjusting the anti-skate does not solve the problem, there may be excessive arm pivot friction or a loss of tension in the anti-skate spring. In this case, it’s best to contact an audio solutions department for further advice.
Remember that once you’ve set the anti-skate correctly, it’s important to balance the tonearm. Hold the headshell while releasing the locking clamp that holds the tonearm in place. Gently adjust the counterweight until the tonearm is balancing horizontally just above the platter’s surface.
By following these steps and fine-tuning your anti-skating mechanism, you can keep your records and equipment in optimal condition and enjoy high-quality sound from your turntable.
Balancing The Tonearm
Balancing the tonearm is a crucial step in fixing turntable skating. It ensures that the stylus is tracking the record groove at the correct pressure and angle, which in turn reduces wear and tear on both the stylus and the record.
To balance the tonearm, start by putting the counterweight on the end of the tonearm wand. Make sure that the anti-skating weight is removed at this point. Move the tonearm off its rest and adjust the counterweight until the tonearm balances horizontally just above the platter’s surface.
Once the tonearm is balanced, turn the counterweight scale to indicate zero. Then turn the counterweight to the correct tracking force, which depends on the cartridge in use. If you are unsure of what tracking force to use, consult your cartridge’s specifications. It usually falls between 1 and 2 grams.
After setting the tracking force, adjust the anti-skating weight to correspond with it. This ensures that the anti-skate force is proportional to the tracking force, which further reduces skating.
Using a turntable may require some setup knowledge, but it’s definitely worth it in terms of sound quality and record longevity. Balancing the tonearm is one of the easiest ways to improve sound quality without breaking out your wallet. By following these steps, you can fix turntable skating and enjoy optimal performance from your turntable for years to come.
Troubleshooting Common Skating Issues
Despite proper adjustment and balancing, skating issues may still arise. Here are some common problems and solutions to help troubleshoot:
1. Arm Drifts Towards Arm Rest: If the tonearm drifts towards the arm rest when anti-skate is increased, it may be due to excessive arm pivot friction or a loss of tension in the anti-skate spring. Check for any visible issues and contact an audio solutions department for further advice.
2. Unable to Play Vinyl Automatically: If you are unable to play vinyl automatically after setting anti-skate to the same value as the tracking force, it may be due to the auto return being gummed up or the tracking force being off. Check both settings and adjust accordingly.
3. Warped Discs: Warped discs can cause skating issues as well. To fix a warped disc, place it between two heavy objects that cover the entire surface of the record and leave it for a few days to several months, checking its condition periodically.
4. Imbalanced Sound: If you notice an imbalanced sound with too much left channel and not enough right, it may be due to unchecked record skate pulling the stylus inwards towards the center of the record groove. Adjust the anti-skate value until channel balance is restored.
Remember to always handle your turntable with care and keep it clean to ensure optimal performance. With these troubleshooting tips, you should be able to fix common skating issues and enjoy your vinyl collection to the fullest.
