If you’re a vinyl enthusiast, you know that the quality of your turntable can make or break your listening experience.
One important feature that can affect the sound quality of your records is anti-skating. But what exactly is anti-skating, and why is it important?
In this article, we’ll dive into the details of this feature and how it can help you get the most out of your vinyl collection.
So sit back, relax, and let’s explore the world of anti-skating on turntables.
What Is Anti Skating On A Turntable
Anti-skating is a feature found on many turntables that helps to prevent the tonearm from “skating” across your vinyl records during playback. This occurs because of the force that pulls the tonearm towards the center of the platter, which can cause skipping or scratching of your records.
The anti-skating feature applies a small outward force to the tonearm, counteracting the tendency of the arm to move inward towards the center of the record. This helps to maintain good channel balance, minimize distortion, and reduce stylus and record wear.
There are various ways that anti-skating can be achieved on a turntable. Some turntables have an adjustable anti-skate control, usually in the form of a pre-calibrated knob. Others may not have this manual adjustment, but instead have it handled internally and preset at a fixed value by the turntable’s manufacturer.
It’s important to note that while anti-skating can minimize asymmetric wear of styli and grooves, it cannot eliminate it entirely. Linear-tracking turntables were invented in part to eliminate the possibility of skating.
What Is Anti-Skating And How Does It Work?
Anti-skating is a feature on turntables that helps to prevent the tonearm from “skating” across vinyl records during playback. This feature is necessary because of the force that pulls the tonearm towards the center of the platter, which can cause skipping or scratching of records.
The anti-skate feature applies a small outward force to the tonearm, counteracting the tendency of the arm to move inward towards the center of the record as it approaches the end of the record. This outward force helps to maintain good channel balance, minimize distortion, and reduce stylus and record wear.
There are various ways that anti-skating can be achieved on a turntable. Some turntables have an adjustable anti-skate control, usually in the form of a pre-calibrated knob. This control allows users to adjust the anti-skate force to match the vertical tracking force used by the turntable.
Other turntables may not have a manual adjustment for anti-skate, but instead have it handled internally and preset at a fixed value by the turntable’s manufacturer. This is common on turntables that utilize an integrated cartridge.
It’s important to note that while anti-skating can minimize asymmetric wear of styli and grooves, it cannot eliminate it entirely. Linear-tracking turntables were invented in part to eliminate the possibility of skating. Overall, anti-skating is an essential feature for maintaining good sound quality and preserving vinyl records.
The Importance Of Anti-Skating For Turntable Performance
Anti-skating is a crucial feature for maintaining the performance of your turntable, as it directly impacts the sound quality of your vinyl records. By calibrating the anti-skating feature correctly, you reduce the risk of skipping and tonearm skating across your record. This helps to ensure that your stylus remains centered in the record groove as the tonearm travels across the record, providing you with a dynamic sound without distortions, skips, or oddities during playback.
The anti-skating feature is particularly important in maintaining good channel balance, which refers to obtaining equal volume from the left and right channels. If the anti-skating is not properly calibrated, you may experience inner groove distortion, which can be quite noticeable. This distortion can manifest in the form of sibilance or that annoying hissing sound produced when pronouncing certain letters or combinations of letters such as “s” and “sh”. You may also notice that distortion appears to be louder on one channel, either the left or right.
By adjusting the anti-skate value until the distortion is minimized, you can achieve optimal channel balance and minimize stylus and record wear. It’s important to note that too much anti-skate puts excess pressure on your record and may damage it, while too little anti-skate causes the stylus to jump and may cause distortions or skipping when you play the record.
In addition to maintaining good channel balance and minimizing distortion, anti-skating also helps to ensure even stylus wear. Skating force causes unequal wear on the two stylus faces that are in contact with the groove wall. The application of anti-skating force balances these forces and causes wear to be even on both faces.
How To Adjust Anti-Skating On Your Turntable
Adjusting the anti-skating on your turntable is a crucial step in achieving optimal sound quality and prolonging the life of your records and stylus. Here’s how to do it:
1. Balance your tonearm: Before adjusting the anti-skating, make sure your tonearm is properly balanced. Most turntables come with an adjustable weight at the end of the arm called a counterweight. Start by setting the counterweight to 0 grams and the anti-skating to 0 as well. Then, adjust the counterweight until the tonearm floats freely.
2. Set the tracking force: Once your tonearm is balanced, adjust the tracking force by rotating the knob on your counterweight until it reaches your cartridge manufacturer’s recommended weight. If you’re unsure of this weight, it’s usually safe to go with 2-3 grams.
3. Set the anti-skate: If your turntable has an adjustable anti-skate control, start by adjusting it to the same value as the tracking force you just set. 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 the form of sibilance (that 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, the left or the right. Adjust the anti-skate value until distortion is minimized.
4. Fine-tune: Once you’ve set the anti-skate, listen carefully at two or three different points across the record. If you used an alignment protractor to align your cartridge, listen at those points too. Listen for any differences in tone, dynamics and soundstage at these points. If there are differences, some tweaking of the anti-skate adjustment may be needed.
It’s important to note that there are controversies and setup methods when it comes to anti-skating. Some suggest using a blank record groove or a mirror cut into the shape of an LP to determine anti-skating force, but these methods can lead to inaccurate results. The only way to accurately measure anti-skating force is while the stylus is sitting in the grooves with the LP playing.
By following these steps and fine-tuning as necessary, you can achieve optimal sound quality and prolong the life of your records and stylus by preventing them from being damaged due to skating or excessive pressure.
Common Issues With Anti-Skating And How To Troubleshoot Them
Despite the benefits of anti-skating, some turntable users may encounter issues with this feature. One common issue is that the anti-skate control may not function properly, causing the tonearm to continue to skate towards the center of the record. This can result in poor sound quality and damage to your vinyl.
If you are experiencing this issue, the first step is to check the anti-skate control setting. Make sure it is set to the same value as the vertical tracking force (VTF) used. If this does not resolve the issue, try adjusting the anti-skate value until you achieve optimal sound quality.
Another issue that may arise is inner groove distortion, which occurs when the stylus moves towards the center of the record during playback. This can be particularly noticeable during the last few minutes of a record. To troubleshoot this issue, listen carefully for distortion and adjust the anti-skate value until it is minimized.
If adjusting the anti-skate does not resolve any issues, there may be another reason for it. Contacting your turntable’s manufacturer or an audio solutions department can help provide further advice and troubleshooting steps.
It’s important to note that while anti-skating can improve sound quality and reduce wear on your records, it is not a complete solution for preventing skating. Linear-tracking turntables were invented in part to eliminate this issue entirely.
Tips For Maintaining Your Turntable’s Anti-Skating Functionality
To ensure that your turntable’s anti-skating functionality remains effective, here are some tips to keep in mind:
1. Set the anti-skate control to the recommended value: If your turntable has an adjustable anti-skate control, it’s important to set it to the recommended value. This will help to minimize distortion and ensure that your stylus stays centered in the record groove.
2. Test the anti-skate setting with a test record: If you want to fine-tune your turntable’s anti-skate setting, consider using a test record. These records are designed to run a gamut of assessments on your turntable’s components, including tracking, channel balance, and anti-skating resistance.
3. Listen for distortion: Inner groove distortion is particularly noticeable when the anti-skate setting is incorrect. 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.
4. Check for differences in tone, dynamics, and soundstage: If you used an alignment protractor to align your cartridge, listen at the alignment points for any differences in tone, dynamics, and soundstage. If there are differences, some tweaking of the anti-skate adjustment may be needed.
5. Contact Audio Solutions Department for further advice: If adjusting the 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.
By following these tips, you can maintain your turntable’s anti-skating functionality and enjoy high-quality sound without any distortions or skips during playback.
Final Thoughts: Why Anti-Skating Is A Must-Have Feature For Any Serious Vinyl Enthusiast
For any serious vinyl enthusiast, the anti-skating feature on a turntable is a must-have. It not only helps to maintain the quality of your records but also ensures that you get the best possible sound quality from your turntable. Without this feature, your records may suffer from distortion, uneven channel balance, and stylus wear, which can all affect the sound quality of your music.
By applying a small outward force to the tonearm, anti-skating helps to keep the stylus centered in the groove and on the right path. This ensures that you get the best possible sound quality from your records and that they remain in tip-top condition for years to come.
It’s important to note that anti-skating should be calibrated properly to avoid any harm to your records or stereo field. If it’s set too high, it can cause more harm than good. However, with proper calibration, anti-skating is an essential feature that can help you get the most out of your vinyl collection. So if you’re a serious vinyl enthusiast, make sure your turntable has this feature and take the time to calibrate it properly for the best possible sound quality.
