Anti-Skate::Playing LP's vs. 12

I would go with the manufacturers specifications, while checking with maybe the record companies that produce 45 rpm. I would also not use anti-skate(or VTF, or anything else)to correct for something else(such as channel balance). Try slightly moving anti-skate(etc.)a little until you can hear what it does. Until you can identify what it does, you are just guessing. One good way to identify that it is better(closer to correct)is: does it make you want to listen more to your records(excitement)? There is no hurry. You can sleep on it.

Hifitime, I just read your great first link, and wrote them a letter, which may help some people(I don't know how to indent, etc.). "I may have inadvertantly come to the same conclusion about dynamics, while using a different method to anti-skate. I think I used something like this: if it sounds better towards the end of a record than at the beginning, you have too much anti-skate(I've posted on Audiogon, under mmakshak, about this.). Then you reach a point(super-close to the correct anti-skate)where you have to throw out that rule, because the dynamics(I call it excitement.)dimish-along with your desire to run to the record player to listen to another lp. Also, nerver use anti-skate for other reasons-such as channel balance(Many factors affect channel balance. Why use anti-skate for this purpose?). Remember, anti-skate is a compromise, so you may have to give up the setting that makes one song on the lp sound the best. You want the setting that makes all the songs on the lp sound good."

I should also mention a problem that has been expressed before about the hanging weight anti-skate method. The notches aren't refined enough to fine tune anti-skate, and it is hard to make new notches. I don't know if anyone has provided a proper solution to this.

Hifitime, that was pretty ingenious using those o-rings. They do add weight, so the markings might not be as accurate. I think if you keep the interconnects, speaker wire, etc. straight, you can figure out which channel comes out of which speaker. My setup and age(loss of brainpower-manifested by inability to do complex thinking. Complex thinking is more than one thought at a time.)has stopped me from keeping the channels straight, but I used to do it that way. Remember, the record is moved in relation to the stylus(I'm not sure that matters, but we must realize what is going on.) I do believe that anti-skate traditionally is related to what VTF is used. I usually set the VTF before fine-tuning the anti-skate, but whatever works. It can't ever hurt to check out things technically, like you did at your dealers. Your theory about the center of the record that has good high frequencies on both channels sounds right, but remember to not get too hung up on theories(or at least trust your ears). I think you are correct about the end of the record presenting the most problems. In fact, some of the more recent lp12 reviews complain about this, but I believe the reviewer has incorrect anti-skate. I do think that studies back up the fact that the inner grooves have more distortion.