The behavior described in the OP is normal on any properly set up rig (assuming a pivoting tonearm and an offset cartridge mount).
Fact: when a stylus contacts a spinning LP surface, skating forces immediately act to pull the tonearm inward
Fact: LP's with inward sloping lead-in ramps exacerbate this tendency, since gravity reinforces the skating force
Fact: if these forces are not resisted, the arm will swing inward
Resistance to this inward motion may be provided by:
a) friction between stylus and LP,
b) friction in the tonearm bearings,
c) outward bias applied by the anti-skate mechanism, and/or
d) friction between the tonearm and its cueing support.
Regarding (a), an ungrooved LP surface offers little resistance to inward movement. Stylus-vinyl friction, therefore, does little to impede inward motion until the stylus locks into a groove.
Regarding (b), friction from the arm bearings will be lower on tonearms of higher build quality, so the best tonearms will tend to swing in fastest.
Regarding (c), adjusting anti-skating to compensate for skating forces before the stylus finds the groove will result in excessive anti-skating for in-groove conditions, which is what matters when playing music. Anti-skating should be adjusted to optimize playback, not as a cueing aid.
The solution is to utilize (d) by learning to cue effectively. Don't just flip the cueing lever down and walk away. Maintain control of the stylus until it locks into a groove.
In your own words, you "have to be most careful when lowering the arm to avoid skipping". That's exactly right.
Fact: when a stylus contacts a spinning LP surface, skating forces immediately act to pull the tonearm inward
Fact: LP's with inward sloping lead-in ramps exacerbate this tendency, since gravity reinforces the skating force
Fact: if these forces are not resisted, the arm will swing inward
Resistance to this inward motion may be provided by:
a) friction between stylus and LP,
b) friction in the tonearm bearings,
c) outward bias applied by the anti-skate mechanism, and/or
d) friction between the tonearm and its cueing support.
Regarding (a), an ungrooved LP surface offers little resistance to inward movement. Stylus-vinyl friction, therefore, does little to impede inward motion until the stylus locks into a groove.
Regarding (b), friction from the arm bearings will be lower on tonearms of higher build quality, so the best tonearms will tend to swing in fastest.
Regarding (c), adjusting anti-skating to compensate for skating forces before the stylus finds the groove will result in excessive anti-skating for in-groove conditions, which is what matters when playing music. Anti-skating should be adjusted to optimize playback, not as a cueing aid.
The solution is to utilize (d) by learning to cue effectively. Don't just flip the cueing lever down and walk away. Maintain control of the stylus until it locks into a groove.
In your own words, you "have to be most careful when lowering the arm to avoid skipping". That's exactly right.