Blueranger,
Here's another effective way to set AS:
1. First, make sure VTF is set properly. Skating force varies with VTF, so adjusting AS first is backwards. Start with AS at 1/2 of VTF and then use music to adjust VTF as follows:
- too light and bass weakens or the cartridge mistracks
- too heavy and highs weaken or microdynamic detail is muffled
Optimal VTF changes with the weather, so it's important to do adjust by listening. A scale only gets you in the ballpark.
2. Reduce AS to the lowest available setting (but not zero).
3. Play music. Start with a fairly non-dynamic passage and move to more dynamic ones in steps. Listen for R channel mistracking or distortion. If/when you get it, increase AS by a very small amount. Replay the passage, increasing AS in tiny amounts until you're sure it's playing cleanly.
4. Repeat step 3 as often as necessary until you can play the most dynamic, difficult-to-track passages in your collection. This will be a good AS setting.
(IME, the toughest music to track is well recorded opera vocals and solo piano. If you can track a tenor singing full blast without losing HF detail on a solo harpsichord, your VTF and AS are well dialed in.)
You'll probably end up with an AS setting far below 1/2 of VTF. If you enjoy sonic experiments, take note of the good setting you discovered and then push it back to 1/2x or even 1x VTF. Listen to some music. It will probably sound a bit lifeless. Now return to the good lower setting and enjoy the music more!
Doug
P.S. As Nsgarch noted, there can never be a "perfect" AS setting. The skating force varies with each LP and also with your position on the record (inner grooves vs. outer). This is one reason test records are fairly useless for adjusting AS, and also why it's pointless to go crazy over it. The AS setting determined by the method above prevents groove damage while optimizing the musical performance of the cartridge.
Here's another effective way to set AS:
1. First, make sure VTF is set properly. Skating force varies with VTF, so adjusting AS first is backwards. Start with AS at 1/2 of VTF and then use music to adjust VTF as follows:
- too light and bass weakens or the cartridge mistracks
- too heavy and highs weaken or microdynamic detail is muffled
Optimal VTF changes with the weather, so it's important to do adjust by listening. A scale only gets you in the ballpark.
2. Reduce AS to the lowest available setting (but not zero).
3. Play music. Start with a fairly non-dynamic passage and move to more dynamic ones in steps. Listen for R channel mistracking or distortion. If/when you get it, increase AS by a very small amount. Replay the passage, increasing AS in tiny amounts until you're sure it's playing cleanly.
4. Repeat step 3 as often as necessary until you can play the most dynamic, difficult-to-track passages in your collection. This will be a good AS setting.
(IME, the toughest music to track is well recorded opera vocals and solo piano. If you can track a tenor singing full blast without losing HF detail on a solo harpsichord, your VTF and AS are well dialed in.)
You'll probably end up with an AS setting far below 1/2 of VTF. If you enjoy sonic experiments, take note of the good setting you discovered and then push it back to 1/2x or even 1x VTF. Listen to some music. It will probably sound a bit lifeless. Now return to the good lower setting and enjoy the music more!
Doug
P.S. As Nsgarch noted, there can never be a "perfect" AS setting. The skating force varies with each LP and also with your position on the record (inner grooves vs. outer). This is one reason test records are fairly useless for adjusting AS, and also why it's pointless to go crazy over it. The AS setting determined by the method above prevents groove damage while optimizing the musical performance of the cartridge.