Basis Vector Antiskate Q
I was watching a Basis dealer setup video whet AJ Conti demonstrates how he sets up the antiskate on the Vector and I was wondering if anyone actually does this. He starts with the weight halfway down the shaft and moves the arm to the deadwax. He drops the arm and adjusts the antiskate until the arm stays still or even starts moving out slightly. He ended up with the weight about 2/3 down the shaft. This seems like an awful lot of pressure outwards, but I can only think that a designer of an excellent arm knows what he’s doing. Does anyone here use that much antiskate where the arm actually stays still in the deadwax? I know most of the other methods people here seem to use, including the “by ear” method, which AJ seems to eschew. What are your experiences with this, if any? To those with other arms who believe they have the antiskate set properly have the arm stand still in the deadwax? Thanks for your help. I am asking because I recently installed a new cartridge and I am going to recheck the adjustments now that I have about 30 hours on it and I just wanted to get some other opinions.
Refine Anti-Skate by Listening. I use this LP (have the CD version to double check what you hear from the LP) Friday Night in San Francisco is a 1981 live album by Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucía. side two, last two tracks: they are the only ones where ALL THREE guitarists play. Listen, especially to John McLaughlin's CENTER Guitar. Adjust/Listen/find the best setting that images best. |
(sorry for the huge type, I cannot post links) ....................................... 1. Verify Azimuth, it is VITAL check it 1st. I use a mirror 1/8" thick (same thickness as an LP). Viewed from the front while lowered into the groove: any deviation from straight will be oppositely reflected, adjust until reflection is same as the stylus cantilever.. Plymor Rectangle 3mm Beveled Glass Mirror, 4 inch x 6 inch2. Inward Skate is Pure Science, i.e. REAL. It is relative to the downward tracking force which you set for ’that’ cartridge (anti-skate OFF/Zero) when setting tracking force. Set it with a digital scale like this one Neoteck Digital Turntable Stylus Force Scale Gauge 0.01g/5.00g Blue LCD Backlight for Tonearm Phono Cartridge
3. Anti-Skate is VITAL (do not trust a Turntable’s dial, often inaccurate).
Use an LP with a blank side to set it, like this one: Hudson Hi-Fi Turntable Cartridge Alignment Protractor Mat (Single-Sided Print, no Strobe Included)Now, give the platter a manual spin; lower your tonearm onto the blank LP and: IT skates IN all by itself (as Science Dictates). as you adjust/add your anti-skate: you WILL SEE the result. (of skate and reduction of skate as you ADD anti-skate. After you get a basic Anti-Skate that is working: check it in two places: 1-1/2" in from the outer edge and 1-1/2" from the inward 'end of grooves' leading to the paper label. Find the best compromise of those two settings. NOW the stylus is centered in the groove as it should be. 4. double check/refine tracking force and anti-skate (every couple of months). anti-skate OFF/ZERO set tracking force, then find the blank LP, add anti-skate.
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