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Setting anti skate on a VPI for Soundsmith cart

Ok I went to the Soundsmith site and read up on AS for VPI tables. 

I have the Soundsmith Carmen MKii (brand new) and I'm have a slight case of silibance. I'm trying to adjust my AS (using the VPI rig) and the Soundsmith directions but I'm a bit confused. As I understand it your supposed to set it such that the needle tracks slowly to the center when sitting on the blank space not in the groove at the end of a record - while he doesn't specifically say I'm assuming this test is done with the TT on.  The the problem is that no matter how few rubber o rings I use the arm moves to the outside not slowly to the inside. In fact, I can remove all the rubber rings and it will still move to the outside.  In any case the silibance still remains so I'm not sure where to go from  here.  Is it better to up or lower the TF? My headshell is level, my azimuth is level. 
last_lemming

Showing 2 responses by stringreen

stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,494 posts
 
it is nearly impossible to set azimuth by eyeballing the horizontal rod...buy or borrow the Fozgometer and its accompanying test disc. Use Soundmith’s recommendation for vtf...don’t be concerned with snti-skate. I don’t use it at all...there are many who think the sound is better without. Check that the turntable itself is level.  Once you have all the parameters in place do it again next month....it will have had a chance to break in.
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,494 posts
 
Once I heard the difference that no a/s offered it clearly meant me taking off the a/s gizmo from my 3D arm.   What I hear is center soloists are much more clearly delineated....  no bleed left or right...the soloist is clearly right there.  Once I could hear that, i noticed that all the other instruments had their place in the sound space....much more air around the instruments, etc.  I recommend everyone interested to just try no a/s and listen critically, and make your own assessments.  

VTA adjustment is (to me) very tricky.  ...but be sure to readjust your vtf at each adjustment.  This took me about a month of listening, adjust, etc.  Its well worth the time it takes. When you are through adjusting, then check to see if the stylus is in the proper position on the measuring device (Mint, metal VPI guage, etc.)...chances are it has changed.

My experience with vtf....there is one absolutely correct vtf that was engineered into the cartridge.  At this optimum, the magnets, coils of wire, etc. are in their proper position to extract what the designer had intended. After all this adjusting, you just may be battle worn and allow it to be "close"...
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