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 1 response by tablejockey

You may drive yourself crazy determining if AS is correct on your VPI.

On my Classic,1 or 4 orings doesn't seem to affect the speed of arm moving toward the center of a record.

HW says don't bother. I never "heard" a difference either way.

Unless you have the patience moving the counterintuitive left or right, a pro setup or fozgometer is the solution. A slight tilt either way may smooth out those S words or tizzy high hats.
 
Sibilance also seems to also be recording dependent. An example is Donovan's "Hurdy Gurdy Man"

On a greatest hits album,its rampant throughout the song. 
With the HG album, barely noticeable and naturally, overall presentation nicer. This is just my experience, I read others report 
zero sibilance with any record they play.

YMMV, it's just audio madness.