tonearm questions

Nsgarch,

I've got an SME series lV arm (on an Oracle MK V table) that I just purchased a fluid damper for. I don't really know how old the arm is? How should I go about determining if I should send it back to SME for service and new wiring? Any suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks
Rolloff

Nsgarch,,
As always, thank you for sharing your valuable knowledge. I got the damper, mainly as it give me the ability to more easily adjust the VTA. I'll look at the article you posted. Interestingly, I use a Thorens Q up for lifting the arm at the end of the lead out spiral, and have never noticed a problem there. I have had problems with the stylus skating in from the lean in spiral, even though, I seem to have all my adjustments properly set up...

Thanks,
Dave

Doug,
Thanks for your reply. I have been very carefully placing the stylus onto the lead in spiral. I'll try your suggestion of placing the stylus in one of the first grooves instead.
Also, call me stupid, but I always figured that anti skating worked in the opposite direction. It seemed, that if I were a stylus, riding in a groove, centrifugal force would tend to spin me towards the outer edge of the record, so I figured anti-skating would counteract this, by exerting some inward counterbalancing force. What you're saying is that the opposite is true. Yes?
Nsgarch,
Yes, I purchased the curved horizontal damping trough. It comes with an adjuster for easily raising or lowering the VTA. That's the main reason I spent the money to get it to add to my arm. I find it does make a difference when switching between 200 gm vinyl, and the thinner discs, if I adjust. I haven't bothered much in the past, but the damping trough comes with a little adjuster wand that lets you dial in those minute changes. I haven't installed it yet, but someone (Doug?) mentioned it in another post, and, looking on the SME site confirmed that it provides that function. I'll let you know how easily it works once I install it. It just arrived yesterday.
The Thorens Q-up is an automatic lifting device for convenience, it lifts at the end of the record. I used to have one on my old Thorens table. I actually gave it away when I sold that table, figuring there'd be something more modern and stylish by now to go with my Oracle. Hated the Stylift, and that was all I could find, so I bought a Q-up at hugely inflated prices on Ebay. The Q-up fits between the arm and the platter. Then I bought the Audio Technica Safety Raiser on Ebay too, but I'll use that on my Lenco project table as the Thorens fits so well on the Oracle. I love not having to jump up, or even listen to the stylus at the end of the record riding in the lead out spiral.

Thanks agin,

Dave

Nsgarch and Doug, thanks for both your replies above.
Doug, actually it was Nsgarch who suggested the damping trough. He must have forgot too. It was in a previous post I instigated regarding possible upgrades for my SME lV, sometime in December of last year, if my short term memory still works after having just looked it up?

"The one upgrade I would recommend, would be the addition of the optional damping trough, if it doesn't already have it."

I don't know who mentioned the VTA adjustment that comes with the damper, but it was someone on a prior post, so maybe that was you Doug?

Also, thanks to both for clearing up the anti-skate concept. It makes sense now that I have the explanation and look at my headshell. Clear as frozen mud, which would be fun to skate on. :-)

As I said, I'll let you know how easily the VTA adjustment works once I install the damper device, and I'll take a look at the SRA link.

I may get the damping trough installed this weekend, but I'm working on constructing and installing an antenna tower to mount my Fanfare meter antenna on the roof of the house first. Reception should improve tremendously... I hope.

Dave