I haven't had a table for a while, but how do I know if his antiskating is set right? Which way should the arm deflect when it's raised from the LP?Observing which direction an arm deflects during cueing does not tell you how to adjust antiskating. That idea is absurd. One problem at a time. You haven't answered Seandtaylor99's question, which was important and well chosen. Identifying your friend's problem depends on the answer. |
Uppermidfi, Please relax. I didn't say you were stupid. I said that a theory you postulated was "absurd", ie, "unrelated to reality". That was a statement of logic concerning a hypothesis, not an insult. I could come up with much better insults than that, honest! Why didn't I explain antiskating in a nice, friendly way? For very good reasons. It was kind of Clio09 to offer all that excellent information, but antiskating has little or nothing to do with your friend's problem. That problem is important and needs to be addressed without distraction. Since you've twice refused to answer Seandtaylor99's very pertinent question and are uncomfortable with learning I doubt I can help very much. I will offer this: tell your friend to STOP playing valuable records on that rig. Those noises like "static discharge" indicate a high probability of permanent vinyl damage from every play. This can be fixed, usually quite easily, but not by adjusting antiskating. Good luck, Doug |
The gist of Sean's question was whether this noise tended to occur during loud passages. (He actually wrote "load passages", which probably didn't help you interpret the question.) At any rate, you haven't answered this yet. So, was this "static discharge" noise coincident with dynamic peaks in the music? Or did it also occur at random moments during quiet passages? Think carefully about the answer, the diagnosis depends on it. |
Since you're unsure, here are the main possibilities. There are three common causes of "static-like" noises: _____ 1. Pressing flaws from the factory. These can occur anywhere on a record, though they tend to occur on the L channel more than the R. There is no cure except to replace the record. Since you've heard these LP's play without such noises this can probably be ruled out. _____ 2. Stylus mistracking due to inadequate downforce, record dirt and/or stylus dirt. This tends to occur in timing with dynamic peaks in the music. That is when a stylus is most likely to mistrack. It is also more likely to occur as the stylus get nearer the center of a record. This can be cured by addressing the causes. Records must be cleaned before the first play. Styli must be cleaned after every side. Then try increasing VTF until the noise goes away. IMPORTANT: stylus mistracking must be cured immediately to avoid scenario #3. _____ 3. Permanent damage to the record from being played under the conditions described in #2. Since this damage is caused by problem #2, it occurs at the same times. It is nearly impossible to hear the difference between #2 (active mistracking) and #3 (damage from previous mistrackings). The only way to know is to try the cures for #2. If these don't help then one suspects #3. There is no cure except replacing the record. You've got some detective work ahead of you. Good luck! Doug |
Is there a point when tracking weight is simply too much?Yes. Every cartridge has a range of VTF where it tracks and sounds best. Too light and you get the problem described above. Too heavy and high frequencies usually get smothered. Heavier still, above the design range of the cartridge, and you risk accelerated wear of the suspension, stylus and vinyl. For an excellent primer on how to set VTF (and VTA) by ear, give your friend this link: http://www.walkeraudio.com/fine_tuning_your_turntable.htm I know he has a digital scale, but that doesn't rule out errors.Very true. A scale can't help you find the optimal VTF for a cartridge. That must be done either by listening to music or with test records. All a scale can do is: a) get you in the ballpark and, b) identify the optimal VTF after you've found it by listening. Knowing the exact VTF a particular cartridge likes makes swapping cartridges and other adjustments go faster. Otherwise a scale serves little practical purpose. Doug |
