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VPI Scoutmaster - Anti-skate again..

Hi,
I'm sure this has been covered, but I couldn't find it...

As we all know, the coiled wire of the JMW-9 tonearm provides anti-skate force naturally, and is seen by VPI as preferable to any mechanical implementation.

VPI now provides a mechanical anti-skate with the Scoutmaster turntable. It is supplied but not installed. VPI still stands by their original position on anti-skate.

Now, for my experience.

I started without the use of the mechanical anti-skate. Listening, backed up by the Hi-fi+ test LP, convinced me that more anti-skating force was needed. I twisted the lemo connector counter-clockwise to apply more force, but I didn't notice any difference.

I then implemented the mechanical anti-skate. I found by visual inspection and confirmed with the test LP that, even at the lowest setting, far too much anti-skating force was now being applied.

Listening tests with the mechanical anti-skate engaged were a mixed bag. I found the image to be more centered, rather than leaning to the right, but I also noticed a loss of fine detail. For instance, when a fast sequence of plucked guitar notes were played, each note stood out more independently WITHOUT the mechanical anti-skate. With the anti-skate engaged the notes smear together slightly.

Has anyone had a similar experience? I am hoping to find a solution that will enable me to focus the image better and not lose any detail. It seems to me that I need a way to provide a little more anti-skate, but not a lot more. (and I am slightly baffled as to why the lemo twist method seemed to have no effect whatsoever.)

Cheers.

Tom
tfkaudio

Showing 7 responses by tfkaudio

tfkaudio OP
591 posts
 
Sberger,
I've found setting the azimuth to be a challenge. What I notice is that, using the "coffee stirrer" method, I can get the stirrer parallel to the table, but when the stylus sets down on the record, it tips slightly away from the center. So I adjusted it so that the stirrer tips slightly toward center and evens out when it makes contact with the record.
Did you have the same experience?

Cheers.

Tom
tfkaudio OP
591 posts
 
Yes, I undid the lemo twist (sounds like a new dance craze). I even tried to counter the excessive force of the mechanical anti-skate with a clockwise twist of the lemo connector. It had no effect that I could notice.

As for tracking force, I'm currently tracking at 2.2g. The Dynavector DV-20 has a recommended range of 1.8g to 2.2g. Would you suggest going higher?

Thanks.
tfkaudio OP
591 posts
 
I'm wondering if he was right when it came to 10 and 12 inch tonearms, but maybe not so much for 9 inch arms? 9 inch arms have a far more formidable anti-skate issue, due to the greater headshell offset.

I only need a little more anti-skate! I sound like a junky.

Can I put a JMW 10.5 on a Scoutmaster? How about a 12.5?

Cheers.
tfkaudio OP
591 posts
 
Dodgealum,
I'm not sure what you mean when you say "Installed with the wire located midway up the shaft...". Which wire? Which shaft?

Cheers.
tfkaudio OP
591 posts
 
Dodgealum,

The 5 spaced indents don't influence anti-skate force. The weight on the other leg does. The fishing line should be connected to the indentation that makes the fishing line parallel to the table when the arm is in the armrest. You then slide the weight on the other leg of the AS device outward from the pivot point to increase anti-skate force. The weight on mine is all the way against the pivot, so I cannot decrease it any more.
tfkaudio OP
591 posts
 
Sberger,
Once you got the azimuth dialed in, where was the counter-weight setscrew? Mine is a couple millimeters right of dead center on the arm tube (looking down on the arm, standing in front of the table).
Just wondering if you and others arrived at the same place as I did...

Cheers.
tfkaudio OP
591 posts
 
A follow-up on this old thread of mine... I recently got a chance to see Michael Fremer's turntable setup video, and he came to the same conclusion as I did - that the mechanical anti-skating mechanism from VPI provides far too much force even at it's minimum setting. Clever Mikey thought of something that never occurred to me, however. Install the A/S device and remove the counterweight from it! Apparently that will put you right in the ballpark of where you want to be. I'm gonna have to try that!
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