Anti-skate is a feature on most turntables that helps to counteract the skating force that is created when the stylus moves across the record. Skating force is a tendency for the stylus to pull towards the center of the record. This can cause the stylus to mistrack and produce distortion.
How does anti-skate work?
Anti-skate works by applying a counterforce to the stylus in the opposite direction of the skating force. This helps to keep the stylus tracking in a straight line across the record.
Why is it important to adjust anti-skate properly?
Properly adjusted anti-skate is important for two main reasons:
- To reduce distortion: Skating force can cause the stylus to mistrack, which can produce distortion in the sound.
- To improve record wear: Skating force can also cause the stylus to wear out the record more quickly.
How to adjust anti-skate
Most turntables have an anti-skate dial that you can use to adjust the amount of counterforce applied to the stylus. The anti-skate dial is usually located on the tonearm counterweight.
To adjust anti-skate, follow these steps:
- Set the tracking force to the recommended setting for your cartridge.
- Set the anti-skate dial to the same setting as the tracking force.
- Play a record and listen for distortion. If you hear distortion, adjust the anti-skate dial up or down until the distortion disappears.
Troubleshooting
If you are having trouble adjusting anti-skate, here are a few troubleshooting tips:
- Make sure that the tracking force is set correctly. If the tracking force is too low, the stylus may mistrack, even with the anti-skate set correctly.
- Try adjusting the anti-skate dial in small increments. It is important to make small adjustments and listen carefully for distortion.
- If you are still having trouble, try using a different record. Some records are more prone to skating than others.
Advanced tips
Here are a few advanced anti-skate tips:
- If you are using a high-compliance cartridge, you may need to use less anti-skate than if you were using a low-compliance cartridge. This is because high-compliance cartridges are more susceptible to skating.
- If you are using a warped record, you may need to adjust the anti-skate down. This is because warped records can cause the stylus to mistrack, even with the anti-skate set correctly.
- If you are using a turntable with a VTA (vertical tracking angle) adjustment, you may need to adjust the anti-skate when you adjust the VTA. This is because the VTA can affect the skating force.
Properly adjusted anti-skate is important for reducing distortion and improving record wear. If you are not sure how to adjust anti-skate, consult your turntable’s owner’s manual.
