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Buy Sell Trade Audio Equipment => Looking for something special? => Topic started by: Jim Pittsburgh on November 02, 2013, 02:54:55 PM

Title: test lp for anti-skate
Post by: Jim Pittsburgh on November 02, 2013, 02:54:55 PM
anyone have a test record that includes anti-skate? what to loan it? rent it out? sell it? or can you recommend one that I should buy?
Title: Re: test lp for anti-skate
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on November 02, 2013, 03:31:58 PM
Anything with a blank side.
Title: Re: test lp for anti-skate
Post by: Shayne on December 21, 2013, 07:21:50 AM
You may have found a solution by now but the new Donald Fagen record Sunken Condos has a totally blank side 4. It's on clear wax too, pretty cool.
Title: Re: test lp for anti-skate
Post by: MacGeek on December 21, 2013, 12:33:02 PM
How is the music?  I didn't know Fagen had released a new album.
Title: Re: test lp for anti-skate
Post by: schwarcw on December 21, 2013, 01:43:18 PM
I have used this one:

http://www.analogueproductions.com/index.cfm?do=detail&Title_ID=35532 (http://www.analogueproductions.com/index.cfm?do=detail&Title_ID=35532)

It does have an anti-skate test based on audible distortion observed when the anti-skate force is changed.  The test record is about $50. 

I suggest saving your money setting the anti-skate force to about 3/4 of the cartridge tracking force.  This should be sufficient.
Title: Re: test lp for anti-skate
Post by: Shayne on December 21, 2013, 03:57:05 PM
Umm, it's pretty good. It's definitely steely dan/Fagen stuff. Some of the songs and a little cheesy. It's recorded well but has a bit of digital sheen. The vinyl is pressed well and is dead silent. I'd suggest previewing it online before purchase.
Title: Re: test lp for anti-skate
Post by: Jim Pittsburgh on December 21, 2013, 05:00:29 PM
yea good at saving money lol    however, the Clearaudio Performance SE table that I have, has the Satisfy magnetic arm.... and there are no preset markings etc...etc....  love it, but not having some way to measure it as being correct, bugs the hell out of me! lol   I'm sure that noone else here ever has had that experience lol
Title: Re: test lp for anti-skate
Post by: Jim Pittsburgh on December 26, 2013, 04:28:02 PM
Santa brought the  HiFi News analogue test LP!  I must have been a good boy this year!  worked wonders! A great tool, especially when combined with my old Shure Audio Obstacle course era III...  Have the table singing better than ever, and the second Thorens in the garage at least at an acceptable level now! I think my wife is glad it's not a process that has to be repeated very often lol
Title: Re: test lp for anti-skate
Post by: schwarcw on December 26, 2013, 05:51:11 PM
Glad to hear that Sanat was good to you!  That test LP is a handy tool!
Title: Re: test lp for anti-skate
Post by: papabearjew on December 26, 2013, 06:13:33 PM
Bear in mind that the blank area on a test record is only a rough estimate but is certainly useful to confirm that the anti skating is working. In the real world the dynamic forces on actual grooves are different than on a blank record. Ultimately you should use the manufacturer's recommendations as a guide and fine tune by ear. Pay special attention to inner groove distortion. The dynamic forces of skating change the entire length of the record. It's always a compromise though some anti skating systems are better than others for the length of the record. I've always found Thorens' to work quite well. Of course this doesn't apply to linear trackers
Title: Re: test lp for anti-skate
Post by: Jim Pittsburgh on December 27, 2013, 09:52:28 AM
papabear, right on all accounts. The ClearAudio Performance with Satisfy arm, actually changes the anti-skate and the VTF across the face of the album for that reason ...   and a side note, because it is magneticly controlled, the VTF changes with record height/ thickness also. which is a very significant source of consternation in getting it set.... had to come up with a nifty clamp and height matching mechanism to get the digital scale(s) to the proper height(s). Could not use the old Shure scale due to its measurment height. The Satisy arm is a PITA to set up, but well worth the trouble once set ... and if you just listen and not think about it too much lol

Utilized the bias adjustment bands to get the anti-skate just right... while playing with the tracking test bands on the other side to get that right... all while flipping back to the "bell test and simbalance test" on the old Shure album....  adjusting the VTF for one threw off the others .. back and forth, back and forth....  I'm 95% there, will fine tune it further next week...It's just me lol