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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Set tracking force from the cartridge or stylus manufacturer’s specification, not from the turntable model alone. First balance the tonearm with anti-skate at zero, zero the counterweight scale, dial in the specified force, and verify it with a stylus-force gauge at record height. Then set anti-skate to the matching value only when your turntable manual uses that method; the cartridge, stylus shape, tonearm and groove signal can require a different setting.
The sequence matters. A wrong tracking force can cause mistracking, channel imbalance, unnecessary stylus wear and record damage. Anti-skate is a separate adjustment that counteracts the inward pull created as the stylus traces a rotating groove. Use the procedure below whenever you install a cartridge, replace a stylus, change a headshell or move the turntable.
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What tracking force and anti-skate actually control
Tracking force
Tracking force is the downward force with which the stylus sits in the record groove. It is specified for the installed cartridge or replacement stylus, usually as a target value or an allowable range. The tonearm’s counterweight creates this force; the turntable itself does not have one universal “correct” number.
Too little force allows the stylus to lose contact with the groove during loud or complex passages. That mistracking can sound rough, especially on peaks and sibilants, and it can wear the groove walls. Too much force increases contact pressure and can accelerate wear to both stylus and records. Staying within the manufacturer’s stated range is the primary protection for the record and cartridge.
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Anti-skate
During playback, friction between stylus and groove produces an inward skating force that pulls the tonearm toward the record center. Anti-skate applies an outward force to oppose that tendency. Depending on the turntable, it may be a numbered dial, a spring mechanism or a hanging weight on a thread.
Anti-skate does not replace tracking-force adjustment. It is set after the arm’s vertical force is correct, and its optimum value can change with stylus shape, tonearm geometry and the frequency and amplitude of the signal in the groove.
Find the correct tracking-force specification first
Look for the cartridge or stylus model printed on the cartridge body, headshell paperwork, replacement-stylus packaging or the manufacturer’s manual. Record the recommended force and any stated range before touching the counterweight. If a replacement stylus is installed in an older cartridge body, use the replacement stylus maker’s specification when it differs from the original.
- Use the cartridge or stylus specification: this is the authoritative safe range for the installed stylus.
- Do not copy a number from another cartridge: two cartridges on the same tonearm can require different forces.
- Treat a generic value as a starting point only: a one-to-one anti-skate recommendation is not a universal law.
- If no specification can be established: identify the cartridge before playing valuable records. Guessing is riskier than pausing the setup.
Some manuals provide a single target; others provide a range. If a range is given, begin near its midpoint unless the manufacturer identifies a preferred target for your tonearm. Keep the exact units shown by the manufacturer. A stylus-force gauge normally displays the result in grams, but the gauge reading must be interpreted against the cartridge’s stated specification.
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Manufacturer value versus a generic starting rule
| Decision | What it tells you | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Cartridge or stylus manufacturer’s target/range | The safe operating force for the actual stylus installed | Highest; follow it unless the tonearm manual gives a specific, documented exception |
| Turntable manual’s matching anti-skate rule | A convenient initial anti-skate value equal to the tracking-force number | Useful starting point, not a universal final setting |
| Number copied from another cartridge or online comment | A value for different hardware and conditions | Not a specification for your setup |
Prepare the turntable and tonearm
Set up on a stable, level surface with the turntable powered off. Remove a record from the platter while balancing the arm. A platter mat should remain in place because the arm must be adjusted at the same height used during playback.
- Fit the stylus guard before handling the counterweight or cartridge.
- Confirm that the cartridge, headshell and counterweight are firmly installed.
- Set anti-skate to zero or its minimum position.
- Make sure the cueing lever is lowered only when you intentionally place the arm on a gauge; otherwise keep the stylus protected.
- Keep the turntable level and do not lean on the plinth while measuring.
Anti-skate must be at zero while you balance the arm. Leaving it engaged adds an unseen sideways force and prevents a true neutral balance.
Set tracking force: the exact procedure
- Protect the stylus. Install the stylus guard. Unlock the tonearm from its rest and remove any transport clip, following the turntable manual.
- Zero anti-skate. Turn the anti-skate control to 0, minimum or the manufacturer’s balancing position.
- Balance the arm. Hold the arm by its finger lift, not by the cartridge. Move the rear counterweight until the arm floats horizontally, with the stylus clear of the platter. The arm should rise or fall smoothly rather than dropping at either end.
- Zero the numbered ring. Without rotating the counterweight itself, rotate only the tracking-force scale ring until its 0 mark aligns with the tonearm’s index mark. On some arms the ring turns independently; on others, consult the manual before moving it.
- Dial in the target. Rotate the counterweight and scale together to the cartridge’s specified force. If the specification is a range, choose the manufacturer’s preferred target or a sensible point within that range, then record the value for future checks.
- Measure with a gauge. Place a calibrated stylus-force gauge on the platter at approximately record height. Remove the stylus guard, lower the stylus onto the gauge’s measuring point using the cueing lever, and read the result. Keep the arm level as it rests on the gauge.
- Correct the reading. If the measured force differs from the target, turn the counterweight in small increments, recheck and repeat. Do not rely on the printed dial alone; manufacturing tolerances, arm height and gauge position can make the actual force differ.
- Protect and restore. Raise the cueing lever, refit the stylus guard, return the arm to its rest and lock it before setting anti-skate.
Why the gauge matters
The counterweight scale is a convenient adjustment reference, not a direct measurement of the force at the stylus tip. A digital or mechanical stylus-force gauge verifies the real downward force under the same platter-height conditions used for playback. Cambridge Audio states in the Alva TT V2 manual that correct tracking force is important to turntable performance and helps minimize record damage.
Place the gauge where a record normally sits. Measuring on the bare platter can change the tonearm angle enough to alter the reading. If the gauge has a calibration or tare function, follow that gauge’s instructions before lowering the stylus. Never drag the stylus across the gauge surface; lower it vertically and lift it vertically.
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Set anti-skate after tracking force
The matching-value method
Return the arm to its rest before adjusting anti-skate. If your turntable manual instructs you to match the anti-skate number to tracking force, set the control to that same number. For example, a manual may call for a value of 2 when the cartridge is set to 2 units of tracking force. Cambridge Audio uses this matching approach on its Alva models, and Audio-Technica specifies values for the cartridges supplied with particular turntables.
Those examples are model-specific. A “2” setting from one model is not a universal recommendation for every cartridge, stylus or arm.
Why the match is only a starting point
McIntosh’s MT5 manual notes that the correct tracking-force and anti-skate amounts vary with the exact stylus-tip shape and with the audio signal’s frequency and amplitude in the groove wall. A fine-line, elliptical or spherical stylus can interact with the groove differently, and heavily modulated passages can demand a different balance than quiet ones. If the cartridge or tonearm manual supplies a different anti-skate value or a test procedure, that instruction has priority over a generic one-to-one setting.
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Different anti-skate mechanisms
| Mechanism | How you adjust it | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Numbered dial or spring control | Turn the dial to the manual’s value, commonly starting at the tracking-force number | Scale markings are model-specific; do not assume identical results across brands |
| Hanging weight and thread | Move the thread loop to the notch specified by the tonearm manual | Ensure the thread hangs freely and the weight is not touching the plinth |
| Fixed or preset mechanism | Use the manufacturer’s stated setup; there may be no user dial | Do not modify the mechanism or add weights without an approved procedure |
| Model-specific test procedure | Follow the supplied test track or adjustment sequence exactly | The manual’s procedure overrides a matching-number shortcut |
Verify the complete setup
After setting anti-skate, check the stylus guard is removed only for playback, the cartridge is square in the headshell, the arm lift clears the record and the platter rotates at the correct speed. Play a clean, familiar record at a moderate level and listen for secure tracking through vocals, cymbals and loud bass. Sudden rasping on peaks, one channel sounding harsher than the other, or a stylus that visibly struggles to stay centered can indicate a setup problem, but these symptoms can also come from a dirty or damaged record, a worn stylus, incorrect alignment or a defective cartridge.
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Make one change at a time. Recheck tracking force with the gauge after any anti-skate experiment so you do not confuse a vertical-force change with a sideways-force change. Use the manufacturer’s test procedure when one is provided; do not use an arbitrary blank record area as a universal calibration standard, because a blank surface does not reproduce the friction conditions of a modulated groove.
When to measure again
- After installing or removing a cartridge, headshell or replacement stylus.
- After changing the counterweight, arm height or platter mat.
- After moving the turntable to another surface or location.
- After a tonearm impact, transport or service.
- When a previously stable setup develops mistracking, channel imbalance or unusual surface noise.
Common setup situations
A new cartridge on an existing turntable
Record the old settings, fit the new cartridge and start over with the new cartridge’s tracking-force specification. Cartridge mass can also alter the arm’s balance position, so never assume the previous counterweight mark remains valid. Balance the arm, zero the scale and measure again.
A replacement stylus in the same cartridge body
Check the replacement stylus documentation. Even when the cartridge body is unchanged, the stylus assembly can have a different recommended force. Use the new value rather than the setting remembered from the old stylus.
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The included-cartridge value in that model’s manual applies to that supplied cartridge, not to every cartridge that fits the headshell. Audio-Technica manuals, for example, list values for included cartridges; replacing that cartridge requires consulting the replacement manufacturer.
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No readable cartridge label
Do not set a guessed force on records you care about. Inspect the cartridge body, headshell paperwork and stylus packaging under good light, then identify the exact model through the manufacturer’s documentation. If the stylus is visibly damaged or worn, replace it before attempting fine adjustment.
Troubleshooting tracking-force and anti-skate problems
| Symptom | Likely causes | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Arm will not float during balancing | Stylus guard still touching a surface, cueing platform raised, anti-skate engaged or counterweight not fully installed | Protect the stylus, lower the cueing platform, set anti-skate to zero and rebalance |
| Gauge reading changes each time | Gauge is not at record height, turntable is unstable, stylus lands off-center or arm is not level | Stabilize the plinth, place the gauge on the platter mat, lower vertically and repeat several readings |
| Dial says the target but gauge does not | Counterweight-scale tolerance, incorrect zeroing or a different arm geometry | Trust the calibrated gauge, then record the counterweight position for reference |
| Distortion on loud passages | Tracking force too low, stylus worn or dirty, cartridge misalignment or anti-skate imbalance | Verify the specified force first; then inspect stylus condition and alignment before changing anti-skate |
| One channel sounds consistently harsher | Unequal skating force, cartridge azimuth/alignment, dirty stylus or damaged record | Recheck force and the manual’s anti-skate guidance, then inspect alignment and stylus cleanliness |
| Anti-skate dial has no obvious effect | Fixed or spring mechanism, incorrect thread routing or a control that requires the arm at rest | Consult the exact tonearm manual; never force the control or alter a hanging weight’s geometry |
| Settings changed after moving the turntable | Counterweight shifted, surface is no longer level or arm was knocked | Level the turntable and repeat the complete balance, force-measurement and anti-skate sequence |
Protect the stylus and records while adjusting
- Keep the stylus guard on whenever the arm is not intentionally being measured or played.
- Use the cueing lever for every placement; do not hand-drop the stylus onto a gauge or record.
- Support a removable headshell while connecting cartridge leads so the cantilever is not loaded sideways.
- Clean the stylus only with a product and direction approved for that stylus design.
- Store the gauge where its measuring surface cannot collect dust or adhesive residue.
- Write down the measured tracking force, anti-skate setting, cartridge model and date. This makes it easier to detect drift.
Correct setup is not a one-time dial-in. Counterweights can be disturbed by transport, stylus assemblies wear, and a new cartridge changes the required force. A quick gauge check before a valuable listening session is safer than assuming the old setting is still accurate.
A practical decision rule
- Identify the exact cartridge or stylus and obtain its specified tracking force.
- Balance the arm with anti-skate at zero, then zero the counterweight scale.
- Dial in the target and verify it at record height with a calibrated gauge.
- Set anti-skate according to the tonearm or turntable manual. If it prescribes matching, use the matching number as the initial setting.
- If the manual specifies another value or a test, use that instead of the generic match.
- Recheck after every hardware or location change, and investigate symptoms before making repeated anti-skate adjustments.
The dependable order is therefore: cartridge specification, neutral arm balance, measured tracking force, then model-specific anti-skate. That sequence gives the stylus the vertical support it needs while addressing the inward skating force without treating a convenient dial number as a universal rule.
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