Glossary term

Anti-skate

A tonearm adjustment that counteracts the inward turning tendency caused by stylus/groove friction. Its setting follows the particular arm and cartridge instructions and is separate from vertical tracking force.

Explained in depth

Turntables & analog sources

Turntable tracking force: identify, set and verify

Set tracking force from the specifications of the cartridge and stylus actually fitted, using the tonearm’s own procedure. Balancing the arm, zeroing an indicator and applying force are different operations. Anti-skate is a separate adjustment. Do not copy a universal number, assume a replacement cartridge uses the original setting, or treat the dial as an independent measurement.

PN
Pure Neo editorial
Updated 4 Oct 2026