The Palladian-A step beyond

Dear @sampsa55 : This is part of JC post I name it:

""" I agree that the FR-66S would be somewhat better than the SAEC, but truth be told, I’m not overly enamoured of the "S" family either (and I say this as the long-time owner of a 64S with Elevation Base and Arm Stabilizer). The stainless steel is great to look at, but less great to listen to, and when I run mine I prefer to keep a compression wrap around the tube. """


that " compression wrap " JC talks is a way to help damping the tonearm way resonant FR pipe.

He followed:

""" Yes, I’ve already done so with the Titan i. Likewise the Olympos. I agree that the results can be quite OK - as long as you wrap a damper strip around the armtube or take measures to dampen it better.... """

@halcro, he finalize his posts with:

"""  Finally, the headshell has a major impact on the sound, but I am sure that you are well aware of that. """


That very special build material wrap/strip was marketed by Sumiko and I owned and use it. Was extremely flexible and almost with no weigth for it self.


Almost all about damping in audio and its absolutely needs is only common sense not rocket science.


Regards and enjoy the music,
R.

I agree with Lewm that there are many ways of 'damping'....not only in relation to tonearms, headshells and cartridges but also platters, plinths, rooms, valves, casework and even cables.
Unfortunately, because of the lack of financial return and the moving nature of the technology......there is a dearth of real scientific study and/or published data for this broad hobby called 'audio'.

Every designer of every component for sale in audio, has a 'philosophy' and/or 'science' behind his product that makes it 'better' than what came before and that of his competitors.
If one bought a component based solely on the 'science' of the claims.....one would deserve the sound that resulted 👀
Despite the obvious knowledge of Jonathan Carr.....his Lyra cartridges are amongst the poorest I have heard in my system....on both damped and undamped tonearms....
So how to put that supposed 'knowledge' into perspective?

The most scientific and exhaustive analysis on tonearm design that has been University accredited, belongs to Continuum Audio Laboratories which resulted in the Cobra and Copperhead tonearms.
Using a design team of five eminent specialist scientists under the direction of Mark Doehmannn, they applied a suite of advanced software towards the modelling of both arms beginning with Finite Element Analysis using NASTRAN, PATRAN, and DYSTRAN whilst finalizing the designs in the complex process of Gradient Shape Optimisation using 'Reshape' from advea.com.

The four greatest 'universal' tonearms I have heard are the FR-64s, FR-66s, Cobra and Copperhead.
All four are 'undamped' in the traditional sense 😜

but that does not mean I think any phono cartridge is worth $10,000. +

I agree Fleib....
And when you think that there are now $15,000 cartridges in the market place, the days of $20,000 cartridges are fast approaching 😱
When you consider that on the 'used' market, one can buy the FR-7f, XL-55, XL-88, MIT 1, Silver Meister (new), SPU-Ae Gold and MC-L1000 altogether, for less than the cost of the Palladian.....it makes no sense 🚫
I can happily listen to any of those great LOMC cartridges before even yearning for my beloved MMs.....
But when I return to the Palladian......I realise that this one cartridge  combines every great attribute of all the wonderful cartridges I adore, into a single whole.
And then adds another dimension...
If I had only one cartridge......this would be it‼️

Since a number of us are quoting heroes, I feel I must quote one of mine, Black Adder.

Sir Percy: "The Spanish Princess' eyes are more beautiful than the famous blue stone of Galveston."
Black Adder: "Have you ever seen this stone?"
Sir Percy: "No, not as such My Lord, but I know a few people who have and they say it's very blue."
Black Adder: "Have these people seen the Spanish Princess' eyes?"
Sir Percy: "No I shouldn't think so My Lord."
Black Adder: "Neither have you possibly?"
Sir Percy: "No My Lord".
Black Adder: "So what you are telling me Percy is that something you have not seen is slightly less blue than something else you have never seen?"
Sir Percy: "Yes My Lord."
Black Adder: "You idiot Percy!"