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Foil damping tape as a tonearm tube wrap?

There has been a couple sporadic posts recently about using a product called 3M foil damping tape to wrap tonearm tubes. The tape is normally used in applications to reduce unwanted vibrations in the product to which the tape is attached. In the particular tonearm wrap applications, users claim a noticeable improvement in sonic qualities of vinyl playback. I created this thread to catalog impressions of others who have used this material, their particular tonearm wrap applications and their take away stories. Who has used this product for tonearm wraps? Thoughts?
128x128celander
celander's avatar
celander OP
1,503 posts
 
@nationalbar described one application in this thread: https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/arche-headshell-and-technics-1200g

@rauliruegas cited this post in this thread: https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/picking-up-a-new-technics-sl1200g-tt-tomorrow

bpoletti
1,553 posts
 
The Sumiko Analog Survival Kit used a thin tape to be wound tightly around an arm tube slightly overlapping the winds.  It was not heavy.

The 3M foil damping tape is a heavy, foil-backed thin sorbothane-like material.  Heavy compared to the Sumiko tape. 

In my opinion....

The 3M Foil Damping Tape can significantly change the effective mass of a tonearm.  Significantly.  And it would be hard to judge exactly what the resulting arm mass would be.  Also, the arm counterweight could end up being insufficient to balance some cartridges.  

Certainly, on paper, it seems like a VERY BAD suggestion.  YMMV.

noromance's avatar
noromance
9,860 posts
 
Anyone use PTFE (plumber's) tape?
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