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  3. 161137-245

TONEARM DAMPING : DAMPED OR NOT ? ? USELESS ? ? WELCOMED ? ?

Dear friends: This tonearm critical subject sometimes can be controversial for say the least. Some audiophiles swear for non damped tonearms as the FR designs or SAEC or even the SME 3012 that is not very well damped in stock original status.

Some other audiophiles likes good damped tonearms.


In other thread a gentleman posted:


"  If a cartridge is properly matched to the tonearm damping is not required. " and even explained all what we know about the ideal resonance frequency range between tonearm and cartridge ( 8hz to 12hz. ). He refered to this when said: " properly matched to the tonearm ".


In that same thread that a Triplanar tonearm owner posted:


" This is the one thing about the Triplanar that I don't like. I never use the damping trough...... I imagine someone might have a use for it; I removed the troughs on my Triplanars; its nice to imagine that it sounds better for doing so. "


At the other side here it's a very well damped tonearm:


https://audiotraveler.wordpress.com/tag/townshend/


Now, after the LP is in the spining TT platter ( everything the same, including well matched cartridge/tonearm.  ) the must critical issue is what happens once the cartridge stylus tip hits/track the LP grooves modulations.

The ideal is that those groove modulations can pass to the cartridge motor with out any additional kind of developed resonances/vibrations and that the transducer makes its job mantaining the delicated and sensible signal integrity that comes in those recorded groove modulations.

 That is the ideal and could be utopic because all over the process/trip of the cartridge signal between the stylus tip ride and the output at the tonearm cable the signal suffers degradation (  resonances/vibrations/feedback ) mainly developed through all that " long trip " .


So, DAMPING IS NEED IT AT THE TONEARM/HEADSHELL SIDE OR NOT?


I'm trying to find out the " true " about and not looking if what we like it or not like it is rigth or not but what should be about and why of that " should be ".


I invite all of you analog lovers audiophiles to share your points of view in this critical analog audio subject. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT?


Thank's in advance.



Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.






Ag insider logo xs@2xrauliruegas
Ag insider logo xs@2x
rauliruegas OP
13,066 posts
 
@fsellet : I was whom deleted 3 of my posts. Any one else.

Btw, you don't have to read it. Why should you?, makes no sense to do it.

R.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
rauliruegas OP
13,066 posts
 
So what? japanese or not you can invite him to post. It will be a learning lesson if he decides to post.

That's the kind of gentlemans, other than the ones here, that can contributes to enrich our each one knowledge levels, especially in this regards.

In the past he posted in this forum, let me see if I remember his moniker and I will do it.

R.
bukanona
174 posts
 
Mijostyn, you are putting damping and effective weight into one bin. That is not correct.
All materials have some damping qualities and choosed by designer not only by desired weight. 
bukanona
174 posts
 
Raul, your know how is very poor especially in tonearms. If you own tonearm it doesn't mean that it's the best in the world. 
bukanona
174 posts
 
for finish, I do promise never argue again, here.
spring in tonearm - doesn’t do anything if you have completely flat record.
But in case of valleys/bumps it helps (short version). Also spring has some impact as damping.
So in my not perfect world spring can be removed if turntable has vacuum or outer ring - sound might improve (never tried it yet).



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