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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
tyray
645 posts
 
@rauliruegas,

Turn on your (english) spell check function. It will greatly help us and your learning english and writing experiences. I am a little confused as (english) spell check is already embedded in Audiogon discussion forum or on your laptop/desktop? Try using your desktop or laptop and not your cell phone, if you do and that will help.

That's one way I can tell your not using a translator because your mistyping and misspelling of words and the translator won't let you do that.
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
Right. Ralph I think he means "abilities" but whatever. There are facets of this issue I think we can all agree on.

The best tonearms follow a record's undulations without disturbing the function of the cartridge. 
There are cartridges that are better trackers but a bad tonearm will interfere with that capability.
A tonearm's effective mass including that of the cartridge and screws has to be matched to the compliance of the cartridge resulting in a resonance frequency between 8 and 12 Hz.
Fluid damping of the tonearm can be useful if the Q of the resonance frequency is high or if the resonance frequency is out of band. 

So, what does all this add up to? Everyone has to make up their own mind but, I think it is pretty obvious that you can not just jamb any cartridge into an arm and expect it to work well.

My own interpretation of this is; you want a tonearm cartridge combination with a low moment of inertia as it will follow the undulations of the record surface better. Added to this should be a camping system that flattens the record such as reflex or vacuum clamping.
In keeping with low inertia you want a tonearm with a low effective mass.
I personally would not do anything over 18.
You want a cartridge that tracks well that has a compliance that matches the effective mass of the arm. I personally will not look anything under 
80um. 
Finally if a tonearm has an available damping trough that is an added benefit (it has to be both horizontal and vertical) I would not use it unless it was absolutely necessary.  
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,851 posts
 
I think he means "abilities" but whatever.
Yes- either way the meaning is not significantly changed.
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
As to what sounds best? That is a personal issue that only you can figure out. What everybody else says is irrelevant. So it is like wine. You develop your own taste and perhaps occasionally get adventurous and try something different. Sometimes you agree with other sometimes not.
I do find it interesting that everyone will agree when a wine is really bad.  
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
Ok Ralph, but what about everything else I said?
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