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
Right @rauliruegas. My point was that even if there were a "perfectly damped tonearm" (if such a thing is even possible), there will still be the cartridge/tonearm resonance that is produced by ALL cartridge/arm combinations. A poorly or non-damped arm may exacerbate that resonance, but it will be there even with an arm 100% free of it's own resonance. At least, that was the finding of the Cranfield research. 
Dear @bdp24 : Yes, that resonance can't be avoided and some audiophiles think that if it's in side that " ideal " frequency range: 8hz- 12hz everything is fine but the harmonics of that kind of resonances always " color " the whole frequency range of what we are listening, this is: paint it.

Damping is welcomed playing LPs.

R.


Dear @ihcho  : Damping is need it. You need a good TT mat and a good TT clamp. You can help your cartridges in the 309 using a good damped headshell: build material is the key here as wood or magnesium or even blended material builded headshells. You can't do that with the 401 that came with a dedicated headshell.

Now, read the first 1.5 page on this thread where Agoners posted " things " that could help tonearm/cartridge damping issue.

R.
My turntable is Denon DP80 with DA401, and the mat is a stock. It has AT618 disc stablizer (clamp). DA309 is with PCL7 headshell. I ordered DK2300 from Japan. Once I get it, I will try to have dual arms installed for DP80.
It is a long thread and loaded with technical details most of which I am not familiar with, but I will try to make those understood by myself.
Thanks for your comment.
Dear @ihcho  : The DP 80 is a good vintage TT that even in its Denon plyth needs damping even at the arm board where it's seated in the plynth and with its footers.

You need to a better clamp and different mat than the stock one.

As you said when you have all mounted you can " know " what to do which " road " take.

R.