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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
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 

@rauliruegas I don't have time to read 250 pages. I've got to finish my wife's vanity. Look, what's happening down there is rather simple. There is a diamond stylus tracing  groove at something like 60,000 psi. while the cartridge and everything else it is attached to including Mexico must remain absolutely, perfectly, unassailably stationary other than the slow movement of the arm traveling to the end of the record. There can be no vibration of any kind other than the moving assembly of the cartridge (diamond, cantilever, coils or magnet) 

Now, someone must have a problem somewhere along the line as they want to apply damping. Damping is a method for controlling vibration. It serves no other purpose. Applied to a tonearm it's job is to stop the tonearm from moving or vibrating, if you will, and if there is a vibration that is not supposed to be there, the damping might diminish it some. If the cartridge is vibrating, then so isn't the tonearm. The opposite is also true or there is another vibration and you are in serious trouble. You might as well hang it all up and get a Corona.

Ag insider logo xs@2x
rauliruegas OP
13,103 posts
 

@mijostyn : You need to go out for a few minutes from your little world.

Btw, the key in this cartridge main issue is the choice and quantity of silicon viscosity level we are using it.

 

R.

mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 

@rauliruegas I'm sure viscosity is a factor if you have that problem, another factor to drive yourself crazy about.

I really like my little world. I can hide from the rest of humanity with a few selected exceptions. I hate to say this Raul, but you have to assume at this point that until human's can control their primitive instincts we are better off staying away from them. Not that there are not good people out there, there are , but their silence is deafening. 

Ag insider logo xs@2x
rauliruegas OP
13,103 posts
 

Dear @mijostyn  : My audio world is truly small and inside it I have estrict and specific critical issues and targets to make the MUSIC really an enjoyment the near I can to the live event MUSIC experience. I'm not complicated.

 

Things are that for me what we can't avoid and always is there is all what I posted in mt last 6-7 post that is happening at the stylus/cantilever ridding and been here where the MUSIC source starts we all should be to care about to try achieve that real MUSIC enjoyment  with the any kind of developed distortions at minimum. This is my target here and now. Which yours?.

 

R.

mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 

@rauliruegas , 20 pounds. I need to lose 20 pounds. 

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