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

Even though I say it is cutting edge Technology, 3D Printing as a concept able to produce a form is as old as CD.

Powdered Metal and other Particulate being used to produce a non homogenous form, with approx' 25% air space by Volume, is much older as a concept and working design, probably 100 years.

As a Layman description, I am not the man behind the Science.

These Forms used as a Binderless construction for a Wand will make transferral of energy that little more broken as the air spaces are now a place for dissipation of the transfer, resulting in diminished energy overall within the structure.    

The late Hans Henrik ( Moerch) once told me the DP6 I have would sound better if I could avoid the optional damping fluid.

Dear @audiomark1234  : Things are that for several years I owned the first the 4 and latter on the DP-6 that's almost an unipivot design ( has 2 bearing points. ) and with not good microscopic stability for the stylus tip ridding.

That's why came or comes with silicon oil damping for the horizontal plane and independent for the vertical movements and in this we can choose the " quantity " of damping we need or not but this fact depends more that what the designer says but  the cartridges we own and our sound reproduction preferences.

With out vertical damping we coulkd think is more open/cryztaline the sound but that could be the added non damped distortion levels.

R.

'could be' ?, 'might be' ?

" You need facts or to make your own measures "

Following a very enjoyable day visiting the Designer of the Tonearm referred to in the earlier Post and once more discussing the subject of a Trough > Paddle > Damping Fluid. 

There is no change in the thought about damping troughs being used.

The Wow and Flutter that can be detected during a LP's replay is to be witnessed as a substantial improvement through improving Speed Control, as a result of optimising certain mechanical interfaces both mechanical and geometrical.

Optimisation is achievable through removing a common cause of eccentric rotation, being the non-true rotation of the axis of the Platter Bearings Spindle.

Keeping on top of a LP's eccentricity is more difficult as the cause is typically the off set of the Groove to the LP's Hole / Spindle Centre, not the usually misunderstood dimension incorrectly suspected as being the LP's Hole / Spindle Centre to the LP's perimeter. If the hole centre perimeter dimension was the only concern there would be tools available to substantially improve on the condition.

Optimisation can be taken further when addressing the interface created between the Styli and Groove, which is the next to be considered.

There are set up Geometries where the selection of the null points are capable of producing differing forces which will be exerted within the Groove, at certain positions during the replay, these are a cause of friction and drag, each capable of impacting on Wow and Flutter.

There are things that can be addressed within the Cartridge, especially the accuracy of the alignment of the Styli on the Cantilever, the alignment of the Cantilever to the Coils and the Azimuth when the Styli is within the Groove.  

The cleanliness of the Vinyl and Quality of the finished polish to the Styli will also assist with overcoming the presence of Wow and Flutter

When the mechanical and geometrical interface is addressed, the use of a dedicated Speed Controller will assist with a improved control over the electronics influence on the speed. 

These critical conditions when not optimised, are able to influence detrimentally on a replay. Their presence when non-optimised are not going to be resolved by the use of a Paddle in oil, and it is most unlikely the use of a Paddle and Oil, be it a Silicone, Spirit Mineral or a Blend of either, is going to be an adequate method for removing the 'entirety' of the impact of energies being created as a result of the presence of any of the above conditions not being optimal.

Even if the conditions are at their optimal, the Trough, Oil, Paddle is not going to offer much as a means to remove what remains as a unwanted energy transfer. 

Energies being generated, resulting with a proportion of unwanted produced energy, able to be transferred through a Tonearm, will have an amount of produced energy, able to be a bounce back energy, even with a Trough in place, where the result will be unwanted energy being able to return to source, ultimately to encounter and be an influence on the the Styli.