To damp or not to damp JMW-9 Sig ?


Just got this tonearm for my ScoutMaster. A great addition I might add. I haven't experimented with the damping yet. This will come. But I was wondering what differences I might hear with it damped? I'm using a DV 20XL cartridge. Thanks
128x128artemus_5
I asked that very question to Harry Weisfield of VPI and to Musical Surroundings. I have a Benz LP. Musical Surroundings said I can try but they recommnd very little if any. Harry said basically the same thing for my cratridge, but recommends damping the Grado and other cartridges without internal damping.
Ok - you piqued my interest, and I had nothing to do, so I played around with the damping in my arm. It is the 10.5i that I just installed on my Superscoutmaster which had previously been a 9 Sig. I have a Benz Micro Ebony LP, and discovered that a bit of the damping fluid is a good thing. Pull the plug on the arm and remove it to a very safe place. Clean out the will with a Q-tip as suggested in the instructions. Fill the well about 1/2 way. Too much oil will deaden the highs. Its easy to put in the oil - just add drop by drop - it fills fast. To remove oil, mop up with an additional Q-tip. The results are improved midrange - more depth and air between the notes, and improved low bass. Post your results.
OK, I tried dampening the arm last night and didn't like what I heard. The sparkle left the music. I read that Harry said if the cartridge was damped then not to damp the arm. The Dyna 20XL is damped.
Would've got back on this sooner but have been out of town. Thanks for the response Stringreen