2. analog
  3. 1198281720

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
stltrains
845 posts
 
Artemus_5 i experimented with the motor on my aries 3 and found the best was putting isoblocks split in half under the motor. i use three.
in my case a 2 inch maple platform with brass triplepoints between TT and platform and isoblocks under the platform to my rack. smooth frequency response top to bottom no smearing and crystal clear highs. of coarse YRMV.
on damping i like mine without any. it deadens the music to much for me even a small amount.
from what i've read above you are into finding what works for you by trial and error just like i have.
good luck
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,500 posts
 
,,just for your edification..the Gingko platform is in 2 pieces with the table itself suspended, but the motor not.
artemus_5's avatar
artemus_5 OP
1,992 posts
 
Sberger, I tried just a little fluid and there was some improvement, most notably in the bass. However I'm not sure if there was some trade off with other areas ie the airiness. I must also note that the table is now sitting on the sandbox with Travertine platform atop the sand. It also has the stock feet. Whereas when I tried damping the arm before the TT had the Super Feet installed and was mounted on a 4" maple slab. At that time there was an airiness to the music that was quite nice. The bass was there and deep, but not very well defined. Now I have defined bass but have lost the airiness that it had before. So I'm not making a good comparison as yet. But it does show that good results are available using the damping fluid.

Stringreen, Thanks for the info on the Gingko. I was not aware that it was 2 piece.

Stltrains, I am going to order some isoblocks today. This has been the plan but haven't had time to do so yet. thanks for the info.

I haven't had time to do much listening in the last couple of days, but I do now have the maple top for the sandbox. I'll be experimenting with it over the weekend. Thanks to all for your info and input.
franks
151 posts
 
I'm a long term TNT/JMW-10 owner. The issue of damping is very cartridge dependent. In general the high compliance catridges like the benz and the grado's benefit from some damping. Low compliance cartridges do not. When I had a grado reference I had the damping trough about half full. After I upgraded to a koetsu jade, a low compliance cartridge, I use no damping. The dynevector is a low side of medium compliance cartridge thus it may or may not benefit from a small amount of damping. You might want to try just a few drops of the damping fluid in the trough and compare it with no damping.
parelius
9 posts
 
12-31-07: Artemus_5
FTR, I thought about trying less fluid. I thought it may have been over filled. But there was no fluid on the underside of the JMW-9 arm when I took it off of the pivot. That made me believe that there was not too much fluid. The trough was about 1/2 full.

I suppose that if there is no fluid on the underside of the arm - the part of the bearing in the arm wand -, then there has been no damping going on at all. I had the same experience. I'd say everyone who fills the well 1/3 or 1/2 should check out if there is any fluid on the bearing on the arm wand. If I have understood HW right, you increase/decrease damping with the screw on top of the arm wand.

Best
More to discover