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Shure Dynamic Stabilizer on/off experimentation

Hi: I was wondering whether anybody had done the work to properly compare the sound of a Shure Cartridge with the Dynamic Stabilizer a - used as designed by Shure, b - still on the cartridge but locked in the up position, c - removed from the cartridge. To be valid the comparison would have to re-optimize the tracking force and antiskating each time. Also if you can report what tonearm you used that would be helpful; if you have tracking or resonance problems that would invalidate the experiment. For a nice tonearm/cartridge matching graph please see http://www.analogue-classics.com/html/sme_3009___3012.html.

I'm using an SME 3009 Series III tonearm with a SOTA turntable with vacuum holddown. Since the tonearm has damping and the turntable should minimize warp, the stabilizer may do more harm than good in this setup. Before I spend a Saturday doing the experiments I thought I would survey the Audiogon community.

I'd be interested in hearing your experiences please. Thanks!
hifigeezer
7 responses Add your response
travis's avatar
travis
239 posts
 
I found, on an '80s AR TT with Sumiko arm, that the brush tended to act like another stylus and tried to make it's own music. I took it off, lowered the tracking force and I thought it was an improvement. This was on a V15/Type V.
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
The brush works as a damper, which is handy in an undamped tonearm to navigate warped records and diminish the amplitude of the tonearm/cartridge resonant frequency. In most cases, it improves trackability and tames resonances, but if you have a tonearm sufficiently damped to keep the stylus in the groove on hideous warps, you don't need to use the damper brush.

Still, I consider the damping brush to be a really effective low-cost method to damp, considering that the KAB damper trough is $150 and damped tonearms are significantly more.
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rauliruegas
12,781 posts
 
Dear Hifi: This is what I posted in other thread about:

+++++ " Btw, I don't use the damping brush on Shure or my Stanton cartridges,I prefer with out it. It seems to me that the very sensitive microphone that it is what is the cartridge take some " sound " from the damping brush due to the friction between it and the record. " +++++

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,838 posts
 
Hmm,

I can see the argument either way depending.

Its been years but I always used it when I had one mainly because it helped keep the stylus clean.

No harm trying it both with and without and see what sounds better.
hifigeezer OP
32 posts
 
All:

Thanks very much for your responses. It is clear from your experiences I should try for myself running with the stabilizer up. I have the Shure test record which includes tracks for measuring tonearm resonance and a meter which I can use to compare the results. I'll post them when I get a chance. Regards, hifigeezer
hifigeezer OP
32 posts
 
The cartridge is now installed in an SME 3009 Series 3 tonearm, very low mass with fluid damping and the Dynamic Stabilizer up (not in use). I used the Shure test record and could not observe any visible tonearm/cartridge resonance from 6 to 11 Hz. This suggests that the SME tone arm damping is sufficient. I'll post more when I have updates.
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