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Tone Arm board material

My VPI Ares3 turntable which is made with a laminated acrylic/aluminum/acrylic plinth, about 2.5 inches thick in total, has a 5/8 inch circular cut through the top layer of acrylic which exposes the center laminate of aluminum.  Set into this circular cut out is the 'puck' arm board mounting disc which is about 7/8 inches thick acrylic.  This bolts to the aluminum via three machine bolts.  My SME Series IV magnesium tone arm is bolted to the acrylic tone arm puck.

Magnesium is known for its superior vibration and sound deadening qualities, so I was wondering if anyone has any thoughts on making the tone arm board 'puck' out of solid magnesium vs. the factory supplied acrylic??  I can see why they probably don't use magnesium as it's super expensive.  I just got a quote on a small piece of magnesium to machine a new tone arm board and its $125.  But if it were to make an improvement in performance, its cheap money.

Does anyone out there have any thoughts on this?

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Showing 1 response by sleepwalker65

sleepwalker65's avatar
sleepwalker65
832 posts
 
May I suggest Corian from DuPont? It is easily machined, very stable and very inert to vibration. You can probably get a scrap from a counter fabricator for free. I’ve also made shelves for my equipment racks from Corian and wouldn’t use anything else for that. 

If all else fails, shoot for the moon and go for unobtainium! 
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