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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Magnesium is more known for its strength to weight characteristics and that is why it is used for tonearm.  I would experiment first with other tonearm board materials like ebony and purple heart woods.  Possibly brass etc.
I do understand the strength to weight issue with magnesium, however I have also been told that it is very good at dampening sound vibrations which is why I was considering this material.  It would be nice to find a table of dampening values for various materials.


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OK, this is interesting; I spoke with the chief designer at Oracle Audio in Canada on this subject.  He said that my stock arm board puck on the VPI Ares3 is 1 inch thick acrylic which is a very good material.  He said Acrylic is a surprisingly good acoustic dampening medium and he suggested I stay with it.  If I go to another material, there is a risk of 'ringing'.  That will simplify my project, I can fabricate the parts I want for the VTA on the fly adjuster and bolt them to the stock arm board.