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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?

128x128slimpikins5
noromance's avatar
noromance
9,404 posts
 
My slate plinth builder supplied mine with wenge armboards saying it was the best he'd heard.
slimpikins5's avatar
slimpikins5 OP
191 posts
 
Thank you Atmasphere for the thoughts on materials used.
My Ares3 is Acrylic sandwiched with a center layer of aluminum.  The top layer of acrylic was machined out down to the aluminum layer so that the same acrylic material used for the arm board  is bolted directly to the aluminum.  In other words, the arm board is the exact same construction and materials as the plinth which mirrors what you stated.

I will stay with  this for sure (after the turntable does sound fabulous) and why fix what is not broken.


fsonicsmith's avatar
fsonicsmith
931 posts
 
While I don't claim to be an expert, I nonetheless agree with Ralph. I am not new to plinths and armboards. If possible, mount the arm directly to the base of the plinth. This is not possible with a Thorens TD124 unless the armboard chassis is cut off, but it is easily done with a Garrard 301/401 or an SP10. It surprises me that so-called state of the art plinths by some vendors have pivoting leaf armboards. Clever and versatile yes. Ideal, no. 
whostolethebatmobile
290 posts
 
Delrin is also a good suggestion. It's already used for the body of new Hana ML phono cartridge, and the base of high-end isolating feet (Revopods).
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,412 posts
 
By the way, the generic name of Delrin is Acetal. There's also a long chemical name for it (abbreviated to POM), but you don't need that.
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