I reviewed the E.A.R. foil product at the Michael Percy Audio site. (To be honest, I was surprised to learn he’s still using a journal-styled product catalog—hasn’t changed in like 20+ years!) Only downside is one has to cut a strip from the sheet. I’m not great with exacto knives or scissors. 😬
Foil damping tape as a tonearm tube wrap?
There has been a couple sporadic posts recently about using a product called 3M foil damping tape to wrap tonearm tubes. The tape is normally used in applications to reduce unwanted vibrations in the product to which the tape is attached. In the particular tonearm wrap applications, users claim a noticeable improvement in sonic qualities of vinyl playback. I created this thread to catalog impressions of others who have used this material, their particular tonearm wrap applications and their take away stories. Who has used this product for tonearm wraps? Thoughts?
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celander, Regarding your proposed use of the damping tape with the London cartridge, if you think about the physics of the situation, is it not possible that by wrapping the tonearm wand, you are inhibiting its capacity to dissipate energy transmitted into it from the cartridge, by inhibiting its capacity to vibrate? This would result in the energy moving either to the pivot or back to the headshell, both of which are to be avoided. I guess, best case, the energy is dissipated as heat in the arm tube. Anyway, let us know how it works out. We toss these terms around, but in fact most of the time the physics is complex and requires a deep understanding to predict. |
Unless the turntable is properly isolated the cartridge, tonearm, platter etc. is subject to very low frequency seismic vibration. The tonearm, like the cartridge and platter, is susceptible to seismic vibration in the 10-12 Hz region, which is its design resonant frequency Fr. That is the physics involved. Even if heroic vibration isolation is employed, isolation is not perfect so it might be worthwhile to damp the tonearm, e.g., tape or oil bath, using oil of the correct viscosity, even if isolated. It’s not rocket science. Well, maybe it is. |
An alternative to using tape that I use is the Herbies Damping ring. I use it on my FR-64S with nice results. Lightweight and easily installs. I would say it takes the arm up a notch closer to the level of a FR-66S in terms of a more neutral and relaxed presentation. I guess I could add more if I wanted to experiment but one is fine. http://herbiesaudiolab.net/jr.htm#jr |
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