Damping an armboard?

[BB Wan]

I've seen a few threads about platter damping and chassis damping, but has anyone ever tried damping an armboard. If not, would it be worth considering? Obviously I can try for myself, to see what I think, but interested to know if anyone else has tried it and what (if any) effect it had?

[walpurgis]

Not seen anything on this, but I guess it could be useful.

There presumably would be two ways of tackling it. Adding mass or using damping materials. Stick on Sorbothane pads are available (I have some), they'd probably work. Adding mass is not necessarily a good idea, the results would be hard to evaluate without suitable measuring gear and it could upset turntable leveling and suspension.

[struth]

Maybe an ebony armboard is the answer.

[Oldpinkman]

Maybe an ebony armboard is the answer.

Or ivory? :)

[Jason P]

Or ivory? :)

Maybe both together, it could be perfect. Harmonious even.

[shane]

It all depends on what the original armboard's made of and how big it is. Turntables like the lp12, tt2 and td150 have armboards made of sizeable chunks of ply or MDF, both of which have a fair degree of inherant self damping. These will have been designed with those characteristics in mind so adding damping pads will probably make a difference, but it may not be an improvement. Replacing the armboard with solid hardwood, which is likely to be much more resonant (think how a marimba works) is unlikely to improve things.

Turnables such as the sl1200 which have small metal armboards could be improved by damping, but on such a small area it's not going to be a huge improvement.

[BB Wan]

Turnables such as the sl1200 which have small metal armboards could be improved by damping, but on such a small area it's not going to be a huge improvement.

It was the SL1200 I was thinking of really (sorry should've stated that in my original post!)
I know it is a small surface area, but every little helps. I might try it with a bit of Dynamat (or similar) once my Techie is not in approximately 1000 pieces (final stages now!). I know it won't be a big difference, but won't cost much to try. Just wondered if anyone had tried it on a techie that was all.

[The Black Adder]

I've seen some use neoprene washers under armboards before..

[BB Wan]

I've seen some use neoprene washers under armboards before..

Neoprene is an interesting idea! I had normal rubber in mind, but neoprene might be a good shout! Any other ideas or thoughts on this. I have done a bit more reading and it seems SpeedySteve's ebony armboard are very well regarded, which leaves me to suspect that there are improvements to be had in the armboard area. What are others using on their Techies?

[337alant]

You could try Cork washers as well

Alan

[Mr Kipling]

What for you do with the energy generated in a turntable? Transmit? Sink? Radiate? I don't know. It's something I keep asking myself. Is replacing a wood armboard with metal one or whatever a good idea? Some might think so but the new, more dense, item, might than reflect energy back into the arm/cartridge. The Cartridgeman does produce a device that de-couples a cartridge from the arm. Suppose the only way to know for sure would be to try for yourself.