Originally Posted by
Minstrel SE
I wonder what the physics of the fluid damping is when related to tracking and the tonearm.
As it was explained to me once, it's a bit like being in a swimming pool. If you're in the water and gently move your hand from side to side you can do it easily, as the resistance of the fluid is minimal. But the faster you try and move your hand the stronger the resistance - until eventually you get a kind of hydraulic lock. So this works in the same way - minimising any micromovement between the arm and cantilever by damping all movement above a certain frequency, and presenting what is effectively a totally rigid structure (in terms of the interface between cantilever and groove) that can still track across a record and ride any warps. It's very clever.
As to the risk of fluid spill, it's minimal unless you're a complete klutz... the only way you could really do it would be to lift the arm and outrigger clear of the trough (which if set up right can't be done with the arm lift) and swing the trough away, leaving the paddle to drip on the record. Unlikely, but someone somewhere has done it. They probably shouldn't be left unsupervised anyway...
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Before you criticise a man, walk a mile in his shoes. Then, when you do - you'll be a mile away. And have his shoes.
Wavy grooves go thru a RigB 540ML on an SL1500C. Digits stream from a cheapie CDP and a Sonos, into a Yamaha 803D driving Kralk Audio little 'uns. I used to have a Linn but I'm better now.
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Trough and paddle on other decks
