Can anyone recommend a replacement damper fluid for the trough on a SME
III, used with an ATOC9 MC cartridge? It's completely evaporated/spilled
from one I've just bought.

I've had a look through the forums and seen STP, but I'd like something
that's close to the original in terms of evaporation/viscosity, and
doesn't cost the 40UKP that ebay seems to demand for the genuine
article. UK supplier would be good.

Thanks, Rob

(also posted on the Vinyl Engine forum)

On Sat, 08 Mar 2008 11:46:03 +0000, Rob
wrote:

Can anyone recommend a replacement damper fluid for the trough on a SME
III, used with an ATOC9 MC cartridge? It's completely evaporated/spilled
from one I've just bought.

I've had a look through the forums and seen STP, but I'd like something
that's close to the original in terms of evaporation/viscosity, and
doesn't cost the 40UKP that ebay seems to demand for the genuine
article. UK supplier would be good.

Thanks, Rob

(also posted on the Vinyl Engine forum)

I am using an ATOC9 with an SME 3009ii arm, and it needs no damping,
I've checked the transient response around the arm resonance, and
there is no overshoot. I can't see that the iii will be any different
in this regard.

d

--
Pearce Consulting
http://www.pearce.uk.com

Don Pearce wrote:
On Sat, 08 Mar 2008 11:46:03 +0000, Rob
wrote:

Can anyone recommend a replacement damper fluid for the trough on a SME
III, used with an ATOC9 MC cartridge? It's completely evaporated/spilled
from one I've just bought.
I've had a look through the forums and seen STP, but I'd like something
that's close to the original in terms of evaporation/viscosity, and
doesn't cost the 40UKP that ebay seems to demand for the genuine
article. UK supplier would be good.

Thanks, Rob

(also posted on the Vinyl Engine forum)

I am using an ATOC9 with an SME 3009ii arm, and it needs no damping,
I've checked the transient response around the arm resonance, and
there is no overshoot. I can't see that the iii will be any different
in this regard.

d


Thanks - I thought it looked a bit unlikely and I wouldn't have noticed
if it wasn't for the instructions.

The ATOC9 would need the lowest level of damping according to the
instructions, but does beg the question: why did SME bother?!

They cite improved bass, greater resistance to shock and reduction of
spurious low frequencies. Is this just another marketing ploy, at least
so far as the OC9 is concerned?

The original owner had a Logic MC cartridge fitted which I've replaced
for the time being - perhaps that was more susceptible?

Rob

On Sat, 08 Mar 2008 12:58:10 +0000, Rob
wrote:

Don Pearce wrote:
On Sat, 08 Mar 2008 11:46:03 +0000, Rob
wrote:

Can anyone recommend a replacement damper fluid for the trough on a SME
III, used with an ATOC9 MC cartridge? It's completely evaporated/spilled
from one I've just bought.
I've had a look through the forums and seen STP, but I'd like something
that's close to the original in terms of evaporation/viscosity, and
doesn't cost the 40UKP that ebay seems to demand for the genuine
article. UK supplier would be good.

Thanks, Rob

(also posted on the Vinyl Engine forum)

I am using an ATOC9 with an SME 3009ii arm, and it needs no damping,
I've checked the transient response around the arm resonance, and
there is no overshoot. I can't see that the iii will be any different
in this regard.

d


Thanks - I thought it looked a bit unlikely and I wouldn't have noticed
if it wasn't for the instructions.

The ATOC9 would need the lowest level of damping according to the
instructions, but does beg the question: why did SME bother?!


I think it was a fashion thing - maybe it was prompted by some
dreadful cartridge that had no damping of its own - I don't know. I do
know they offered a retro-fit damper for my arm at one time, but they
soon withdrew it.

They cite improved bass, greater resistance to shock and reduction of
spurious low frequencies. Is this just another marketing ploy, at least
so far as the OC9 is concerned?

Yup. That cart already has all the damping it needs. And in the
cartridge is the right place to put it too. That minimizes the
unsprung weight it is controlling.

The original owner had a Logic MC cartridge fitted which I've replaced
for the time being - perhaps that was more susceptible?

Maybe.

Rob

d
--
Pearce Consulting
http://www.pearce.uk.com

"Don Pearce" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 08 Mar 2008 12:58:10 +0000, Rob
wrote:

Don Pearce wrote:
On Sat, 08 Mar 2008 11:46:03 +0000, Rob
wrote:

Can anyone recommend a replacement damper fluid for the trough on a SME
III, used with an ATOC9 MC cartridge? It's completely
evaporated/spilled
from one I've just bought.
I've had a look through the forums and seen STP, but I'd like something
that's close to the original in terms of evaporation/viscosity, and
doesn't cost the 40UKP that ebay seems to demand for the genuine
article. UK supplier would be good.

Thanks, Rob

(also posted on the Vinyl Engine forum)

I am using an ATOC9 with an SME 3009ii arm, and it needs no damping,
I've checked the transient response around the arm resonance, and
there is no overshoot. I can't see that the iii will be any different
in this regard.

d


Thanks - I thought it looked a bit unlikely and I wouldn't have noticed
if it wasn't for the instructions.

The ATOC9 would need the lowest level of damping according to the
instructions, but does beg the question: why did SME bother?!


I think it was a fashion thing - maybe it was prompted by some
dreadful cartridge that had no damping of its own - I don't know. I do
know they offered a retro-fit damper for my arm at one time, but they
soon withdrew it.

They cite improved bass, greater resistance to shock and reduction of
spurious low frequencies. Is this just another marketing ploy, at least
so far as the OC9 is concerned?

Yup. That cart already has all the damping it needs. And in the
cartridge is the right place to put it too. That minimizes the
unsprung weight it is controlling.

The original owner had a Logic MC cartridge fitted which I've replaced
for the time being - perhaps that was more susceptible?

Maybe.

Rob

d
--
Pearce Consulting
http://www.pearce.uk.com


I never had any success with SME's damping troughs. Even at the minimum
setting (smallest paddle) I found the damping to be excessive, and would
impede the free movement of the arm such that the cantilever was stressed
out of its optimum position by the smallest warp or swing. It seems to me
that if the object of the exercise is to damp the cartridge rather than the
arm pivot, then the right place for damping is either at the cartridge
itself, as Shure did with the later V15-IV and V15-V.

S.

http://audiopages.googlepages.com