TT said:

In the manual it alludes to the arm dampener as if it is supposed to remain
in contact with the arm while playing. Is this so? Or does it only contact
the arm when the lift is engaged?


The problem is I can't seem to adjust the lift mechanism low enough to clear
the arm when the stylus is in contact with the record. BTW cart is a Shure
V15V.

I hope I'm not teaching granny to suck eggs here and am not familiar
with the damping trough if that is what you are referring to.
The solution for the lack of clearance between arm and arm lifter if
you have run out of arm height adjustment is to use a headshell
spacer. SME part number 5925 or 4925 or you can easily knock one up
from a piece of plastic of a suitable thickness, or your local DJ
outfit may carry one such as:
http://www.qualitydj.co.uk/headshell-spacer-p-68.html
I used to have a selection of plastic and metal ones which could be
used to vary the effective arm weight to suit various cartridges.
--
Ken

"UnsteadyKen" wrote in message
m...
TT said:

In the manual it alludes to the arm dampener as if it is supposed to
remain
in contact with the arm while playing. Is this so? Or does it only
contact
the arm when the lift is engaged?


The problem is I can't seem to adjust the lift mechanism low enough to
clear
the arm when the stylus is in contact with the record. BTW cart is a
Shure
V15V.

I hope I'm not teaching granny to suck eggs here and am not familiar
with the damping trough if that is what you are referring to.
The solution for the lack of clearance between arm and arm lifter if
you have run out of arm height adjustment is to use a headshell
spacer. SME part number 5925 or 4925 or you can easily knock one up
from a piece of plastic of a suitable thickness, or your local DJ
outfit may carry one such as:
http://www.qualitydj.co.uk/headshell-spacer-p-68.html
I used to have a selection of plastic and metal ones which could be
used to vary the effective arm weight to suit various cartridges.
--
Ken

On an SME 3009 (both S2 and S3) the arm lifter goes up and down with the
arm, you don't run out of height clearance with the lifter. You can also
adjust the position of the lifter relative to the pivot if you want an
especially large (or small) lift. If the arm is parallel to the record when
playing, then the damper paddle should be in the right position relative to
the trough. The paddle may well touch the side of the trough when the arm is
lifted, or if the arm is dropped past the level of the turntable, but that
is of no consequence.

If you're using the V15V cartridge, however, I personally would prefer to
disengage the SME damper (remove the paddle altogether) and just use the
cartridge's own damper.

With the V15III which doesn't have its own damper, I found SME's damper to
be excessive even on minimum settings, as it would impede the free movement
of the arm in case of warps or with slight swingers. I've seen suggestions
to change the silicone damping fluid for something less viscous, motor oil
and washing-up liquid have been suggested, but frankly I preferred to do
without it altogether.

S.
--
http://audiopages.googlepages.com

"Serge Auckland" wrote in
message ...
:
: "UnsteadyKen" wrote in message
: m...
: TT said:
:
: In the manual it alludes to the arm dampener as if it
is supposed to
: remain
: in contact with the arm while playing. Is this so? Or
does it only
: contact
: the arm when the lift is engaged?
:
:
: The problem is I can't seem to adjust the lift
mechanism low enough to
: clear
: the arm when the stylus is in contact with the record.
BTW cart is a
: Shure
: V15V.
:
: I hope I'm not teaching granny to suck eggs here and am
not familiar
: with the damping trough if that is what you are
referring to.
: The solution for the lack of clearance between arm and
arm lifter if
: you have run out of arm height adjustment is to use a
headshell
: spacer. SME part number 5925 or 4925 or you can easily
knock one up
: from a piece of plastic of a suitable thickness, or your
local DJ
: outfit may carry one such as:
: http://www.qualitydj.co.uk/headshell-spacer-p-68.html
: I used to have a selection of plastic and metal ones
which could be
: used to vary the effective arm weight to suit various
cartridges.
: --
: Ken
:
: On an SME 3009 (both S2 and S3) the arm lifter goes up and
down with the
: arm, you don't run out of height clearance with the
lifter. You can also
: adjust the position of the lifter relative to the pivot if
you want an
: especially large (or small) lift. If the arm is parallel
to the record when
: playing, then the damper paddle should be in the right
position relative to
: the trough. The paddle may well touch the side of the
trough when the arm is
: lifted, or if the arm is dropped past the level of the
turntable, but that
: is of no consequence.
:
: If you're using the V15V cartridge, however, I personally
would prefer to
: disengage the SME damper (remove the paddle altogether)
and just use the
: cartridge's own damper.
:
: With the V15III which doesn't have its own damper, I found
SME's damper to
: be excessive even on minimum settings, as it would impede
the free movement
: of the arm in case of warps or with slight swingers. I've
seen suggestions
: to change the silicone damping fluid for something less
viscous, motor oil
: and washing-up liquid have been suggested, but frankly I
preferred to do
: without it altogether.
:
Thank you for your informed answer, I knew some one here
would know.

So what I have observed is correct then?. With the arm
parallel to the surface of the LP and the lift mechanism
lowered the rubber arm lift/dampener mechanism is still in
contact with the underside of the arm acting as a dampener.

The VTA adjustment allows the arm mount to easily slide up
and down but the lift/dampener mechanism is free to rotate
at the top but not to slide down.

I personally do not like this dampener idea if this is the
way it is supposed to operate :-(

Cheers TT