SL-1200 mk2 fluid dampener & aux wt question

[GPJeff]

Back in September I bought a used SL-1200mk2 on ebay. The "great" condition turntable ended up being from the 80's and dj battle bruised.

So, I bought a brand new one

It got here today and as I unpacked it just smelling the plastic off-gassing was awesome.

I noticed it had an auxiliary weight for the tonearm. By having this on, is it positive or negative to the sound? My cart will balance out ok with out it. I do have the KAB plastic end piece to insert if necessary.

Fluid Dampener - do I balance the tonearm with cart on before I put the fluid dampener on or after the FD is in place?

 

[dlaloum]

1) The auxiliary weight is intended to be used when you have a particularly heavy weight on the other end of the arm that you need to balance...
An example would be a heavy Cartridge/headshell combination.

It is also useful when running a very low compliance cartridge (eg DL103) which needs a heavier arm... by adding weight at both ends (has to be both ends to balance!) - the effective mass increases and it then matches better with the low compliance cartridge.

2) balance the arm LAST - first fit the Damping trough, and the plastic damping plug at the back - both will alter the balance a little. - Once they are on, and the cartridge is mounted and properly aligned - then and only then do you balance the arm, and set VTF.

Congratulations on the Table....:thmbsp:

What cartridge(s) are you considering?

bye for now

David

 

[GPJeff]

David,
Thanks man.

I have -

Technics head shells-
Shure M97xE
Tonar/ Nagoata JT-555 shibata

Ortofon Head shell-
Ortofon Blue 2M

Stanton head shell-
Stanton 680EL

+ a couple of AT's (lesser carts).

 

[dlaloum]

All of those should sound great on the new table!

For the Shure, I have been playing with the V15VSAS - and interestingly, even with the brush down doing some damping, I get further improvements using the arm damping...

Arm Damping alone or Brush alone are not as effective as the two together...

Some people have reported the brush causing audible effects - those reports seem related to the type of Mat used... so if you have good damping vinyl-mat contact there are no negatives to the brush... but with some mats it appears to be better running brush up.

Don't discount some of the basic AT cartridges... they can often surprise!

Look forward to hearing you comments as you get it playing

bye for now

David