Alternate screw down clamp for VPI Aries

I’d go with VPI’s record weight. It’s unthreaded but weighted. You can leave the platter spinning when changing records. I had a screw on clamp with my HW19mkIII, the weighted clamp came with the Classic. Simpler, just as effective IMO.

https://www.musicdirect.com/vibration-control/vpi-hrx-stainless-steel-center-weight

I prefer the screw down clamps as they allow you to apply the amount of pressure needed for different albums and prefer the Black Diamond Racing, BDR, clamps either 2 piece or one piece. The BDR clamps are not in production anymore but do come up on the used market. Enjoy the music

The record weight alone does not do the job of the clamp.  It is not a substitute.  

There are alternate clamps out there if that's what you want to do.  Do a search.

The very best solution for SQ is a ring weight + center weight.  There are alternate center weights that should work as well as the VPI one.  There are cheaper ring weights as well.  I use one and it's fine.  The peripheral weight and center weight also resolve any warped record issue.