Just a contrarian view FWIW. I used clamps religiously on VPI tables (HW-19 Mk. 3 and TNT Mk. 2) for at least 15 years, then was playing around with a Ringmat on the TNT and was surprised at how much better I liked it. Unclamped, that is. I went from there to a Boston Audio Mat I on the TNT and subsequently on my current replinthed Lenco and have had no desire to go back to the bother and (to me) dulled sound of a clamp. BTW, back when I thought these things were desirable, I went all the way to a $250 Black Diamond Racing clamp. As is obvious, YMMV. Dave