Thoughts On Turntable Clamps And Weights


I have a Pro-Ject X2B and am curious about turntable weights and clamps. I perused the web and discovered that, like so many audio related items, prices range from modest to stratospheric. What are your thoughts on clamps and weights? Do they provide a notable improvement in sound quality? Does price equal quality? What should be avoided?

 

Thanks,

 

John Cotner

New Ulm, MN

jrcotner

Ok, so I neglected to mention the washer. Sue me. I don’t use it with flat LPs, and again I thought the discussion was about sonic effects of weights and clamps, not record warps. But inevitably it seems headed that way. There’s only about a dozen other threads on that subject. Carry on.

I too have a VPI Scoutmaster Signature with a Dynavector DRT XV1s. After about a year of use, I applied a small portion of black permagum to the cartridge shell and adjusted the counter balance accordingly. It gives the tone arm more mass and sounds great. All of my albums are flat and it’s a toss up whether I use a clamp or not. The lp sits on a cork platter cover, so there’s no slip. Tone arm weight is set to 2 grams. The platter is aluminum-not composite   

Screw on clamp, light weight and it can be attached with variable tightness.  I always use the oem clamp on my VPI Hw19 mk4 just enough to flatten the record.

I use the Analog Disk Light from HRS. It has nothing to do with flattening records though, but it sound betters with it on to my ears on my Clearaudio Performance DC TT.

@boxcarman Agreed. No weight, no clamp, (no mat even!)

Using a clamp seems to stifle a lively sounding recording.  I know not everyone will be in my corner on this, but I prefer the livelier unclamped sound.