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Sorbothane record weight?

I have an older b&o rx2 turntable that I am not comfortable putting much weight on, the spindle will probably not work with a clamp, and the tone arm is not adjustable so I am not interested in adding a mat.  It occurred to me that maybe a "puck" that doesn't weigh much could be made out of layers of sorbothane sheets and used as a low mass "weight" to damp record vibrations.  I have googled and searched forums and haven't found any hint that anyone has tried this. 

Is this a really bad idea for some reason I cannot think of?  I am certainly no expert.

Steve
sryeager
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,652 posts
 
Google "Michael Lim light weight record clamp"...

It's a 45 adapter that can be used as a 58 gram weight (not really a clamp) and it's under $15.

I use a  DIY 150 gram weight on my suspended deck (Thorens) and suspect that going even lighter would be just fine.

DeKay
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
OP
Now you have described the workings of your table and add into it the fact that the springs have compressed with age a little it makes more sense.

Certainly try the sorbothane and let us know the results.

Has2be, I was not aware that Mitchell made two distinct different clamps, mine is obviously the regular tall spindle variety.
However I am using the Record Doctor one majority of the time now as it is also a decent weight to boot so combines two functions in one and seems to sound a little better on my Garrard.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Sorbothane keeps energy from escaping, what is need is something that allows rapid evacuation of energy from the system. Something like say Shun Mook Mpingo record clamp, at least they had the right idea. Has anyone thought to use an acoustic resonator? Viscoelastic materials like Sorbothane, not a very good one, requires a constraining layer to act as a damper. When Sorbothane is used as a record mat, there is no constraining layer.
ebm
9,311 posts
 
Sorbothane is not optimum material for a record weight.
sryeager OP
125 posts
 
Thanks delay.  I will look into that, and as I pictured it in my mind, I thought of a golf club swing/warmup weight buried in my bag.  It’s like a little plastic covered donut.  I wonder what that weighs?

and thanks to the last two posts explaining that sorbothane is not a good idea for a record weight.

Steve
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