Orosonic/Monster Cable Reflex Record Clamp

I do have the the orsonic monster is good, light weight 250 gr.  I like better the Basis Reflex clamp that is 300 gr. the clamp mechanism feels better and sounds better in my Technics sp10mk2,  I also have the Thorens  450 gr. record weight which i hardly use. My favorite is the basis.

Orsonic is a nice clamp for turntables with low torque and lightweight platter (when you can’t use heavy record weight). Here is my NOS sample, i tried it on my turntables, it was OK, but i prefer traditional record weight, they are normally heavier (400-1000g) and much more effective.

Micro Seiki ST-10 is better.

American manufacturers often ordered cartridges and accessories from Japan, in fact Orsonic made the clamp for Monster Cable and Nakatsuka-San made Monster Cable LOMC cartridges for American market.

Micro Seiki also made stuff for others, this is a very interesting Disc Stabilizer they made for Audio Union, here is my sample.

However, Micro Seiki disc satabilizers are very heavy (about 1kg).

I love the rare Noritake Ceramic stabilizers, they are about 350g and very very nice. This is what i use most of the time on all my turntables nowadays.

I remember my first record weight, it was very cheap and nice one (made in Germany), it was about 40 euro or so.

Finally i managed to find a NOS Micro Seiki ST-20 which is extremely rare gunmetal stabilizer, it work like a clamp because two parts screwed together with chuck-lock around the spindle. This one is not as heavy as the ST-10, the ST-20 is 750g. I love it. Probably my best find so far!

I have always found the issue with record clamps to be is that they cannot apply pressure across the record evenly. They clamp the inside of the record just fine, but do very little for coupling the edges. Record weights have the same problem, and just accomplish their job by brute force. And I don’t see them being good for a turntable bearing.

That is why I prefer the vacuum option on the SOTA as it applies the coupling pressure evenly across the record. Even this system requires a Reflex clamp to work properly and maintain a good seal. But it does work well, and does not harm vinyl, so I do like it.

But my other tables do not use it, so some type of clamping system is necessary. I am going to experiment a bit with the SOTA Reflex clamp and see if it gives better results than the Orsonic. I could see where the Orsonic would be useful on suspended tables such as a AR, Dual, or something ese along those lines.

I invested in a record flattener. Upon testing record clamps, in addition to them re-coupling to a mechanical bearing, they seem to take some life out of the music. I find a weight adds definition. A good mat, with or without a weight is preferrable IMO.