Record Mats In Combination With Weights


One day I was browsing on this site and saw a product for sale.  A vinyl weight that was 900+ grams for $250 USD.  I wondered if having a heavier weight was better.

I ran across some discussion about the problems with using weights.  The record label is technically thicker than the actual listening space on the vinyl. Placing the weight on it can possibly lift the outer portion of the record on lightweight vinyl (80 grams). Additionally, most record mats that come with turntables have a slight indention in the center to compensate for that lager label section.  I recently got the Funk Firm Achromat (3mm). I see that the center portion is a different material and appears to be recessed.  I am currently using a Fluance Hifi High Mass (760 gram) weight stabilizer.

Am I doing a disservice by having both the Achromat and a high mass stabilizer? Thus far, I have only heard good things from my system when both are used, but I am not sure what the weights of my various LPs are.
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guakus-
Do you use the Origin Live Gravity One ? 

Yes, it came with the Sovereign turntable. 

For many years before this I have been using my own DIY carbon fiber clamp. You can see it on my system page. It is designed to clamp the record flat to the platter from the outside edge. It does this by being dished out so only the perimeter of the clamp contacts the record. A carbon fiber washer fits around the spindle and holds the record up just a little less than 1mm above the platter. The clamp then presses the record down from this point, so that the outside edge contacts the platter first. 

Over the years this was tweaked and improved with fO.q tape on the washer and clamp, blue tack under the washer, and a mylar disc. This clamp is so effective that when removed after playing a side the record remains held down by atmospheric pressure. Yes my DIY clamp achieved vacuum hold down. I am that good. 

I took this clamp with me to CES and compared it with everything I could find. I heard nothing better at any price. It was so good DJ Casser copied it for his BDR record clamp. 

The reason I am going on in such detail about how freaking good my record clamp is, I want you to understand just what it means when I say the Origin Live Gravity One kicked butt, stomped its a$$, and it wasn't even funny. Before setting up the Soverign I used the Gravity One on my old table. It was no contest. MUCH better truth of timbre, greater dynamics, impressive detail, extension, just more of everything you want and none of what you don't.

Plus it weighs next to nothing. Slides on and off so easy. Just to look at it you would swear no way this thing is gonna work at all. A weight that weighs next to nothing. That is supposed to control vibration but it rattles. Flimsy, etc. Funny thing though, it works. Use it? Love it!
Fuzztone, the Sota reflex clamp is tightened by turning a nylon grub screw inside the collet clockwise with a 1/8" allen wrench. 

This is not that complex a situation. The purpose of a mat and weight/clamp are to dampen the record so that it does not resonate under the stylus. This dampening has to occur over the entire record surface. A flat mat and a weight just supports the record at the label and rim. The playing surface is up in the air. A mat that is smaller in diameter than the record and has a recess under the label will support a record under it's playing surface except there is no such thing as a perfectly flat record and a weight will not fix this regardless of it's weight. Reflex clamping where a thin washer is placed over the spindle and a clamp that presses down on the perimeter of the label only forces the record into the mat flattening it. For this to work well the mat has to be firm, perfect is the same hardness as vinyl. Kuzma and SME use this type of clamping and the Sota Clamp works this way as do a few others. Excess weight will wear out a bearing prematurely except for those that use a magnetic thrust bearing. Vacuum clamping is the best but complicated and reliability issues may arise with vacuum pumps. Noise is no longer an issue. The pumps are now very quiet. 

In short you want a firm mat 11 3/4" in diameter with a recessed label area and either a reflex or vacuum clamping. The weight of a reflex clamp is inconsequential.   
mijostyn
Why are you telling me? I've done it.
The key is grinding down a brad for a push pin.
Currently experimenting with Origin Live mat over Counterparts held by Sota Clamp with fo.Q tape on foam.
For me another benefit of the reflex clamp is that it grasps the spindle so I can start the spin on the heavy platter to ease stress on belt.
First belt (without procedure) 1 year.
Second belt (with) 35+ years.
I use a concave copper mat with center weight and an outer ring. The sound changes are significant, specially in those old records that are not totally flat, almost as good as the vacuum system in my Bergmann Galder.
The purpose of a mat and weight/clamp are to dampen the record so that it does not resonate under the stylus.

It is a lot more complex than that.
If you have a reflex clamp or heavy weight with washer under the label, then you are coupling the record to the platter or platter mat.
A concave platter/mat with centre weight/clamp  achieves the same.

Many aftermarket weights with a flat surface/no washer are doing nothing .

Excess weight will wear out a bearing prematurely except for those that use a magnetic thrust bearing. 

Unless you have a high mass platter bearing specifically designed for the additional weight.