Thoughts On Turntable Clamps And Weights

FWIW, weights and clamps should be used to solve extant problems. I don't believe that their arbitrary use has any real promise of improvement in TT performance. If I were to use one I would use the lightest one possible to solve the problem, i.e. a clamp to help flatten a disc used only when necessary. I'm not so sure you can conclude that the use of a heavy weight doesn't affect performance on longevity of the bearing, less so the motor, but I'd be more concerned that a heavy weight might affect the torque. KISS applies. Don't fix what ain't broken. :-)

Depends upon the TT drive system, whether there is potential to damage the bearing or drag on the motor. Some use what I view as ridiculously heavy weights, 500g and much more. I would stay at or below 250g, as an arbitrary rule of thumb. Clamps can be very light, because their effect depends upon a physical push provided by a threaded mount or a clamp mount, and certainly a well made clamp is putting no strain on the motor or bearing; it’s pushing the LP against the platter mat and platter. If you believe that your platter mat is an important component for dissipating energy generated at the stylus/vinyl interface (and I do), then the use of a moderate weight or clamp is justified. Very expensive, sometimes very heavy, weights made of exotic materials that make magical claims for improving sound quality, beyond any improvement one may perceive from a "sensible" weight or clamp are a manifestation of audiophilia nervosa, in my opinion. For example, Shun Mook.

Thank you for the interesting and thoughtful responses.  From what I gather, locking the vinyl to the platter, with either a weight or clamp, is helpful to a point.  But more force does not necessarily equal improved performance. 

These are only opinions, but yes.  You need to listen for yourself.  In some cases, I can imagine that one might prefer no weight or clamp.

I've been using a DIY 8 ounce weight (Thorens TD125 MkII) for 20 years without any noticeable decline in sound quality (the deck/bearing seem to be fine).

I tried a few heavier (some much heavier) commercial weights, but did not care for the sound (decline in harmonics/reverb), but mine is a "sprung" deck.

Give a light weight/weight a try.

For my taste I prefer the contact between the weight/record to be hard/solid (no leather, felt or other soft interfaces).

I suspect that I might be satisfied with an even lighter weight, but never got around to experimenting.

My DIY weight is a small Mapleshade brass cone mounted to a Thorens 45 rpm adapter (oddly the diameter of the cone and the adapter are the same).

DeKay