Thoughts On Turntable Clamps And Weights

CAUTION!

Whether you are using a clamp or any kind of weight, it will often rise up the edges of the vinyl. Therefore you also need an outer clamp. That's what I ALWAYS do. Welcome to the world of vinyl. Totally worth it but highly demanding. And then came streaming... I do that too, when I feel lazy, or old :)

On my VPI Scoutmaster Signature, which includes a clamp provided by the manufacturer, I find I prefer a weight. I tried a brass weight by TT Weights, it’s fairly heavy, and the sound of my records played using the weight does sound better than with the stock screw down clamp. The sound with the weight is more vibrant.. more lively. The clamp makes the music sound a bit more dull and bland. So I’ve just stuck with the weight. I’ve noticed no excessive wear on the motor or bearing. I’ve been using this combo for ~15 years. Ymmv

I have a VPI Classic and I use the same TT weight plus their outer ring. Done this for the last 10 years, no issues. BUT I also had a project carbon TT and called them about using a heavy weight on it, they said no can do.

A weight does NOT necessarily raise the outer edge of the record. A properly designed reflex clamp is a well-known engineering solution to this problem.

I use a very thin Delrin shim of about 75 mm diameter and a 2+Kg steel weight with a Delrin ring around the bottom. The result is a shim that forces the label up and a weight around the edge of the label which forces everything else down.

Benefits are improved flatness, obviously, and also an extremely good marriage between record and the 1" graphite mat, resulting in increased clarity and dynamics.

This approach is not suitable unless the thrust bearing of your turntable is sufficient for the task. My air bearing is..

As for weights, price has zero to do with any perceived sound change. Weight is weight (until it gets too heavy) and anyone who tells you otherwise is trying to sell you something you don't need or believes in things that don't exist.