VPI periphery record ring for VPI Scoutmaster

It does make a difference, particularly with records that are not perfectly flat -- but whether it's worth $500 is a judgement call. While I love VPI's products, I personally think the clamping ring is grossly overpriced, despite being made of stainless steel. If your LP's are in good condition (i.e., not warped), then the regular center clamp will suffice.

Buy the SDS first and then the ring. Both are outstanding upgrades and worth having. As to cost, well, in my opinion, none of the audiophile crap warrants the prices charged but, if you want to play you have to pay.

I have found that the periphery ring weight and the heavy center weight are important to the voicing of my TNT Mk. 6 turntable. In upgrading my turntable, I first upgraded my Mk. 4 lead/acrylic/cork platter to the Mk. 6 acrylic platter and inverted bearing, and I used this platter/bearing with my Mk. 5 record clamp for a little over a month. I found that the resulting sound was a bit analytical and on the cool side of the spectrum. The addition of the center weight and periphery ring weight restored some warmth to the sound of the turntable in my system. I gather that the weight and the clamp are designed to do more than just flatten the warps in an LP and that they serve a role in vibration damping that, at least in my system, is important and beneficial to the sound.

I have a Merrill Heirloom with the periphery ring. (I believe Merrill first offered them.) I have only owned the table a month, but I notice an improvement in warped AND unwarped records.

As a previous writer notes, is that worth 500 dollars...I don't know.

Dave