Excellent turntables with threaded spindles ?

I agree with Rushton, a spindle does not need to be threaded to have an effective clamping system. I own a Basis 2500 Diamond Signature, which has a unique no-thread clamp design as well. I actually prefer it over my old VPI HW-19 mk IV which had a threaded clamp on device.

Cheers,
John

John/Rushton, how can a non threaded clamp be as effective as a threaded one?

I have a warped 200gram LP that requires a LOT of pressure to clamp down. With a regular clamp I would probably damage the bearing trying to get the LPs= flat.

Regards
Paul

For me, I would avoid using screw on record clamp at all cost. The reason is that the spindle is usually an extension of the bearing shaft with has direct contact to the ball bearing/thrust pad....If using a screw on record clamp on the TT, the grinding noise from the ball bearing/thrust pad will transmit throught the bearing shaft to the spindle then to the clamp, LP and noise will be pick-up by the cartridge. The 'screw on record clamp' is not well thought design. A record weight or damper is a better choice.

But do record weights effectively deal with warped lps, especially those with pinch warp ?

For those who've asked for some further details, the Walker Audio clamp uses an internal Delrin bushing. (I've not seen the Basis design, which may be similar.) The bushing fits inside the clamp via threads on the outside of the bushing, but it is smooth on the inside and slides over the smooth unthreaded spindle. As one tightens the clamp, the bushing is pulled up into the clamp forcing it to compress around the smooth spindle. As the bushing tightens onto the spindle, the clamp's outer circumference is pulled down onto the surface of the LP, flattening the LP against the platter. With this configuration, as much pressure can be applied against the outer circumference of the record label as any threaded spindle clamping arrangement. As with any clamp, some judgement is required for how tight to pull everything together. The clamp is as rapid to apply and remove and it works as a single integrated unit. The clamp also is quite heavy, being a massive unit of machined brass.

Edle, you raise a good theoretical objection to clamps that attach to the spindle. In my listening with VPI, SME, Walker Audio and other turntables that use this approach, I can't say that I've ever actually heard the downside you postulate.

Regards,