Good turntables w/o record clamps

I don't think you really have to clamp an LP on any record player, whether is is supplied with a clamping device or not.

Hey Dopogue, the Avid 'tables and the Oracles actually raise the LP at the spindle area so they will wobble greatly without a clamp. Very much the opposite of sitting securely.

Hey Headsnappin, on those tables you're obviously forced to use a clamp :-)

I suppose the same could be said for those VPIs like my old one where there was a rubber washer around the spindle that effectively raised the center (label) area of the record. Took me a while to figure out I could remove the washer.

I've been wondering if the clamp could imbed dirt into the back side of the record. Do those in the clamp camp take special pains to ensure the platter and back side of the record are clean before clamping?

Honest1; I don't think it prevents much but, I have a can of compressed air and I "puff" the platter before I put my record on it.