SOTA vacuum or no?

Yo Speedy

As they say. You are only as old as the girl you are "feeling"

me, my hands are not that steady, so I use that thing called the arm cue. goes and up and down and guess what - safe to use as well. outer ring or no outer ring

Downunder,actually I have "no unsteady hand issues" myself,and would be confident with an outer ring(except for the "knock" it got from the folks at Grand Prix Audio,regarding "exactitude" in "fit" as it pertains to wear on bushings,during play...but that's thier spin...not mine).Hmm!
Yet,my friend is no "idiot" or "dumb ass",but is a little long in the toothe(God bless him),so must be really careful with the "ring clamp of death, to Canti" -:)
Hey,in truth if it works,it works!(just joking,actually)

Understand,as of here and now,I'd be happy with "any" functioning set-up!.....an issue I hope to have solved in the next few weeks,or God forbid...,months(I've decided to make my pre/phono problem into a major upgrade)!
Still atively collecting LP's though...NO Wolfmother discs yet -:)

Now you know why I'm a bit ancy!...You guys from Rod Laver country are still a great posters anyway!

I am a big fan of vacuum clamping, but, a few words of caution are in order here.

I run the vacuum pressure as LOW as possible -- just enough to pull the record flat to the platter -- in order to minimize the possibility of damage. I know of claims that the vacuum damages records, either by pulling plasticizers out of the record or by grinding in dirt that is on the record or the hard platter surface. When I first got my table, I ran the pressure higher than I do now. For some records, I notice more clicks and pops on the side that was less frequently played. Some of the extra noise was ameliorated by a good cleaning, but, I cannot be sure I was able to cure all of it. I now run the vacuum pressure on the low side, and I keep the platter surface very clean. When not in use, the platter is covered by a sacrificial record used as a dust cover (a Charlie Rich record someone gave to me). I also use a microfiber cloth to clean the surface once in a while. I have since had no issue with noise.

Most of the comment here as been about the vacuum curing warps. It will certainly do that (provided you jack the pressure up for those particular records), but the real benefit is that the intimate contact between the record and a platter dampens vibrations imparted in the vinyl by the needle tracking the groove. ALL records, not just warped ones can benefit from such dampening.

Kudos to Larry!!

As to vacuum seal of warps.I find some warps need a flattener,based on how warped the disc is.I've made a DIY flattener for thirteen bucks,but it does not "do" every Lp perfectly.I'm still experimenting.

As to pressure level,my Sota Cosmos has an automatic sensor which adjusts the vacuum seal to minimum level,once the seal has been made.It seems like a very good idea,but if a warp is bad you are not going to flatten it out.
What I do then,is pinch the air hose to fool the pump into thinking it has made a seal.The pump automatically goes to minimum vacuum level,and the Lp does not go dead flat.I seldom need this.
As to noise issues....I have had SOTA vacuum tables for over twenty years,with "absolutely" NO noise issues!...EVER!!

I do NOT use an intermat on my platter,because it takes away inner detail,and dynamics....BUT...I am very careful about keeping the platter surface very clean!

I bought a cheap make-up brush(the kind women use to put on stuff,on face)and brush off platter surface(AND SEAM BETWEEN PLATTER AND RUBBER LIP)after each listening session.I keep the platter/table covered with a cloth,when not in use.....CLEAN,CLEAN,CLEAN!..."Wolfmother" would sound great -:)
Best

Dear Downunder: +++++ " That said, there is a certain amount of life,flow or air that not using the outer ring gives to the music. Not sure if that "air" is also missing when you use a vacuum hold?? " +++++

That was one of my first impresions when ( many years ago ) I try for the very first time the Vacuum hold down record but I learn that that " air " was not a real sound in the recording but most a distortion part with out Vacuum.

The truest to the music is something that no other system I know can give you in the same natural way that do the Vacuum.
The quality sound reproduction with and with out Vacuum is not only an improvement but almost an order of magnitude against no Vacuum.

You have to try it to understand all its benefits.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.