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Installing a VPI stainless steel ring?

Frustrating to pay $600 and not get one lousy sheet of paper that explains how the thing works.

I expected that it gets intalled directly on the platter and has some sort of locking mechanism that you employ every time you put a new record on.... but apparently I'm wrong. Doesn't seem to sit on the platter very well at all.

Do you actually lower this thing on TOP of an LP?? I'm guessing yes, but would like the peace of mind of knowing for sure before I try it ....

Thanks again. I must have asked 20 noob questions over the past month....
madfloyd
madfloyd OP
411 posts
 
Let me ask another question while I'm at it:

What's with the two black rubber belts around the perimeter? They fall off I pick up the ring and it takes two people to get it back on... only to fall off again.
tfkaudio
591 posts
 
Yes, you put an LP on the platter first, and then you lower the ring clamp onto the platter. The clamp will sit on the outer edge of the LP, causing it to be pressed flat.

I'm not sure what the rubber belts are for. Probably a damping mechanism for the ring clamp. I can't understand why they are falling off. You are putting them into the grooves on the outer perimeter of the clamp, correct? One in place, they should not come off easily.

Tom
madfloyd OP
411 posts
 
Yup, I know where they go, they came in place, but it seems that simply handling the ring means my fingers touch the outside, inevitably causing them to roll off. My guess is that they are simply too lose.

Noting that the center ring also has two rubber rings, maybe it's simply a cosmetic - a VPI trademark style type thing. If it's not cosmetic, maybe it has to do with static?

Thanks for the response.
slowhand
610 posts
 
I have the VPI ring, but I don't know what you mean by rubber rings. Mine is a stainless steel ring with black felt paced inside the ring at 3 points. The ring sets on the lp. You still need to use a center weight on the LP also.
sonofjim
557 posts
 
I've always thought the rubber on the ring clamp was simply cosmetic. Mine have never come off in 3 years. If they seem loose, I'll bet VPI will send you free replacements.
I think also that it's ridiculous for anyone to state that the JMW arms are only so good so don't mate them with a good or expensive cartridge. I realize there are probably "better" arms out there and these guys are certainly welcome to their opinions but doesn't this sound a little like a self fulfilling statement. Mate any arm with a lower level cartridge and it won't sound as good as the "better" arm with the expensive cartridge. Would you run a race in hiking boots because you're supposedly not as good as the other runners who get to wear running shoes?
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