Benefits of a record ring

"08-18-09: Nilthepill
Pluses: straighten really warped records while in play, help heavy platter in maintaining speed, looks cool. Sound- increased focus, tight bass, enhanced details
Minuses: changes perfect analog sound to digital like sound by increasing focus, enhancing detail, tightening bass. If you drop it chances of serious damage to arm, cart, platter is great, looks tacky". Agree with Nils' pluses, but for me, increased detail and tighter bass isn't digital-like. In my rig, for best sound, it's a must.
My TNT6 ring weighs plenty, and could do damage if dropped on arm, etc., but that hasn't happened to me, nor anyone I know.
The benefit with warped LPs can't be overstated. Many used LPs which were unplayable on my old tt(Nottingham Spacedeck/arm), are no trouble with my ringclamp and center weight on the VPI. Cheers,
Spencer

I should add that my description is digital like is probabbly overstated and relative to with the ring off. In my system I just happen to find sound more musical (7 on scale of 1 to 10: 1 being extremly analytical and 10 being extremely warm) With ring on it changes to, in my system and IMO, to may be 5. I use it however for overly warped and warm recordings.

I am convinced that fundamental performance change happens when the ring is being used, either transferring resonances to the ring and or interact with record and platter interaction characteristics. However,someone in the know may prove me wrong ;-)

I sold my Clearaudio ring a long time ago for reasons which Nil so aptly has described above, was however curious to try the TTweights ring which is made of copper not stainless steel and chose Larry's heaviest version for on my Goldmund Reference I with excellent results. All the advantages and none of the drawbacks Nil has described and which I had experienced before with the Clearaudio at more than double the cost. Don't ask me why this is so. Probably lucky in hitting on a good synergy between ring and TT. Never thought the sound of the Goldmund, which I had already heavily modified, could be improved that much. But there you are.

I use both the VPI and TTweights ones. [not at the same time]. The TTW is actually easier to use for me as the VPI often appears to be correctly placed but isn't. I also have both the top VPI weight and the 3 pound one from TTW. [my ring is the lighter one]. I recommend all these, I used vacuum tables at one time and these give the advantages without embedding dust as the vacuum did. The sound is definitely different, better for me , for you ? I have heard from Raven users that they don't like either, they have their own set of upgrades. I recommend them but try before you buy if you can. A dealer should let you try something this expensive out if you have one locally, at least I will. Don't ask me about which ring set or combination sounds better, I haven't used them nearly enough to know.