VPI Record Clamps

How do you run your 'table without a clamp? What do you do that sounds better? I'd really like to know...

Alephman, I simply stopped using it (and the washer). A friend has a Basis table which is supposed to be used bare-platter, and I thought I'd try it. I found that records sounded better to me -- more open, dynamic and "alive" with them just sitting on the VPI's platter. Then I borrowed a Ringmat and thought it REALLY improved things, to the point where it sounded dull and recessed with both the original VPI clamp and the BDR clamp. Then I opted for the $195 Boston Audio Mat (pure graphite) on a 30-day trial, which I liked better than the Ringmat. That's where things stand now.

Frankly, the TNT still doesn't sound as good as my 1978 idler-drive Lenco L78, replinthed by Jean Nantais, author of the 2000 post thread here on Audiogon, but that's another story. Dave

I have a HW19 with the TNT platter. VPI has discontinued the '19 opting for their new tables with which you have to use their arms. I don't like their arms and wouldn't have one. I have a Graham 2.2. And I think the VPI Scout is a piece of shit. An undamped shakey unipivot arm with no antiskating and a table with no suspension. Try setting that on a suspended floor. But I hear VPI is selling them hand over foot. I would like to have their SDS. I'm on my third PLC and I got it used...

It's funny how we place priorities on different things. Alephman, on another thread (My SDS died), you claim you wish you could afford a SDS. I own an SDS, and wish I could afford a Graham 2.2 arm. I am currently using a JMW 10.5 arm, with my HW-19 mk IV, and I'm pretty satisfied overall. The bass is just a bit ripe, but overall a smooth operator. I was looking at a Graham 1.5tc arm, but the store was asking unreasonable prices. I got a great deal on my 10.5 arm, which BTW is not undamped, but they can be a bit tricky to set up.
I also don't find the suspension of the HW-19 to be adequate on my suspended floors. I do need a wall mount, but I'm dealing with WAF issues on that front. I don't think a suspension table does any better in my room than an unsuspended table, however, since I haven't tried an unsuspended table, I can't say for sure.

Alephman,Pretty strong words about the Scout ,are you a troll?