High or low-mass record weights/clamps: which is best?

[YNWaN]

Yeah, it works just like the Souther/Clearaudio clamp - but really this design is about gripping the record spindle and an O-ring would do that. The only direct pressure it applies is that which you press it on to the record with - on my non-compliant mat there is a definite limit to how firmly it can press on to the record. This is the second one I made - as Simon says, I only made it so see how effective the concept is (I've posted the picture cos it does look quite cool I think ).

[walpurgis]

Logically, a record clamp can't damp the whole record, so you have to accept that any damping will be partial at best.

Also, I can picture too much mass actually pushing the centre of the record down enough to cause the outer part of the record to lift off the platter mat to a degree. And yes, I know there are outer edge mass rings available which may control this.

I'd say what is required is sufficient weight/damping to the record at the interface with the record label without putting undue and undesirable extra load on the turntable main bearing.

[YNWaN]

I would partially agree, you certainly don't want to load the bearing too much; but you would be hard pressed (no pun intended) to lift the edge of a record, even with a very heavy weight. I would also say that, although many clamp manufacturers cite damping properties for their clamps, the actual damping offered is minimal at best. The largest difference is how the clamp/weight causes the record to interact with the platter or mat.

[MartinT]

The largest difference is how the clamp/weight causes the record to interact with the platter or mat.

Spot on, in my view.

[sq225917]

In an ideal world records would all be 25mm thick, perfectly flat and we wouldn't need a full platter. Sadly though they are all different.

[Clive]

It's hard to believe the Clever Clamp can exert a lot of pressure, which the experiment validates, maybe it helps though in some situations. I remember The Pig from the 80s, a rubber to be slipped over the shaft.....it wasn't great and it better not to use it.

Having revisited using a TT weight, I've tried my heavier weight on the 301 with a rubber mat and the Salvation with Mark's nipple mat and the Resomat. All mats improve with the weight and as Simon infers this is quite record dependent.
The already excellent nipple mat derives the greatest level of benefit. The difference between the improvement in sound is most easily heard in the bass. All mats improve in the bass but the nipple mat most of all - I expect this is due to said mat having the least interface with the record and the weight therefore is able to make the biggest difference in coupling mat to record.

[sq225917]

Do you think the improvement is due to the record coupling with the mat, or the record weight being used as an energy sink for the products of tracing noise bouncing around inside the vinyl itself? I wonder which it is and if a clamp made of vinyl might not provide the best impedance match of all...

[Rare Bird]

Jeez..maybe some day santa my deliver a set of earholes

[YNWaN]

Haven't a clue what you are on about Andre!

[daytona600]

Never really had the chance to play records without a clamp myself
used a oracle for over 25years Would not play a lp without the screw record clamp fitted to the raised platter mat

Recently playing about and testing various vinyl products with my 3 other decks
clamps , weights , platter mats , platter rings & phono stages , SUTs , phono cables

Will be posting my thoughts in due course , and offering a very wide selection for AOS guys to try out with your own decks