RE: Clamp, not weight.

Posted by mr.bear (A) on April 5, 2017 at 01:21:31

In Reply to: You don't know if you don't ask....vpi counterweight posted by justdavid on April 4, 2017 at 16:08:34:

Look back via VA search- the debate has gone on since VA's inception...The regular contributors, folks who really listen and experiment with all kinds of stuff, seem mostly to use clamps or weights.

As an engineer, the use of a heavy weight on a turntable platter seems ill-advised. Not to dwell on too fine a point but it increases the load on the thrust beading, increasing wear and friction needlessly. Also, if you drop a weight on your tonearm or your toe, there will be much weeping and mourning.

I have always used a small chuck-type plastic disc clamp (Disc diam = Label OD - 1/8") and normally just tighten it very lightly, not enough to visibly dish the record. It's a very remote-order effect but some records seem a little artificially "zingy" without the clamp. Anyway, the effect is tiny. I like that the disc is clamped if the hole is sloppy too. [I added a photo- the clamp was $2.99 from RatShack, 1982-ish. One of the 2 good things I ever got from there.]

From a technical standpoint, the additional degree of coupling between the LP and the platter mat helps reduce the presence of surface acoustic waves and damp vibrational modes in the LP (excited by the soundfield) at least that's the intended benefit. There's probably nothing audible in most cases, but it agrees well with engineering theory so I hear it anyway. It's just 100% habit now after 35 years...

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - You don't know if you don't ask....vpi counterweight - justdavid 16:08:34 04/4/17 (19)

RE: You don't know if you don't ask....vpi counterweight - justdavid 18:25:07 04/5/17 (2)

RE: You don't know if you don't ask....vpi counterweight - John Elison 19:14:51 04/5/17 (1)

Buying a drill (and vise to hold the weight) would surely be cheaper than a machine shop doing the job. )MT( - J. S. Bach 07:32:57 04/6/17 (0)

RE: You don't know if you don't ask....vpi counterweight - Sturgus 18:06:00 04/5/17 (0)

RE: Clamp, not weight. - mr.bear 04/5/1701:21:31 04/5/17 (0)

RE: You don't know if you don't ask....vpi counterweight - SgreenP@MSN.com 18:51:50 04/4/17 (0)

RE: You don't know if you don't ask....vpi counterweight - justdavid 18:43:37 04/4/17 (1)

RE: You don't know if you don't ask....vpi counterweight - John Elison 19:29:12 04/4/17 (0)

RE: You don't know if you don't ask....vpi counterweight - bcowen 18:24:56 04/4/17 (0)

Did you ask VPI? I'll bet they would sell you a counterweight! /nt\ - John Elison 17:03:00 04/4/17 (9)

RE: Did you ask VPI? I'll bet they would sell you a counterweight! /nt\ - justdavid 17:12:49 04/4/17 (8)

VPI changed policy? - M3 lover 10:16:59 04/5/17 (4)

RE: VPI changed policy? - SpotcheckBilly12345 14:54:38 04/5/17 (3)

RE: VPI changed policy? - mr.pee 17:35:34 04/5/17 (2)

: I knew this was the answer all along. If you buy used, then . . . . nt - alaskahiatt 14:02:15 04/6/17 (0)

RE: VPI changed policy? - John Elison 19:08:48 04/5/17 (0)

RE: Did you ask VPI? I'll bet they would sell you a counterweight! /nt\ - justdavid 19:35:48 04/4/17 (0)

RE: Did you ask VPI? I'll bet they would sell you a counterweight! /nt\ - Judge 19:15:14 04/4/17 (0)

Wow! That's too bad... - John Elison 17:21:07 04/4/17 (0)

Follow Ups

RE: Clamp, not weight. - mr.bear 04/5/1701:21:31 04/5/17 (0)

RE: Clamp, not weight.

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