I play used LP's, they can vary in "flatness". The clamp is necessary along with the rubber washer to dish them to the platter.
Seeing a setup playing with the arm bobbing up and down is a travesty!
You might be able to use a reflex clamp. Pricey, since it's machined and not plastic.
https://sotaturntables.com/products/reflex-clamp/
Unless you have perfectly flat LPs, the VPI weight alone may not flatten completely without the periphery ring since the rubber washer is not used to dish the LP.
Seeing a setup playing with the arm bobbing up and down is a travesty!
You might be able to use a reflex clamp. Pricey, since it's machined and not plastic.
https://sotaturntables.com/products/reflex-clamp/
Unless you have perfectly flat LPs, the VPI weight alone may not flatten completely without the periphery ring since the rubber washer is not used to dish the LP.