I'm not sure I *needed* a ring, either, but I do like the sonic improvements it offers. It's actually worth the extra hassle.
From everything I've been told here, I'm guessing a cartridge change will address my midbass issue, which I will try someday soon.
I'm currently breaking in a phono stage and want to see what effect that has first. |
But it doesn't address midbass.
Note that 99% of turntable users, including me, do not have a ring. In six years of constant play, I've never needed one.
?
Hukk |
Hi Hukk,
Yeah, it was hard to heed that advice, especially when I noticed that too many records are slightly warped and the needle is jumping up and down.
The ring works wonders in these cases. |
In a previous question of yours, my first comment was,
"You should: 1. Not buy anything more."
Ahh well, your $600 purchase shows what my free advice was worth.
I could use $600. I wish I could have visited your setup, and gotten it sounding good. I would have accepted $200.
Hukk |
The Lp goes on first, then the ring is directly lowered. I've never had a problem with the rubber bands around the ring either. Regarding costs, they are manufactured by the people who make those doors which seal rooms for Bio-industies. They've got to be perfectly round and perfectly-weighted. American workers make them as well--good for America--but American workers are expensive, too. |
Call them, they'll definitely send you tighter rubber rings. Mine never have been too loose to stay on the ring's perimeter.
Best to place LP on platter, then ring on the LP. You have the best warp compensation next to the $1800 Air Tight machine.
If feeling lazy, you can safely place the ring on the platter and the LP on top, but you won't get the full benefit.
BTW, midbass punch is one of the benefits of the ring. Cheers,
Spencer |
I've always thought the rubber on the ring clamp was simply cosmetic. Mine have never come off in 3 years. If they seem loose, I'll bet VPI will send you free replacements.
I think also that it's ridiculous for anyone to state that the JMW arms are only so good so don't mate them with a good or expensive cartridge. I realize there are probably "better" arms out there and these guys are certainly welcome to their opinions but doesn't this sound a little like a self fulfilling statement. Mate any arm with a lower level cartridge and it won't sound as good as the "better" arm with the expensive cartridge. Would you run a race in hiking boots because you're supposedly not as good as the other runners who get to wear running shoes? |
I have the VPI ring, but I don't know what you mean by rubber rings. Mine is a stainless steel ring with black felt paced inside the ring at 3 points. The ring sets on the lp. You still need to use a center weight on the LP also. |
Yup, I know where they go, they came in place, but it seems that simply handling the ring means my fingers touch the outside, inevitably causing them to roll off. My guess is that they are simply too lose.
Noting that the center ring also has two rubber rings, maybe it's simply a cosmetic - a VPI trademark style type thing. If it's not cosmetic, maybe it has to do with static?
Thanks for the response. |
Yes, you put an LP on the platter first, and then you lower the ring clamp onto the platter. The clamp will sit on the outer edge of the LP, causing it to be pressed flat.
I'm not sure what the rubber belts are for. Probably a damping mechanism for the ring clamp. I can't understand why they are falling off. You are putting them into the grooves on the outer perimeter of the clamp, correct? One in place, they should not come off easily.
Tom |
Let me ask another question while I'm at it:
What's with the two black rubber belts around the perimeter? They fall off I pick up the ring and it takes two people to get it back on... only to fall off again. |
