Record clamp

While I haven't (and probably won't) try millercarbon's recommendation of the Origin Live One Gravity record weight, I have tried two tweaks on my Rega P8, which I plan on upgrading soon:  

Firstly, the P8 without any weight or clamp did have quite a bit of resonant sound, which muffled detail.  A record weight improved the detail noticeably.  A SOTA reflex record clamp markedly improved detail, clarity, etc to such a great degree that I'm not in so much of a hurry to upgrade my turntable now.  

I also placed the Rega P8 on different objects:  a walnut component stand, sitting on a concrete slab still left some background noise, which wasn't noticeable, until I placed the P8 on hockey pucks, whereafter, the noise floor dramatically dropped.  I then placed a sponge puck under the hockey puck, and the noise floor dropped more, and it is now quite silent.  

Now, all this does decrease the resonances, which Rega philosophically says are imporant to vinyl playback; however, in my system, these modifications definitely, and markedly improved the listening experience. 

Thanks for the tip. (No pun intended.)

Another good one to try is OL Cartridge Enabler. While I hate the name the darn thing seems to work at least as good as and probably better than fO.q tape. The Enabler is made from some material he developed. It looks sort of like felt but clearly not, it is directional and even labeled so one side goes against the cartridge the other against the head shell. There are also washers made of the same material. The deal is you have the bolt, normal washer, Enabler washer, head shell, Enabler, cartridge. So the cartridge is effectively isolated from the head shell by the Enabler material.

The material is kind of squishy. After a while I was playing around and found the sound can be subtly tailored by slightly tweaking the torque. Like a small fraction of a turn. Does not like to be real tight.

It will not hurt your TT. you might get some SQ out of it.
just be careful not to over clamp it where the album starts to warp. If you don’t like it put it away, maybe on another TT.
I have been using a clamp on my TT’s for 40+ years.
My Oracle Delphi came with a clamp. My present TT Clear Audio Master Solution, I use a CA clamp.
Try different types of devices. Respectfully 
Joe

rvpiano, Good to hear. Glad it worked out for you. 

I doubt the record weight will harm your table. I cannot comment how if will affect your sound.

I suspect your sound is compromised by the very large quality/performance gap in turntable and cartridge choice. The record clamp will not remedy that. 

I'd advise you to pull the cart and keep it handy for when you upgrade your turntable. Rather than a clamp, invest in a cartridge with a performance more inline with that of the P3. Won't hurt to do both cart and clamp though. 

On MC’s recommendation, I’m trying the Origin One Gravity Record Weight on my highly modified Rega Planar RP3 turntable with a Clearaudio Virtuoso cartridge.
Initial testing shows slight but definite sonic improvement.
The overall sound is smoother yet more detailed with some improvement in sound staging. Not a night and day difference, but a nicer listening experience.

Still the best design, light and won’t cost an arm and a leg.

https://theguruchoice.com/record-players/best-record-clamp/#record-doctor-record-clamp

https://www.amazon.com/Record-Doctor-Clamp-Black/dp/B077YVJW1T

Cheers George

I had a Rega Planar 3 back in the early 90’s.  I tried a few clamps and weights which were available at the time.  Didn’t really make a difference and I never felt comfortable with a clamp/weight on the very short record spindle. I believe there was a quarter inch to three eights inch  length of the exposed spindle for the weight and it scared the crap out of me.  I was using a Sumiko BP Special (the naked cartridge) and was never crazy about the sound of the combination.  I moved on to a VPI HW19 MK III  and used the Rega RB300 arm with the VPI. 

There used to be a company called EON Research that made "The Pod".  It was a lightweight, plastic 3-point clamp that worked pretty well on the short Rega spindle.

Then it was available from Ortofon and Pickering and I think a few others.

If you can find one, it might be worth a try?

https://www.vinylengine.com/library/eon-research/pod.shtml

these gizmos, many varieties exist, are made to hold reels onto tape recorder spindles which are the same diameter as TT spindles.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/202881467837?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&...

simply press on, lift off, lightweight

some will work on a short spindle, some will need a longer spindle, check the shape of the bottom, these look good for short spindle.

others, less money, I just posted the 1st find for the idea.

lab bottle stoppers, drill a hole in something

https://www.google.com/search?q=rubber%20stopper%20chemistry&tbm=isch&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS949US9...
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I do not understand letting some of the vibration generated by the groove go anywhere than to the stylus/cartridge.

This is an interesting thread. Inexpensive, good value table with overkill cartridge being used.

As mentioned in earlier post, any clamp suggestions such as the Record Doctor Clamp may not work because of the Rega having a short spindle. 
I wonder if it is their way of discouraging aftermarket clamps?

If the tweak bug has overtaken you that much the Origin Live suggestion would work since it just rests on the spindle with no "clamping" actually being done, and does what its claimed to do.

At $250(shipping) or so, it's nearly 25% of the table. Not an issue at this point-It can go with the cart when you're ready for the table upgrade.

Just my opinion-It's a $900 table. Enjoy it as is. I wouldn't go any further until you have the best phonstage you can afford. Add ons/tweaks will not compare with the investment.

Arguably, you're trying to improve upon practical, economical get to work sedan into a sports car.

And speaking of Origin Live, if your turntable uses a flat belt, try the custom belt from Origin Live. It is a substantial upgrade over a stock belt. It gives you better bass, dynamics, and three-D presentation. 

www.originlive.com

andyhifiman OP



This sort of light aluminium clamp that screw down onto the record is the best, no weight.
And it even better if you have a small appox 2cm wide by 1mm thick washer on the spindle under the record. This makes the record sit higher in the center, and when the clamp is screwed down it pushes down even better to the edge of the record and takes all the warps out.
https://www.amazon.com/Record-Doctor-Clamp-Black/dp/B077YVJW1T

Cheers George

Rega table is a low mass but not suspended, so the clamp/light recommendations are spot on. You should get better performance than a heavy weight style, and certainly don’t want to use a heavy weight style on a suspended table (but better match with high mass tables)

.
My table was high mass- 25lbs just the platter alone - and the Gravity One easily had greater detail, dynamics, extension, and even bass than when records were clamped tight to the platter. Clearly there is a huge difference between sophisticated designs like the Gravity One and all the others which are basically clamp more and tighter.
 This makes a lot more sense if you study my threads on vibration control, my turntable, Townshend Pods and Podiums, etc. Then it becomes clear rigidly clamping can only take you so far. The greatest benefits by far are allowing the record to move, but in a carefully controlled manner, and dissipate energy as efficiently as possible, and as evenly across the whole range of frequency and dynamics as possible.  

This you cannot do by simply clamping and weighing it down. Not on any table. Of any mass. Or suspension. Or lack thereof.

If I still had stock, the MyMat with no weight or clamp would be a great decision.

Rega table is a low mass but not suspended, so the clamp/light recommendations are spot on. You should get better performance than a heavy weight style, and certainly don’t want to use a heavy weight style on a suspended table (but better match with high mass tables).

I use a weight, wide, keeping the lp both flat, thus grooves are not angled improperly as a slight center rise will create, and helping the groove vibrations more solidly reaching the stylus, rather than some vibration taken by the lp’s ability to flex a speck. The forces involved at the stylus are Tremendous!

https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT618A-AT618a-Disc-Stabilizer/dp/B07HB2LDYT/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=...

heavy enough that a clamp is not needed.

will that much weight affect your bearing?

as for the cartridge/arm/TT, I am kind of with you, upgrade TT and Arm last as your ability to discern improvements increases along with budget. Seems you went BIG on the cartridge, I doubt I’ll ever spend that much.

anybody considering adding a TT, or upgrading a basic setup:

think long now!

1. get a decent TT, nothing expensive, use it to determine if you will stick with LP’s. i.e.

Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB.

DD, Perfect Speed, decent deck, decent arm, plan on near-immediate cartridge upgrade. You can use it’s optional built-in Phono EQ to start, then go to any Line Input.

2. get alignment tools and acquire skills yourself, will make the biggest difference to success. Practice on the stock cartridge. Proper Cartridge setup is IMPERATIVE!

3. get an advanced stylus MM cartridge (ML, LC, SAS, ... better/deeper groove contact, less wear to both LP and stylus) (higher cost offset by better life)

https://www.sound-smith.com/articles/stylus-shape-information

It will sound better: any LP on any TT, then it will help you:

4. get a great MM Phono stage, that’s hard, get return option until you
keep one. (no longer get Phono EQ from the TT).

5. MC Cartridge/SUT combo. Keeps your wonderful MM Phono stage. Use a separate SUT to try a MC cartridge (SUT with PASS, so you can run a MM cartridge thru it, bypassing it’s transformers).

6. Then better TT and Arm(s) as $ allow.

7. Arm(s), this is the biggest functional decision:

a. Compact Plinth with Single 9"Arm: removable headshell so you can use MM, MC, Mono cartridges. SUT with single input with MM Pass.

b. Larger Plinth allowing a long arm, perhaps single arm still, thus removable headshell for different cartridges

c. larger Plinth, 2 arms, perhaps 1 long; perhaps 1 fixed cartridge (no removable headshell); perhaps 1 MM, other MC; perhaps 1 stereo, other mono ready to go.

SUT with two or 3 tonearm inputs, keep using your MM Phono stage, the SUT with Pass is the tonearm switcher.

DUST COVER. I definitely need one, and I prefer it OFF while playing, then easily back on.

What Plinth? What Isolation?

What Arm(s)?

What Spinner?

good luck with that, I chose Vintage JVC TT81 in Vintage JVC Large 2 arm plinth CL-P2, it’s leveling feet, it’s 7 layer solid plinth on 2" x 2" isolation pads.

If you want to improve sound quality, the Origin Live Gravity One record weight is the best I have heard, by far. It is also the lightest, and easiest to use. This record "weight" is only about 2oz. Unlike others that clamp or use mass to damp vibrations the Gravity One uses a combination of different materials. It looks and feels and works unlike any other.  

It contacts the record only on a small triangular shaped area near the spindle. The weight itself uses a flexible rubbery type spacer to avoid coupling to the spindle. It effectively channels vibrations generated in playing a record off the record and into the weight without reflecting any of this energy back into the record. Being decoupled from the bearing it is unable to channel any vibration from there into the record. It attenuates all frequencies evenly.  

The result is improvement in transient response, timbre, detail, and extension. Not subtle either. I was shocked how much better it works than my carbon fiber clamp, that was until now the best I had heard.  

I got this with my Origin Live Sovereign MkIV turntable. Tried it on my Teres before setting the Sovereign up. They also make a record mat that uses a similar approach and can be bought separately but on the Sovereign is bonded to the platter or I would have tried that on the Teres as well.  

The Gravity One is a total no-brainer. Record weights by the way, no they will not harm your turntable, platter, bearing, at all. If you are the least bit concerned however then this is by far the lightest one on the market. And most effective. 

  "I am surprised to hear that everyone seems to feel the P3 is greatly restricting the phono cartridge although in the future I will consider a turntable upgrade."

The goal is to get that cart to play its best. The P3 won't  allow this. The phono stage should be paramount at this point. IMHO. 

f your playing your P3 with a $3-500 phonstage, you're in for a surprise upping it to a $2k+ model(your future table needs it).

The Rega does not need a clamp. Or rather, a "clamp" may not work on the short spindle. It would need to be long enought for a a rubber washer to dish the record flat with the clamp. The Rega doesn't need a clamp or weight.  

Thank you everyone for your response. My first concern is that the record clamp will not do any damage to the turntable and hopefully add to the SQ. I am surprised to hear that everyone seems to feel the P3 is greatly restricting the phono cartridge although in the future I will consider a turntable upgrade. The progression of upgrading equipment is part of the fun of this hobby. Thanks again.

The P3 is an excellent table, but that Purple Heart deserves better!

The P3 is an excellent table - for the price. But like others said, you need a P8 or better and a $2k phono amp minimum.

I agree! That cartridge needs a much nicer table, ( I am also a current Rega & Kiseki owner and former dealer for both). The P3 is an excellent table, but that Purple Heart deserves better!

I use an Aluminati weight on my P25.  They used to sell them on here.  

Kiseki Purple Heart-$3200 MSRP cart
Rega P3 $900. Is this a typo, and should be P8?

Did I read the OP's question correctly?

Save your money for a P8, and the best phono stage you can afford. You're not hearing the potential of the cartridge. I'm sure it's a considerable upgrade from what you originally had, but the P3 will never be able to show the PH in it's best light.

Current Kiseki user and former Rega owner.

Hopefully your purchase of the Kiseki wasn't influenced by a sales person. That's a serious table/cartridge cost/performance imbalance going on there. Shame on the sales rep if was.

Highly unlikely that it would do any harm to the table. 
I tried about 10 different clamps a few years ago on my Technics SP10mkII. On that table, the clamps definitely were more impactful than the weights that didn't clamp, including some very pricey ones like the HRS. 
The Michelle light clamp is a good one that won't add much mass. The Sota Reflex clamp was my favorite overall; it weighs 7.8oz. Cheers,
Spencer