Record clamps: do they really make a difference.

To complete the mating on the vinyl with the platter, add a heavy weight periphery clamp.

Mosin, Can please explain the logic of your statement?

"It all depends on the table. The worse the turntable, the greater the need."

Mosin, Let's assume we have a well engineered turntable as the starting point. (There is no point to a discussion with a poorly crafted TT.) The LP is placed on the platter and set in motion and the stylus is engaged with the disk.

When the stylus generates energy as it vibrates in the record grove, what/where is the best way to dissipate that energy away from the vinyl?

Elagal, Think of it this way: That stylus has to trace a groove with undulations that are as small as a millionth of an inch. Will the stylus have greater success tracking the record groove with additional vibrations or with less vibrations?

Dover, I agree with your aim of striving to retrieve all of the information as possible from the LP. There is no magic to the execution of sound retrieval from an LP: It is pure physics.

The effective coupling of an LP to a platter by use of a center weight or clamp and a periphery ring are very effective. I have found that the more massive the clamp the more stable the platform and greater resonance control.

I also found that increasing the mass of the center weight improved the sound extraction. Though, on initial use, I felt that the music had lost its vibrance. However, upon further listening, I discovered that there was greater definition to the music and less background noise. What became evident with the lighter-mass weight was that the resonance from the stylus was fed back through the audio chain. It was like hearing music played is a hall.

TTWeights makes a well-thought out center weight with a cupped underside to impart pressure on the LP to mate with the platter.

I find that once accustomed to hearing just the music that is recorded versus an enhanced audio experience, the more exhilarating and gratifying it becomes.

It also works the other way: I can readily detect audio equipment that fails to extract sufficient information from the record groove and there is a measure of disappointment.

I use both a TTWeights center weight, 3.2 lbs of brass, and their 2.1 lb. periphery ring, a copper mat and an alloy mat over a stainless steel platter (Mirko's).

Previously, I had used the two versions of VPI clamps (Delrin and combination stainless/Delrin), and their solid stainless center weight. With each increase in mass, there was increased clarity.