Thoughts On Turntable Clamps And Weights

Thanks for the info.  I was wondering about the use of weights regarding motor and bearing strain as well.

Thank you for the interesting and thoughtful responses.  From what I gather, locking the vinyl to the platter, with either a weight or clamp, is helpful to a point.  But more force does not necessarily equal improved performance. 

I contacted Pro-Ject regarding clamps and weights but did not receive a response.   

I digested all of your information and bought a lightweight clamp.  It arrived yesterday and I did the "with" and "without" test on a few albums and noticed improved sound quality on all of them.  Instrument separation improved, lower frequency sounds became fuller and highs were clearer.  And some of the background muzziness went away. 

In the evening I played a few more albums and my wife, who is a passive bordering on indifferent listener, even noticed the improvement with the clamp.  She said she could hear each instrument more clearly. 

So the clamp was money well spent.  Thank you for your advice and observations.

I also got a 1mm cork mat to replace the felt.  If nothing else the dust and static problems are gone.  I tossed the felt and did not do a "with" and "without" test on them.