Thoughts On Turntable Clamps And Weights


I have a Pro-Ject X2B and am curious about turntable weights and clamps. I perused the web and discovered that, like so many audio related items, prices range from modest to stratospheric. What are your thoughts on clamps and weights? Do they provide a notable improvement in sound quality? Does price equal quality? What should be avoided?

 

Thanks,

 

John Cotner

New Ulm, MN

jrcotner

 

VPI tables have always come with a threaded (1/4-20) spindle and associated record clamp (and a 2mm thick x 1.25" diameter rubber washer to install under the LP).

Their first table (the HW-19) featured a platter that was a 1" thick slab of aluminum with a thin sheet of lead glued onto it’s underside, and covered in cork. The Mk.2/3/4 iterations of the HW-19 had a platter machined from black Delrin (often misidentified as Acrylic, even by VPI themselves), 1" thick on the Mk.2 and 3, 1.5" on the Mk.4.

All the VPI tables that have followed the HW-19 have (I believe) featured 1/4-20 threaded spindles and associated clamp, regardless of what material each table’s platter was made of.

The first VPI clamp was made entirely of Delrin, followed later by a stainless steel/Delrin combo for more money.

Black Diamond Racing---already well known for their carbon fiber shelves and "Tiptoe"-style cones---then introduced a carbon fiber record clamp with 1/4-20 threading, and it is really nice. Very dense and stiff, much more so than either VPI clamp. BDR made it in two iterations, a 1-pc and a 2-pc. Neither is still in production, but occasionally show up used for $100-$150. Well worth checking into if you like record clamps and have a spindle with 1/4-20 threading.

@dwette,

It is not all that bad but you have to remember, your cartridge is more sensitive than your phone. Ideally you should be able to tap around the turntable and jump up and down in front of it and see nothing but a straight line on the phone. Sweetnighter (one of my favorite Weather Report records) does not have very low bass in it. Play a Billy Cobham drum solo loud. Do you have subwoofers? Systems without subwoofers generally will not project much below 40 Hz. That is a full octave they are missing.

What I have will have to do for now. I'm going back to my blissful ignorance where I enjoy music and have nothing to worry about. :)

What I have will have to do for now. I'm going back to my blissful ignorance where I enjoy music and have nothing to worry about. :)

For shame! Next you'll be telling us to stop worrying and enjoy the music!