VPI Periphery Ring / Center Weight

IME the main benefit of a periphery ring and center clamp was mentioned by Narrod: better coupling of vinyl to platter. This helps drain or dampen intra-vinyl resonances, which lowers the sound floor and improves the clarity of everything.

On my rig (not a VPI) resonance management was a much greater audible benefit than warp flattening (not that warp flattening was unwelcome). I used my ring whether the record was warped or not, always to good effect.

There is some risk of course. You have to pay attention while cueing.

Doug

P.S. You can use a center clamp without a periphery ring, but usually not the other way around. If you want to get some idea of what a ring would do without spending for the ring, try the center clamp alone. IME it will provide about half the benefit of using both. If you're getting ANY slippage of record against platter due to stylus drag, the center clamp will prevent that and provide an even bigger bang for buck. IMO a center clamp at a minimum is essential with platters that don't use a soft mat.

I found that the benefit was immediate when I installed the ring/clamp on my Scoutmaster. However, even greater improvement is gained from the SDS. Dollar for dollar, I would get the SDS before the ring/clamp. Mass is important for damping, but correctly maintained speed produces a greater listening improvement, believe it or not. I believe that the best order for the improvements on Scout types is 1st SDS, 2nd Ring/clamp and 3rd Mini footers. In fact, don't buy the mini footers ( the cost vs the improvement is too great)and save up for the super heavyweight platter. I have the footers and am now saving for the platter (greater mass/damping/flywheel effect is the name of the game).

You are correct. The mini-footers are okay but a superior suspension such as my Townsend seismic sink made a huge difference, the difference between an also ran and a high end turntable. I own both the VPI Sama (for 78s) and a VPI TNT VI superplatter, SDS, periphery ring. Now the rim drive should help with superior speed stability (although the latest belts and SDS provide .01 long term speed changes over 20 minutes). The speed itself should be extremely tight with the rim drive and add bass dynamics. Will it positively affect tonal balance? I have to hear it first. The rim drive is another advance for VPI tables.

The gain in speed stability from a drive controller is unrelated to the benefit of rim-drive. Rim drive improves speed stability relative to belts by reducing compliance at the physical interface between the drive system and the platter. Rim drive is theoretically better than elastic belts in resisting modulations in stylus drag excited by musical transients. A drive controller cleans up the sinewave to the motor. The respective improvements in stability are unrelated but cumulative.

VPI's rim drive is a hybrid of belts and rim drive, with a flywheel that gives up some of its advantage due to larger circumference & slower rotational speed, and a theoretical higher noise level induced by the flywheel in contact with the platter. Time will tell whether this is a net improvement.