To ring or not to ring?

I think an outer ring is well worth it.

I am selling my TTW mega ring used with excellent results on my clearaudio master solution that my buyer did not want.

I bought a clearaudio innovation TT with matching clearaudio ring otherwise I would keep the TTW ring for my Innovation

Here is link to my ad:
http://app.audiogon.com/listings/turntables-ttw-mega-outer-ring-clamp-2013-07-26-analog-92675

Note this ring needs a table with at least a 1. 5 " thick platter.

Richard, IMO the ring combined with the center wt just take too much "life" out of the music. I freely admit that the quality of "liveliness" or "life" must in some part be due to resonances. I don't believe in stamping out each and every last bit of resonance, either. Some quantum of it adds back, for me, what is lost in the recording, stamping, and playback processes. This is a personal preference.

If you don't have a ring or vacuum hold down, most records will not lie flat (Edge warp, dish or cup). Therefore you have changing VTA, VTF throughout each revolution of the disk. This is not beneficial to the sound. Some suspended designs cannot tolerate the added weight, so it doesn't work for all.

Lewm
Thanks for the feedback. I wonder if say a reflex clamp with a suitable washer under the record would be superior?
I'm working on a L07D now for a client and he does not have the ring. So we were looking a the options. Imagine it would be pretty hard to track down an original.
Rockitmam
Can I ask you if you have done such a comparison?
Many thanks

I have used a variety of copper mats in conjunction with weights & washer or reflex clamp & washer on a variety of TT's and in my experience hard mats such as stainless or copper always sound better with a proper clamp system designed to couple the record to the mat. Without a clamping system the results lack focus.
Listening to a variety ( copper, stainless, original & resomat ) on the mongrel version of the Krebs Technics SP10 in the same system showed me that none of the mats were perfect. Based on my own experience I believe this was due to the lack of a clamp with the metal mats.
Same result with the Goldmund Mat, which I have heard on the Goldmund, Sota, Oracle & Technics SP10, it sounds much better used in conjunction with the reflex clamp.
Most weights manufactured today do nothing unless the record mat/platter is slightly concave because they have a flat bottom and cannot apply pressure at the perimeter of the record label to clamp over a washer placed under the record.
Very few records are truly flat, and therefore unless you are using a soft mat such as felt or leather then the records are not supported across their entire surface on a hard mat such as metal or acrylic unless a clamp/weight is used and has been designed properly, that is either the record mat is slightly concave as in the goldmund, or a washer/reflex clamp system is used.
I am not sure why anyone would put a clamping ring under the record, unless of course they are superman and wear their undies over the top of their trousers.