Record clamps

On a michell at un-warping records, yeah...

I doubt they would on many decks though - including the LP12 and Planars...

Personally, even if they DO sound better, I would rather leave the platter running with no clamp than keep turning the deck off to change records - clamps are a pain in the arse...

They'd come in handy on my Tori Amos' Little Earthquakes LP and the 12inch of The Wizard though - both play on my Planar 3, but you've not seen arm play until you've watched that deck track The Wizard!!!

When the music's over turn out the lights

Suppose it depends what deck you use them on. For sprung decks such as an LP12 I would suggest no, because the suspension will have been sorted and those heavy record clamps would balls it all up.

For a solid design such as a rega, well you might say that all that extra weight is putting presure on the motor.

Perhaps they are best used on decks which are designed to have one, if they exist.

Garyi

quote:

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For sprung decks such as an LP12 I would suggest no, because the suspension will have been sorted and those heavy record clamps would balls it all up.

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Would that imply a similar effect from heavier (180 or 200g) LP pressings, or is the effect of that extra weight negligible in comparison with a clamp?

J

Decks I know of that are designed for (or have optional) clamps are:
Townsend Rock
Michell Syncro
Michell Gyro
Michell Orbe
Clearaudio??
Some of the Avids

Garyi - yeah, you're right about the presure thing - I'd be half tempted to use one on my Rega but the new PSU/motor kit isn't as torguey as the old one in many respects, so it might all grind to a halt... Of course, the clamp WOULD balls up the LP12 setup!!

When the music's over turn out the lights

Jason, I think it fair to say that 180grammes versus the norm (100g?) would indeed be negligable, some of those clamps however weigh half a kilo.

If you remove the ittock balance weight from the back, that section of the suspension lifts right up, supposing a clamp weighed this amount on the spindle you could I suppose ajust the suspension to allow for it, but then of course you are having to tightne the suspension which is going to make all sorts of problems.

I would guess that there is a stipulation in the LP12 set up manual not to use a record clamp, I may be wrong.

I agree with domfjbrown, using a clamp is not convenient. I also dislike having to stop and start the motor all the time.

My main turntable is an Orbe, so I have no choice but to use the clamp. The platter is not flat so the clamp must be used.

Normally the clamp does a good job. However, 180g audiophile pressings are rather stiff and it takes a lot of effort to push a perfectly flat audiophile record onto the platter.

A very surprising amount of effort.

You have to hold the platter still with one hand while giving the clamp and really hard twist. For some records it is easier to hold the clamp still and rotate the turntable, you can put more torque into the thing that way.

Removing the clamp, after having done it up so tight, can be difficult too.

I have yet to find a solution to this problem. For the time being I do not play audiophile pressings on this turntable.

Anybody else had this problem?

Regards,

Paul.

The SMEs have a clamp - on the 10 it's a simple screw clamp with some sort of ring to prevent damaging the label. On the 20 and 30 it's more sophisticated with a slipping clutch!. In either case the screw threads are made out of tool steel (ie very hard) and the clamp is a joy to use.

Switching from the LP12 I thought I couldn't bear to use a TT with a clamp. Now it's become second nature - the power supply starts/stops the motor instantly so that's not a problem. Plus the clamp is fairly heavy and there is a flywheel action so you can spin it. Very light pressure is needed to completely flatten the record against the platter, even on 180g.

So I guess it depends on the TT design.

quote:

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Originally posted by paul99:
I
Normally the clamp does a good job. However, 180g audiophile pressings are rather stiff and it takes a lot of effort to push a perfectly flat audiophile record onto the platter.

Paul.

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Paul

This does not happen on the LP12

What are your thoughts on the Orbe vs the LP12 you had? ( Note - LP12, NOT akiva! )

Regards

Mike

A thought...

Presumably the point of a clamp is to:

a) Flatten warped vinyl to give the stylus a better chance of tracking it, &
b) Prevent drag causing speed fluctuations

It seems reasonable that with a sprung "LP12'esque" deck, a clamp is a non starter, but...

is there a way of getting part of the clamp effect on an LP12 by using double sided tape to stick the felt mat to the platter to reduce the "drag effect".

I've got vague recollection I've read about this somewhere (here?) before. Anyone tried this? If so is the change worth the effort, or in any way similar to the effect of a clamp?

J

I find clamps works with platter without mat (eg. acrylic platter for VPI) but not with those felt or rubber mat (eg. Rega).

I'm using the one from VPI and I like the idea as it make the record real flat on the platter. When you look at the record spinning from the side, sometimes you wonder if it is spinning.

Would this be a problem with static if you use double sided tape? Great idea - would come in handy on both my Regas 'cos changing speed is a PITA - plus for staticy records you'd not get the cartridge write off possibility you get with the felt mat coming off with the record, then falling onto the rotating platter...

When the music's over turn out the lights

Mike,

Orbe vs LP12 - You're just trying to get me going

I have posted some comments on the private topic (LP12 etc) we were using before.

Back to subject of clamps:

Prompted by this thread, this weekend I tried out a few of my audiophile pressings. Although they all require considerably more clamp force than normal pressings, there is only one (after all) which requires a dangerous amount. I shall probably just avoid playing this one.

Regards,

Paul.