Weight vs Clamp

batkins

batkins

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I have a Pro-Ject Debut turntable with the standard metal platter. I've been considering a weight or a clamp. Ideally, this would help correct some (minimal?) warps and maybe help counter some environmental vibrations due to having a crawl space. From my limited knowledge and internet searches, I've been thinking clamp. I was looking at the Record Doctor Record Clamp. Anyone have any info, good or bad, on this product? Or any info in general on using a clamp vs a weight with a Pro-Ject debut table?
 
I personally prefer a clamp as opposed to a weight as it doesn't add any more significant mass to the platter or stress on the motor but that's just me. I've been using this guy for a few years and it's a champ of a clamp. It performs some minor miracles on warps.

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batkins said:
I have a Pro-Ject Debut turntable with the standard metal platter. I've been considering a weight or a clamp. Ideally, this would help correct some (minimal?) warps and maybe help counter some environmental vibrations due to having a crawl space. From my limited knowledge and internet searches, I've been thinking clamp. I was looking at the Record Doctor Record Clamp. Anyone have any info, good or bad, on this product? Or any info in general on using a clamp vs a weight with a Pro-Ject debut table?
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I run pro-ject’s own clamp (imaginatively called Clamp-It) on a debut carbon. Nice looking and does the job well.
 
If a manufacturer makes a clamp for table as @Joe Mac ’s post suggests, use it. Otherwise michell is the way to go as @Yer Ol' Uncle D suggests.

Re: weight check your manufacturer’s recommendation in regards to them for the reason’s stayed above.

A clamp is better for repairing warps.

I do use both but for the coupling/vibration reduction, I don’t notice a discernible difference in the two. I bought a weight because my table (a u-turn) is not clamp ideal (in fact my manufacturer recommends you not use them) as it has a composite spindle.
 
Yeah as @Lee Newman suggests I’d stick with the manufacturers clamp. I don’t think that table should have a weight on it. The acrylic platter upgrade is a bit heavier than the platter you are running but not significantly. The bearing isn’t up to taking too much more weight than that. For example, when I got a much heavier 3rd party sub platter upgrade I also had to upgrade the bearing and the bearing housing.
 
I had a JA Michell clamp for my Pro-ject Debut, but sold it when I got my VPI which came with a screw-on clamp. As others have said, clamps do a better job than weights when it comes to flattening warps for playback. It’s the reason I’ve never Worried much about warped records from VMP.
 
I also have the Pro-Ject Clamp-It for my Debut Carbon. It's stupidly expensive but it does look really nice (even though it's a fingerprint magnet) and it seems to work well. When I was shopping around, some on the old forum told me they had been using Michells with their Debut Carbon but once or twice it popped up mid-rotation, which is terrifying.
 
I have the project debut carbon. I had the Mitchell clamp and still have the clamp-it. Just want to chime in that the manufacturer clamp is superior in this case. The Mitchell can pop off with a big warp. The felt washers make it too high to clamp the spindle.
 
Kris said:
I have the project debut carbon. I had the Mitchell clamp and still have the clamp-it. Just want to chime in that the manufacturer clamp is superior in this case. The Mitchell can pop off with a big warp. The felt washers make it too high to clamp the spindle.
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You can make your own thinner felt washers. That’s what I did.
 
Thanks for all the info. Anyone have any experience with the Record Doctor clamp? That $100 price tag for the Pro-Ject is a bit much. The Record Doctor, to me, looks comparable and it's $30. Might just have to bite the bullet and give it a shot. It seems to get good reviews online.
 
You can't go wrong with either; but the benefit of the weight is my viborg had that tiny bubble to ensure your player is totally centered. so theres that...
 
batkins said:
Thanks for all the info. Anyone have any experience with the Record Doctor clamp? That $100 price tag for the Pro-Ject is a bit much. The Record Doctor, to me, looks comparable and it's $30. Might just have to bite the bullet and give it a shot. It seems to get good reviews online.
Click to expand...
I’ve been using the Record Doctor clamp for a couple of months now and have enjoyed it, very light and easy to use. I’m using it on a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon and have had no issues. I bought the clear one, so you can still see the label through it, really like the looks of it!
 
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