prk@charm.UUCP (Paul Kolodner) (07/12/85)
Today I had some fun by calling the local hifi stores and asking about turntable clamps and mats. The original problem was that, after having read on this net about this subject, I ran out and bought a record clamp. The trouble is that, since I have a manual turntable, the cartridge can bump into the clamp at the end of the record, unless I jump up, run across the room, lift the cover, and hit the cuing. So I called to ask about a low-profile record clamp that would avoid this. Well, the salesman told me that clamps and damps are out. Today's high-end turntables are made of NON-DAMPING materials, like acrylic. What say you all to that, eh?? He went on to explain that acrylic has the same resonant frequency as a record, a statement which shows an admirable ignorance of simple physics. Damping takes out the harshness, but music is sometimes harsh, blah, blah, and the logic started to fade a little. So waddaya say, folks? Do we use rubber mats and C-clamps like we used to, or do we go to glass? By the way, who knows of a record clamp with a low profile and which will not bump into my tonearm?
rfg@hound.UUCP (R.GRANTGES) (07/12/85)
[] I don't think it's fair for you to sic the whole net.audio pack of hounds on your local hi-fi store guru, just because he's an idiot. From your article, at least he's an articulate idiot. Why don't you give him an opportunity to write to us all with his story in his own words. Then we can dismember him in a more fair and gentlemanly style. -- "It's the thought, if any, that counts!" Dick Grantges hound!rfg
herbie@watdcsu.UUCP (Herb Chong [DCS]) (07/13/85)
In article <690@charm.UUCP> prk@charm.UUCP (Paul Kolodner) writes: >Well, the salesman told me that clamps and damps are out. Today's >high-end turntables are made of NON-DAMPING materials, like acrylic. >What say you all to that, eh?? He went on to explain that acrylic has >the same resonant frequency as a record, a statement which shows an >admirable ignorance of simple physics. Damping takes out the harshness, >but music is sometimes harsh, blah, blah, and the logic started to >fade a little. >So waddaya say, folks? Do we use rubber mats and C-clamps like >we used to, or do we go to glass? >By the way, who knows of a record clamp with a low profile and which will >not bump into my tonearm? the salesman doesn't really know what he's talking about, if your praphrasing is reasonably accurate. i have used both kinds, as well as glass, ceramic, and fibrous mats. i'll stay with my conductive rubber Angstrom and clamp. you can try a Nagaoka rubber record clamp, but i am of the opinion that unless the platter mat is of the right rubber, you will not be getting all your money's worth. the mission mat, sorbomat, platter matter, or any of those type of mats are best, and should be used with a clamp. the key is very high damping in the mat with tight coupling to the mat by a clamp. if nothing else, your warp problems will be reduced, reducing warp induced flutter. Herb Chong... I'm user-friendly -- I don't byte, I nybble.... UUCP: {decvax|utzoo|ihnp4|allegra|clyde}!watmath!water!watdcsu!herbie CSNET: herbie%watdcsu@waterloo.csnet ARPA: herbie%watdcsu%waterloo.csnet@csnet-relay.arpa NETNORTH, BITNET, EARN: herbie@watdcs, herbie@watdcsu
crandell@ut-sally.UUCP (Jim Crandell) (07/17/85)
> Well, the salesman told me that clamps and damps are out. Today's > high-end turntables are made of NON-DAMPING materials, like acrylic. > What say you all to that, eh?? He went on to explain that acrylic has > the same resonant frequency as a record, a statement which shows an > admirable ignorance of simple physics. Damping takes out the harshness, > but music is sometimes harsh, blah, blah, and the logic started to > fade a little. The salesman is obviously being honest with you. Otherwise, he'd tell you that a heavy damping material was what you need. Of course, if it takes out the harshness, since music is sometimes harsh, then naturally you need a new moving-coil to put it back in. Unfortunately, he's actually a little behind the times. The most recent research has conclusively demonstrated that the best platter-mat material is a foot-diameter sheet of diamond. You see, the diamond has the same resonant frequency as the stylus, and .... -- Jim Crandell, C. S. Dept., The University of Texas at Austin {ihnp4,seismo,ctvax}!ut-sally!crandell
wmartin@brl-tgr.ARPA (Will Martin ) (07/17/85)
Re: flat clamp wanted: The old Radio Shack $5 (and overpriced at that) clamp (which I think was/is the same as one of the English tweek company's models OEM'd to R-S) has a low, flat profile, and comes out to just about the edge of the label. In cross-section, it is: -------- | | | | ___------------------------------------___ ------------------------------------------------ or suchlike. Mine grips my Linn-Sondek's spindle with tenacity (the center hub screws on a split collet that clamps the spindle -- I guess most use a method like that). There is a glued-on turntable-speed strobe-marked paper ring on the top that came unglued on mine; I never bothered to reglue it. I use it or a little Denon weight (when I'm too lazy to bother with the clamp) on a Marcof Glasmat. Sounds OK to me... Will
mike@smu (07/25/85)
Audioquest makes a "low-profile" (how low do you go) clamp, lightweight (plastic) so it won't disturb your suspension. They've got 'em at Omni Sound (Dallas, 931-6664). They are certainly not as good as, say, a low-pressure vacuum, but they probably do some good... M.H.P.
mike@smu (07/25/85)
Also, SOTA offers an acrylic mat designed to go with a clamp, so at least that manufacturer doesn't find acrylic mats to make clamps obsolete... M.H.P.