It's more a question

Djape

Djape

New Member
It is not a thread, but I a question.I have a splendid Pioneer PL505. A friend gave me a record puck of 365 grams. My question is whether my turntable can endure this weight or not (the bearings). The plateau is very light, only 800 grams. I hope someone is an expert :) and can give me good advice.

Warm Regards
DjapeIMG_1406.JPG
 
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Hi,

Should not be a problem at all regarding the bearings.
FWIW a suitably sized o-ring around the spindle will
generally help. It should lift the record very slightly
above the mat without the weight but compress
enough under the weight for full mat contact.

rgds, sreten.
 
tnsilver said:
Mmmm... I'm not so sure this theory works for all but the floppiest records. In fact, I was under the impression it's actually the other way around. You do not want to 'lift' the center of the record but rather 'sink' it for the ideal contact. Am I wrong?
Click to expand...

Some clamps work the way he described (washer underneath). Sota's Reflex, for instance, but not sure a weight will get the job done.
 
I was under the impression that the weight/clamp is to flatten the vinyl to the mat. I have a Michell clamp that has a felt o-ring you place under the vinyl, and you install the clamp. It works for all of my turntables.
 
First of all: WOW what a response! Sreten, you mentioned that it should not be a problem for the bearings. Can you explain this a bit more, are you familiar with this electro-motor. Because that is my real worries; that I kill the bearings/motor (btw, i'm from The Netherlands so excuses for my simple and sometimes bad English)
 
I use a 1 lb ProJect weight (and several duplicates that I had made by a buddy at a machine shop)--two of my three current tables are suspended, one has a conventional configuration with soft feet for isolation and I have had no issues. Never a problem with bearings--a bad alignment or anitskate will do more damage to tonearm bearings than a weight will do to the spindle bearings (unless the table is junk to start with).
 
tnsilver said:
Mmmm... I'm not so sure this theory works for all but the floppiest records. In fact, I was under the impression it's actually
the other way around. You do not want to 'lift' the center of the record but rather 'sink' it for the ideal contact. Am I wrong?
Click to expand...

Hi,

All comments assume a central mat label recess, deeper than the label thickness.

It depends on the record. If its domed up a weight with no washer helps the most. If its dished up a weight makes it worse.
Now no weight can do the same as clamp, which for dished up records a central hard washer and a clamp can force a
dished up record to be flatter and all types harder against the platter. For weights its much more subtle than that.

For weights you dont want it to lift perfectly flat records off the platter. Which it will as it sits inside the recess.
So the o-ring has to be carefully chosen not to make flat records worse. For domed records the o-ring will
probably not matter. For dished records it will help, but the force of the weight may not be enough.

rgds, sreten.
 
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That's one heavy clamp. I use one of those paperclip office thingies (black, with two silver clips) and a large washer. Light, and works great.

I wouldn't put the bearings under that much weight. Also, I've found that felt washer with my own clamp can sometimes put a warp in an otherwise unwarped record (Vangelis Chariots of Fire did this).
 
I have Orsonic/Monster Cable clamps/weights that are 250gr, they also offered the same model in 500gr which are seldom found. In theory the weights should be a benefit but to be honest I heard no difference with or without. 365gr might be on the outside of what I would consider "safe". You might want to consider if Pioneer factored a weight into the design of that model table, if not by not having a weight as a factory Pioneer accessory then your on your own as to how the table performs and possible damage. Bottom line I feel many weights are nothing more than audio eye candy.
 
I always choose to select records that were not warped. Years past returning a record because it was warped might have been a problem, but today sellers are much more inclined to insure that the buyer is pleased with their purchase. So if I buy a record that has a warp, I request an exchange for one that isn't. If they can't find one that isn't I choose a different title.

A big heavy clamp is not needed, a simple clamp should be plenty if you need one at all.
 
I don't use my clamps/weights to correct for warpage--just grip on the platter/mat. If something is warped that badly, it goes to the bin, or I try fixing it with clamps and a couple pieces of tile.
 
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