JA Michell Clamp Observations

[jgordon]

So Santa brought me a Michell clamp for Hanukkah. Been using it for a day or so, and I have the following observations. No critical listening yet, or comparisons between it and my hockey puck diy weight.

The felt washer is unreasonably large. It's about a quarter inch thick. On thinner records, I can get them to flex down to the platter, but on thicker vinyl, it's just wacky. The record will just sit on the washer at an angle, with half of the disc up in the air. I've been using it without the washer for the time being. Perhaps if I find some thin, warped vinyl, it'll come in handy. For now it's decoration.

Many have advocated its use (over a clamp) with suspended tables. I can see the benefits of a clamp, as per my thread on the diy hockey puck weights, but I feel like I'm abusing the suspension when I put it on and take it off. Most especially when I take it off. I'm slowly developing a lighter touch, but I still feel uneasy with the amount of travel and the jolt that I introduce to the suspension and bearing when I take it off.

So far, it appears to offer a similar auditory gain as the puck. I can see and feel it clamping the disc to the platter, and we know that's good.

Still debating its value as a tool, and its benefit to the music. Does anyone else have experience with this clamp?

 

[Mclogan]

I use the Michell clamp on my Gyro SE. I won't listen to anything without it, so marked is its beneficial effect. I don't know what sort of LPs you're talking about when you mention the felt washer, but I've found no difficulty with high quality classical LPs from a wide variety of sources. They certainly don't end up suspended in the air before I clamp, and if they did I wouldn't be concerned, because the function of the clamp is to clamp them firmly to the platter surface.

In the latter regard I've also experimented with many mats on the Gyro acrylic/composite platter. The outcome was that no mat gives the best sound by far.

 

[Vinylmasters]

I use it on everything - and I agree the felt washer is too larger - and basically worthless. I opted for a felt pad under the rubber mat that comes with the table instead. It keeps the label area from 'bumping up', and has a MUCH more defined sound and bottom end.