I have it bookmarked for you
https://audiokarma.org/forums/index...ntable-you-should-have-a-record-clamp.816837/
Athanasios
Turntable Stabilizer Weight: How Heavy?
- Thread starter Loudpipe
- Start date
I have it bookmarked for you
https://audiokarma.org/forums/index...ntable-you-should-have-a-record-clamp.816837/
Athanasios
Cafe Latte - is that actually the bearing from an SL 1200? I haven't had my hands on one in at least a decade, so I don't remember, but that looks pretty flimsy. Obviously slapping a weight onto a lightweight table can have untoward consequences, and I don't doubt that your enthusiasm for the Commonwealth is completely justified, but I assumed we were talking about higher end tables - who would put a weight or a clamp on one of the bazillion BSRs (putting it that way to exempt the 810 and 710, which someone might)?
cafe latte
Addicted Member
Yes it is a sl1200mk2 bearing, I bought myself a spare back when they were cheap and available. They may look flimsy next to the massive Commonwealth bearing, but the Technics bearing is very good, it is super quiet and well made to assist in the turntables very low wow and flutter. That said it is fine as long as you dont put a platter weight on the platter as you can see it is clearly not made for increased platter weight. The Commonwealth though I am sure it could handle quite a bit of weight, but even adding weight to the Commonwealth would increase noise. The best really heavy platter turntables have either air bearings or magnets opposing bearings.
Chris
I suppose it’s a good thing then that I stopped using my Trio TS-10 ceramic platter mat, which weights 1.2 kg (or a little more than 2.6 lbs, for us Americans) on my 1200MK2. I suppose it would be best to save it for the heavy-duty Trios/Kenwoods that were likely made with it in mind.
Ok, two posts mentioning “Shatki Stones” and I had to google. Seems like a good example of something that doesn’t do anything. I think it makes total sense to use as a comparison. Using a weight as a stabilizer seems viable, but I would rather not stress the motor bearing on such a minor issue. It makes me wonder, as I am awake at 4am, what if they made record weights out of the Shatki Stone material?
bimasta
Addicted Member
Call Shakti and ask. She's the Goddess of the primordial cosmic energy that moves through the entire universe. Sorry, I don't have her number.
You could kill two birds, with one stone!
cgutz
AK Member
I drilled a hole in the center of a 6 oz hockey puck and use it to stop vibration.I use this Clearaudio puck. Only 6.5oz so not a weight or clamp as such, just a stabilizer, stops any vibration.
RancherinAz
New Member
I’ve got an Anaheim Ducks puck out in the garage I was thinking about doing that with
RancherinAz
New Member
A hockey puck isn’t any bigger in diameter than the average record weight so I’m not getting what you’re saying .
Most weights are wide at the bottom but less so at the top. The typical cartridge is probably between half and inch and an inch tall, so the headshell, which despite being wider than the cartridge (usually), is in no danger of hitting the weight as long at the upper portion of it is smaller.
RancherinAz
New Member
Well , the record lable is 4 inches in diameter easy . The hickey ouch is 3 inches in diameter . So there’s a half inch clearance inside the label all the way around . Then the runout groove is an eighth inch from the label edge . So there’s five eighths of an inch clearance . That means the headshell would have to be one and a quarter inch wide for it to run into trouble . The standard headshell has a half inch mounting pattern that’s typically the widest part . Add an eighth of an inch each side for the screws and nuts and you’ve got three quarters of an inch total width . And if it’s a “P” mount , it’s even thinner . I’d have an easy quarter inch clearance .
I am not a 'tweak' person and have owned at least a dozen weights/clamps over the years. I've really never found a significant difference between them from a sonic standpoint. However, I was offered a Stillpoints LRI v2 to try, and damned if it did not make a real, positive improvement when used on my DP-80. I took the LRI to one of our SEPAS get togethers and our host tried it on his DDX-1000 and also noticed enough of a positive improvement that he ponied up the $$ for one of his own. The real downside is the cost, though I'm fortunate to know a Stillpoints dealer who offers good discounts. Like good ICs and speaker cables, see if you have a dealer who will let you audition one (Music Direct?) on/in your system and decide for yourself. You might be surprised. I was.
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RancherinAz
New Member
Well , that thing is way out of my price range . Even if I got it at dealer cost . Plus it’s like 2 pounds . I’d be worried about premature bearing wear and maybe even rumble induced . I’m willing to try a 250 gram aluminum weight from Amazon at $16.99 but that’s it and I’ll leave the hickey puck intact . It’s amazing to me that a record weight could cost anywhere near that . Way too rich for my blood . I could buy a couple nice cartridges for that .
HamboneF18
Super Member
I haven’t seen anyone mention record cleaning in reference to clamps/weights, nor vertical clearance. So I’ll dive in on those subjects.
Vertical clearance:
I play records with the dust cover CLOSED. It’s quieter and I pick up *far less* dust during record play. Most clamps are tall, not allowing play with my dust cover down. So I use a low vertical profile record *weight.*
Cleaning Surface Dust Prior To Needle Drop:
Most in here remove surface dust from the record surface prior to needle drop, no? I know I do.
With dish-warped records, there is very little contact between the platter mat and either the record outside edge, or label, depending on side being played. Even ripple warps drastically decrease record contact. When using a lint brush prior to needle drop, I’ve had the problem of the record spinning on the platter mat from friction between brush and record surface. To prevent this, I use a record weight; I never have the problem of the record spinning against the mat when brushing the lint off the record surface before playing.
Bearing Wear/Rumble:
I haven’t seen this as a problem. My current table has a 5-lb platter. It uses a Delrin dimpled block and a ball bearing thrust support at the base of the spindle. When I took it apart to clean it, and add synthetic oil (2 drops) to the thrust bearing, and radial bearings, I first made very fine scratches in the Delrin block. Using a razor blade, I made 8 radial lines from the center of the dimple, out to the edges. This allows circulation of the oil under the ball as it turns in that dimple. That was 4 years ago. 2 weeks ago I checked it, to see how my circulation system was holding up. I found my scoring lines still there. Oil circulating nicely! No wear at all. And it’s dead quiet. I hear no rumble, even using a stethoscope borrowed from a blood pressure kit.
Vertical clearance:
I play records with the dust cover CLOSED. It’s quieter and I pick up *far less* dust during record play. Most clamps are tall, not allowing play with my dust cover down. So I use a low vertical profile record *weight.*
Cleaning Surface Dust Prior To Needle Drop:
Most in here remove surface dust from the record surface prior to needle drop, no? I know I do.
With dish-warped records, there is very little contact between the platter mat and either the record outside edge, or label, depending on side being played. Even ripple warps drastically decrease record contact. When using a lint brush prior to needle drop, I’ve had the problem of the record spinning on the platter mat from friction between brush and record surface. To prevent this, I use a record weight; I never have the problem of the record spinning against the mat when brushing the lint off the record surface before playing.
Bearing Wear/Rumble:
I haven’t seen this as a problem. My current table has a 5-lb platter. It uses a Delrin dimpled block and a ball bearing thrust support at the base of the spindle. When I took it apart to clean it, and add synthetic oil (2 drops) to the thrust bearing, and radial bearings, I first made very fine scratches in the Delrin block. Using a razor blade, I made 8 radial lines from the center of the dimple, out to the edges. This allows circulation of the oil under the ball as it turns in that dimple. That was 4 years ago. 2 weeks ago I checked it, to see how my circulation system was holding up. I found my scoring lines still there. Oil circulating nicely! No wear at all. And it’s dead quiet. I hear no rumble, even using a stethoscope borrowed from a blood pressure kit.
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