i like something like the J.A. Mitchell Clamp best. However, i sold mine because i was told it wasn't so useful with a non-suspended system, which mine is not. There would seem to be merit in making the platter, mat and LP all one cohesive unit. i don't own any warped records, so i haven't sought another clamp or weight, but i think i would tend more toward the clamp, as not to add weight to the bearing, as was noted earlier.
In one of the much-higher-end-than-my-paygrade-allows TTs, a weight probably makes all the sense in the world. IMHO, i would think direct drive would deal with a weight better than a belt drive...seems it would wear belts faster, but again, pure conjecture on my part.
In my case without a clamp or weight, it has worked fine, and many told me it wasn't necessary for my TT. I dont notice any kind of torquing with the platter or cork mat, and wouldn't expect to, still i often wonder if i made a mistake selling the clamp before hearing the difference, but i sold it as new, so i didn't even want to take it out of it's bag.
When that fine day comes when i can get a big Denon Direct Drive, or maybe another make if i find one i love like those, i will likely have a Mitchell Clamp just for it. That fine day, my Music Hall gets a Mono Cart, connects to my Marantz 1060, and some Kloss Advents in my Studio/mancave....the dream continues.
