TTClamps Audio clamps?

ViperZ

Has anybody heard about this manufacturer?

They are local, so would be pretty easy for me to get.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/TTWeight-Record-Clamp-Weight-Style-1LB-454-Grams_W0QQitemZ330335030991

Thanks!

SolidSqual

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=80771&highlight=TTweight

SolidSqual

ViperZ

Nice review and thank you for sharing!

Could you tell me why you went with the weight rather than clamp?

I am comparing this weight: http://www.ttweights.com/catalog/item/6997332/7020312.htm

with these clamps:

http://www.ttweights.com/catalog/item/6984492/6999408.htm

http://www.ttweights.com/catalog/item/6984492/6999370.htm


Why does weight make a difference in the *clamp*?

Thanks!

SolidSqual

TTWeight customer service recommended the Weight for my particular TT. They said the clamps were more designed for VPI tables. Ask them, they have a good knowledge of TTs.

hearingimpared

If you are not going the route SS went then you are better off buying this clamp;

http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/36249/Clearaudio-Twister_Clamp-Record_Mats_and_Clamps

It is a reflex clamp designed much like my own. It will work on all turntables and will also remove warps. If you do decide to get one, I'll give you some shims that will help stregthen the reflex action.

Joe

ViperZ

Joe, thank you very much for the offer. One of the main reasons why I am looking at TTWeights clamps is that they are in the same city as me (so free shipping, no duty charged over-the-border, etc.).

hearingimpared

That must be a real bummer in Canada when trying to buy something from the US . . . duty charges, higher shipping costs, customs etc.

SolidSqual

You can't got wrong with TTWeights. I hear their platter works out well too. As far as clamping goes, Clearaudio makes a great product as suggested by HI, but I personally don't think anything can be as effective as a good outer ring. You'll pay extra, but you'll notice a massive difference in your vinyl with the outer ring. IT flattened all my LPs out perfectly.

Ian lane

I think you might be right in most cases of central clamps and weights. With one notable exception, none I have tried really flatten records effectively by themselves.

The exception Is Joe's Clamp. This is one reflex clamp that is really designed well. In this case I am not so sure about the advantage of a ring weight, apart from the added benefit of the flywheel effect. See the thread I started on this topic.

Unfortunately the Clamp is now largely unobtainium. I have not tried the Clearaudio Twister that Joe recommends but it does incorporate at least some of the features of his own design.

I have not tried the TTweights products either, but they seem fairly priced and they get consistently good reviews and comments.

Another possibility to consider is the URSR ring weight designed by Rudolf Bruil. This one incororates some damping in the ring itself. It would be more expensive to get than the TTWeights rings and clamps.

Cheers,

Ian

quadzilla

I'm a believer in clamps. I plan on picking up a one of these as soon as I get the Rega arm installed on the Empire 298 that arrived tonight.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/TTMicro-Turntable-Mat-1760-Gram-Copper-4-lbs_W0QQitemZ330335065876QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_2?hash=item4ce9811714&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14#ht_1022wt_999

That's about ~3.5 pounds, me buckos. But with the bearing on this Empire, it should spin up pretty easily. The platter and clamp on it now already weight about 7 pounds, and it all spins up very smoothly with just the polymer belt.

ViperZ

One more question...

Dual 1228 TT has a removable spindle... Well, it comes with 2 spindles - the short one for single record play and a long one for record-changer option.

So, does it mean that the *clamp* will not work with my spindle, since it might just pull the spindle out.

Should I just go (am I stick with) the weight type clamps/weights? Thanks!

thsmith

hearingimpared wrote: »

If you are not going the route SS went then you are better off buying this clamp;

http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/36249/Clearaudio-Twister_Clamp-Record_Mats_and_Clamps

It is a reflex clamp designed much like my own. It will work on all turntables and will also remove warps. If you do decide to get one, I'll give you some shims that will help stregthen the reflex action.

Joe

+1, I took Joe's recommendation on this and have not looked back. Adding his washers helped as well.

Thanks again, Joe !

ViperZ

Like I said, my spindle is not fixed, thus I think I am stuck with the weight-style "clamps"...

hearingimpared

Viper I believe you are correct in your thinking. A reflex clamp would probably pull the spindle right up and out although I believe there is a 30 day money back gurantee on the "twister" clamp so it would be worth a try.

ViperZ

hearingimpared wrote: »

Viper I believe you are correct in your thinking. A reflex clamp would probably pull the spindle right up and out although I believe there is a 30 day money back gurantee on the "twister" clamp so it would be worth a try.

Do you really believe that the weight-style clamp would make a difference? i.e. would it really flatten the record?
I understand how the real clamp works, and it definitely makes sense, but I am not sure if the weight will help and how much weight will I need. There is 1 lb and I believe 2 kg weights available from TTWeights. My TT is belt-driven, but I am sure (hope?) that the motor/belt will be able to handle extra 2 kg...

hearingimpared

If nothing else it will stabilize the record and there is nothing wrong with having to give your platter a little help in starting to spin.

hearingimpared

What did you decide on?

ViperZ

LOL, forgot about this thread.

I talked to the TTWeights owner for quite a bit, and we decided on this one:
http://www.ttweights.com/catalog/item/6997332/7020312.htm

It's 1 lb weight (not clamp). 1 lb is good enough to mostly flatten the records, but not bottom out the suspension in my Dual 1228 TT.

I cannot say that I hear a significant improvement in sound, but I haven't used my TT much since buying this weight (was busy with work and winterizing my bike). The records are visibly flattened and it looks nice .

unc2701

Do they recommend a particular mat? Seems like the weight-only approach would work better with some vs others.

ViperZ

unc2701 wrote: »

Do they recommend a particular mat? Seems like the weight-only approach would work better with some vs others.

I haven't asked them about the mat. Since I was limited to weight-only approach, my only concern would be to pick a weight, which would not bottom-out the TT suspension. So I could not pick anything over 1lb.

Regarding the mat, i am currently using Rega "replacement" mat and pretty happy with it. It's made out of some soft material, which seems to remove some static from the records (old Dual rubber mat bit the dust a while ago).

hearingimpared

That is a nice looking stabilizer.