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Weighty?
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philipb31 View Drop Down
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Joined: 18 Dec 2024
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    Posted: 07 Feb 2025 at 11:58pm
Knowing that I clearly know very little, I try to find out what I can before asking my new friends, what may seem, obvious questions:
1) why add a spindle weight?
2) what real difference does it make?
3) which one?
Clearly there’s nothing subjective here and all responses will be only in black and white, but I suspect there are a number of you that have carried out real world research with real world experience and can offer an idiot some real world guidance… I hope…
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philipb31 View Drop Down
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Points: 82 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote philipb31 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Feb 2025 at 12:11am
let me rephrase the last question: as opposed to which one - what should I be considering… ie weight, brands, styles and what to avoid?
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Chris Firth View Drop Down
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Joined: 16 May 2013
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Points: 1665 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Chris Firth Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Feb 2025 at 12:54am
Before diving into the world of mucking about trying to make your TT sound better, you have to consider that a TT is an electrical and mechanical resonant system, and adding or removing mass will change the resonant frequencies of the system.

I have yet to hear the use of a weight improving the sound of a TT.
I gave up on the concept a long time ago.
In all the cases I've heard there are trade offs - you might get a tad more low frequency but lose some of the fluidity of the lower midband and bass, which translates to sucking the life out of the music pressed into the groove.
It's easy to make minute changes to the sound, but whether that change is an improvement is wide open to debate.

I don't like peripheral rings on TTs either, because I've heard their use suck the life out of what's on the record.

I do use a Michell clamp to tightly couple the record to the platter and iron out warps.
The Michell clamp doesn't change the sound as far as I can detect, but it does go some way to flattening most warps.
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philipb31 View Drop Down
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Points: 82 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote philipb31 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Feb 2025 at 2:09pm
I am aware that weight in the wrong place could adversely impact the mechanics and have been wondering about the whys and wherefores… you have certainly added to my doubts about the use of weights and I note your recommendation - I did see numerous comparisons, particularly mentioning clamps but I also question the downward pressure applied each time they are ‘implemented’: do they really need to be pushed down quite firmly before tightening?
I am as yet undecided on whether to invest (clamp seems the better option) and what it will achieve for me…
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Chris Firth View Drop Down
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Points: 1665 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Chris Firth Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Feb 2025 at 3:35pm
Mine is the standard clamp, so it has a recess underneath, and is supplied with a felt washer.
The washer goes over the spindle, and raises the centre of record, and consequently the entire record above the platter by a couple of mm, and the clamp is pushed down to force the periphery of the record down to the mat, and then locked into place.
You do need sufficient spindle length for the clamp to grip.

In my case the clamp is firmly pushed down, but it doesn't require any great effort on my part.

That said my TT is a Technics SL-1210 MkII, so no wobbly suspension to contend with.
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philipb31 View Drop Down
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Points: 82 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote philipb31 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Feb 2025 at 3:52pm
that’s the TT I have too (great choice) - did you get the standard clamp or the ‘R’? 
Presumably it makes a ‘tangible’ difference…
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Chris Firth View Drop Down
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Joined: 16 May 2013
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Points: 1665 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Chris Firth Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Feb 2025 at 4:12pm
Mine is the standard clamp.

My deck is not stock - the bearing is not the supplied one - it's a Mike New bearing, and the spindle is longer than the stock one.
I bought the deck without an arm, so not a stock arm - mine is a Jelco SA-750D.
The PSU has been removed from under the platter and the rectification is done before it hits the motor control board.
And I've got some Isonoe feet and boots to provide some isolation.

Spindle length might be an issue with the stock bearing, especially if you have the 6mm mat, as I do.
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