If a record sits loosely on the turntable, it resonates more and wobbles, all of which increases 
noise and rumble transmitted through the cartridge. The idea of the clamp is to hold the record 
center to the platter. I find it works well with thin LPs, I can hear and measure less rumble and if 
the warpage extends all the way to the center, sometimes it smooths out warps a bit. The better 
modern 180-200g LPs tend to be punched with a tighter-fitting center hole and are heavier to begin 
with, so they aren't helped as much if they sit tightly on the platter mat. I should point out that 
pro-grade cutting lathes from the 50's onward had vacuum-suction systems to hold the laquer tight to 
the platter, in order to prevent vibrations and resonances that would "bake in" rumble. Keep in mind 
that modern LP cartridges and tonearms are designed for very light tracking. The downside of this is 
there has to be very good isolation and mitigation to anything that transmits vibrations and rumble.

I like the clamp from Kevin (KAB) because it's not expensive, it also has a handy level bubble and 
it works on both short-spindle Technics turntables and longer-spindle modern Technics knock-offs. 
Unlike some clamps I've seen included on turntables from Pro-Ject and MusicHall, the KAB clamp has a 
soft non-abrasive underside so it cannot damage your LP labels unless you are super-careless. I 
would use any clamp very carefully with shellac, and would not use it on warped shellac due to risk 
of cracking or breaking the record.

-- Tom Fine

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2011 12:45 PM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Stanton Turntable reviews....anyone?


> How does the clamp help reduce surface noise?
>
> joe salerno
>
>
> On 12/14/2011 10:19 AM, Tom Fine wrote:
>  All my comments about the Technics rubber mat
>> and KAB clamp should apply to this one too.
>