Rerurn to Romy the Cat's Site
In the Forum: Analog Playback
In the Thread: Ultimate Turntable
Post Subject: In lieu of the vacuum, what? (and a sneaky clamp reference)Posted by Paul S on: 2/27/2008
Yes, the varying profiles of disc faces present another issue, all right. But is this to say that a typical loose arrangement gives superior sonics during real world playback? After all, the profile/slope must still be reckoned with. Futzing around, tapping a loose disc with a straightened out paper clip while the stylus rests on the disc is not a pure "scientific" test, of course; but if nothing else the wild variation in the sound from loose discs is troubling. Now, I think I hear this stuff when my vacuum is not properly engaged. In any case, I obviously buy into the aural benefits of vacuum HD, even at the rather primitive level of implementation that my TT offers, although the Sota does not just suck down then shut off like the AT, but it continues sucking enough to keep the established vacuum constant; it just takes far less work from the pump once the initial purge is done, and there is a servo that handles this.
Though a long-time "vacuum guy" I feel no need to beat the gong for it. Still, I have for some time wondered that otherwise-better TTs do not offer the vacuum option. It just seems like something worth doing if you're going that far out to begin with. With all the ancillary technology, it still seems like disc/platter interface gets brushed under the rug, especially when "manufacturers" go to great lengths to tout platter composition as it relates to vinyl and/or they offer clamps. I also happen to use a fancy clamp; but I would not bother if I did not already have a +/- effective disc/platter connection. I certainly do not see clamps as any kind of solution for warped disces. For that matter, vacuum at the level I use it is not a solution for warped discs. While it miight make a warped disc playable, vacuum might or might not make a warped disc flat enough to do the interface job I want from it. I get the best results from discs that are reasonably flat to begin with. Also, the clamp is mostly a sink, and I would never recommend the use of a clamp across the board, as I have seen/heard plenty of cases where a clamp made things way worse in short order.
Best regards,
Paul SRerurn to Romy the Cat's Site