Do weights matter with vacuum hold-down?

[Juiced]

I’m not hearing any difference from vacuum hold-down + weight.
But i see companies (Techdas, Basis) advertising their turntables with it.

The weight (if heavy enough) is pushing on the record center, raising the record edges and preventing the platter and the record from being a single homogeneous integrated unit.

Results in unwanted vibrations traveling from the groove to the stylus.

 

[mtemur]

IMHO, these kinds of tweaks aren’t about necessity or logical reasoning. For example, a trio of Mpingo discs can make a noticeable difference when placed on a 250kg speaker with an incredibly solid base and tungsten feet. One might wonder how 10 or 20 grams of wood can affect such a massive, resonance-free cabinet—but somehow, it does.

To my ears, the TechDAS titanium weight sounds very good on TechDAS turntables with vacuum hold-down. The tungsten version is more expensive, but it doesn’t sound as good as the titanium. They look identical, but the tungsten clamp is significantly heavier than the titanium one.

I also don’t like the Shun Mook or various other clamps on TechDAS. Maybe it’s best to use the turntable without a clamp at all if you don’t like the TechDAS titanium clamp.

 

[bonzo75]

I’m not hearing any difference from vacuum hold-down + weight.
But i see companies (Techdas, Basis) advertising their turntables with it.

The weight (if heavy enough) is pushing on the record center, raising the record edges and preventing the platter and the record from being a single homogeneous integrated unit.

Results in unwanted vibrations traveling from the groove to the stylus.

With Dalby you won’t hear a difference with vacuum and will sound negative with suspension

 

[Juiced]

I was wondering about Dalby and Shun Mook,
they look pretty cool.

Thanks for clearing that up.

I only use the Oyaide STB-HW for looks and quick speed check with my cellphone..

 

[Juiced]

To my ears, the TechDAS titanium weight sounds very good on TechDAS turntables with vacuum hold-down. The tungsten version is more expensive, but it doesn’t sound as good as the titanium. They look identical, but the tungsten clamp is significantly heavier than the titanium one.

I also don’t like the Shun Mook or various other clamps on TechDAS. Maybe it’s best to use the turntable without a clamp at all if you don’t like the TechDAS titanium clamp.

are you sure its titanium?

i see only Duralumin (aluminum alloy).

 

[mtemur]

are you sure its titanium?

i see only Duralumin (aluminum alloy).

No, I’m not sure, especially after checking TechDas web page. Maybe it was titanium back then or advertised as titanium. I’ll check when I had a chance.

 

[Juiced]

Why are other manufacturers not using the vacuum method and relying only on high mass??

I'm tapping 'hard' with my finger on the record while it's playing and no tapping sound is traveling to the stylus and coming from the speakers.
Which only tells me the vacuum seal is perfect and homogeneous with the platter. Potentially picking more information from the groove.

If there is air in the slights, I would hear the tapping from the speakers.
The downside is picking more resonance from the stand.

I'm thinking of attaching feet to a 'butcher block' and placing it exactly on the Quadraspire's perforated area.

I did the same to the Kondo Overture, placing it over the perforated area.
It significantly decreased the hum coming from the Overture's power transformer which is quite noisy transferring lots of vibrations to the stand.

I know the perforated area is extremely effective by simply lowering the stylus to the record while it is not spinning, turning the volume up, and hearing everything! The whole building!

 

[DasguteOhr]

Why are other manufacturers not using the vacuum method and relying only on high mass??

I'm tapping 'hard' with my finger on the record while it's playing and no tapping sound is traveling to the stylus and coming from the speakers.
Which only tells me the vacuum seal is perfect and homogeneous with the platter. Potentially picking more information from the groove.

If there is air in the slights, I would hear the tapping from the speakers.
The downside is picking more resonance from the stand.

I'm thinking of attaching feet to a 'butcher block' and placing it exactly on the Quadraspire's perforated area.

Get yourself some slyomer heavy foam, it dampens effectively from 5 Hz upwards no problems impact noise or disturbances from outside anymore. - 40db at 19hz the pads in the link.

Sylomer SVP 12 (4x 12,5mm Sylomer SVP für 12kg Belastung je Pad) | eBay.de

Trotz geringer Einfederung werden sehr gute Isolierungswerte erreicht. Wählen Sie für Ihren Einsatzbereich ganz einfach die richtige Gewichtsklasse und die Anzahl der Pads aus. Einsatzbereich: Belastungen von 12kg je Pad; Abstimmfrequenz: ca. 19,1 Hz.

www.ebay.de

I did the same to the Kondo Overture, placing it over the perforated area.
It significantly decreased the hum coming from the Overture's power transformer which is quite noisy transferring lots of vibrations to the stand.

If you have mechanical transformer hum, open the device and tighten the transformer screws. The noise usually goes away after that. In rare cases, the laminations in the transformer come loose; replacing transformer is the only solution.

 

[mtemur]

If you have mechanical transformer hum, open the device and tighten the transformer screws. The noise usually goes away after that. In rare cases, the laminations in the transformer come loose; replacing transformer is the only solution.

IMHO/IME If it’s not tempered before and green Loctite is intact don’t do it. Actually do not unscrew any of the factory tightened screws on Kondo components. Don’t over tighten the case screws either.

 

[DasguteOhr]

IMHO/IME If it’s not tempered before and green Loctite is intact don’t do it. Actually do not unscrew any of the factory tightened screws on Kondo components. Don’t over tighten the case screws either.

Nonsense. You first have to check whether the screws are still tight.
Simply press on the top of the transformer with your hand and if the noise changes, then the screws are loose.
You can always apply screw locking varnish afterwards. It costs €5 online.

P.S
It may well have come loose during transport or shipping, no big deal to fix it.

 

[mtemur]

Nonsense. You first have to check whether the screws are still tight.
Simply press on the top of the transformer with your hand and if the noise changes, then the screws are loose.
You can always apply screw locking varnish afterwards. It costs €5 online.

P.S
It may well have come loose during transport or shipping, no big deal to fix it.

You wouldn’t add salt to a dish at a Michelin-starred restaurant — not because salt is expensive, but because the chef already did it right. It’s the same here: it’s not about the €5 cost of green Loctite.

If the transformer is noisier than it should be, the right approach is to send it back for repair, not to open it up and start fixing things yourself.

 

[DasguteOhr]

You wouldn’t add salt to a dish at a Michelin-starred restaurant — not because salt is expensive, but because the chef already did it right. It’s the same here: it’s not about the €5 cost of green Loctite.

If the transformer is noisier than it should be, the right approach is to send it back for repair, not to open it up and start fixing things yourself.

I'm more pragmatic. I don't like shipping tube devices all over the world. They usually come back worse than they were. I've experienced this before, so fix the problem yourself. If the device is still under warranty, return it to the manufacturer.
everyone should decide how they want. Nice day

P.S
Before sending it, take a photo of the device and how it is packaged. A little tip from me.
Take out transport insurance. Normal packages are insured up to a value of 500€.

 

[djsina2]

Best sound I got out of my AF5 was using vacuum on a thick carbon platter mat then having nothing on the record.

 

[Juiced]

If you have mechanical transformer hum, open the device and tighten the transformer screws. The noise usually goes away after that. In rare cases, the laminations in the transformer come loose; replacing transformer is the only solution.

The hum only vibrates the stand.
It seems normal to me, nothing extreme .

I just have OCD about this stuff

 

[DasguteOhr]

The hum only vibrates the stand.
It seems normal to me, nothing extreme .

I just have OCD about this stuff

Everything's great. I've learned that you can't force people to be happy (or to sound better). it was just a tip from me.

 

[Juiced]

In the meantime, I got a 11$ plywood base.
It looks nice and is a great isolator from mechanical hum.

Maybe I’ll keep it.