Hello Pgtaylor, I have not tried any alternative clamping/weight systems to what is supplied with my SME tables. I did try listening to my SME Model 10 without the clamp and spindle washer. I thought the sound became a bit less clear and dull, but that was a long time ago and I can not recall the specifics.
Prompted by this thread, I did some more extensive listening on my SME 30/12 with and without the SME clamp and washer system. The results in general seem to be about the same as with my Model 10 but as this system is more resolving, the difference seems more pronounced.
I listened to selected tracks on three LPs in A-B-A or B-A-B order:
1. Vivaldi, Les Concertos Pour Mandolines
2. Ellington/Brown, This Ones for Blanton
3. Johnny Harman, Once in Every Life
The Vivaldi is very difficult to reproduce well because of the complex harmonics of the mandolines and harpsichord. Sure enough, without the washer and clamping system, dynamics were dulled, leading edges were not as crisp and harmonics were rolled off and blurred. On the Blandon and Harman, bass, piano and voice had less weight. Overall tonal density was diminished slightly. I'd say the sound was less vivid.
The differences were not huge, but I was very pleased to get the old sound back with the washer and clamp. Interestingly, I also tried one cut with the washer and no clamp. This raised the LP off the platter surface and the result was terrible. The LP slowed down so much with stylus drag, that is sounded almost like a 45 played at 33 and speed shifted with more or less stylus friction. It makes me wonder about playing an LP on a hard platter surface like brass or copper with no clamp, but many people do this with reportedly good results and hear more "air".
So, at least with my SME tables, the washer/clamp system seems to flatten the LP against the platter and improve the LP/platter interface for improved sonics. Whether this helps to drain energy from the cartridge away from the LP into the damped platter or isolate the LP from bearing noise, I don't know, but I much prefer listening as recommended by SME.
Prompted by this thread, I did some more extensive listening on my SME 30/12 with and without the SME clamp and washer system. The results in general seem to be about the same as with my Model 10 but as this system is more resolving, the difference seems more pronounced.
I listened to selected tracks on three LPs in A-B-A or B-A-B order:
1. Vivaldi, Les Concertos Pour Mandolines
2. Ellington/Brown, This Ones for Blanton
3. Johnny Harman, Once in Every Life
The Vivaldi is very difficult to reproduce well because of the complex harmonics of the mandolines and harpsichord. Sure enough, without the washer and clamping system, dynamics were dulled, leading edges were not as crisp and harmonics were rolled off and blurred. On the Blandon and Harman, bass, piano and voice had less weight. Overall tonal density was diminished slightly. I'd say the sound was less vivid.
The differences were not huge, but I was very pleased to get the old sound back with the washer and clamp. Interestingly, I also tried one cut with the washer and no clamp. This raised the LP off the platter surface and the result was terrible. The LP slowed down so much with stylus drag, that is sounded almost like a 45 played at 33 and speed shifted with more or less stylus friction. It makes me wonder about playing an LP on a hard platter surface like brass or copper with no clamp, but many people do this with reportedly good results and hear more "air".
So, at least with my SME tables, the washer/clamp system seems to flatten the LP against the platter and improve the LP/platter interface for improved sonics. Whether this helps to drain energy from the cartridge away from the LP into the damped platter or isolate the LP from bearing noise, I don't know, but I much prefer listening as recommended by SME.