VPI Periphery Ring / Center Weight

It tightly couples the record to the platter and the ring provides a flywheel effect that improves speed stability.
There are both very good things for vinyl playback. Worth it? Depends on your priorities and budget. Also, most records are warped to some degree even if you can't see it.

I agree with Narrod. I have heard a sonic benefit from every LP by using the periphery ring. It gives more "weight" to the music. I use it on all LP's. I like my BDR record clamp much better than the VPI center weight though.

What you will see when you use these clamps is a tonearm that seems to float from the beginning to the end of the record. It doesn't go up and down trying to traverse the difficulties of a luge course. The quiet ride makes that cartrige do its work with much more efficiencey and precision. I know its expensive but go for it.

anyone use a ring with an aries I?

IME the main benefit of a periphery ring and center clamp was mentioned by Narrod: better coupling of vinyl to platter. This helps drain or dampen intra-vinyl resonances, which lowers the sound floor and improves the clarity of everything.

On my rig (not a VPI) resonance management was a much greater audible benefit than warp flattening (not that warp flattening was unwelcome). I used my ring whether the record was warped or not, always to good effect.

There is some risk of course. You have to pay attention while cueing.

Doug

P.S. You can use a center clamp without a periphery ring, but usually not the other way around. If you want to get some idea of what a ring would do without spending for the ring, try the center clamp alone. IME it will provide about half the benefit of using both. If you're getting ANY slippage of record against platter due to stylus drag, the center clamp will prevent that and provide an even bigger bang for buck. IMO a center clamp at a minimum is essential with platters that don't use a soft mat.