VPI Peripheral Ring Clamp...Worth Its Weight!

You guys that are in the process, or have already upgraded your Scout turntable should really consider getting this upgrade too.

I just received my peripheral ring and stainless steel center clamp a few weeks ago. The differences are very obvious. I thought this table sounded good as was but now with the ring it's almost like a cartridge upgrade.

The ring really adds some extra snap to snare drums and piano notes. Bass response is deeper if that's even possible. The weight of the ring also induces a flywheel effect. When using it my platter rotates about 3 additional revolutions after I hit the off switch. Once the platter is up to speed this flywheel effect takes some of the work load off the motor. Does this improve speed stability? I believe so. Sure doesn't hurt it.

And you've never ever seen a flatter record in your life until you clamp it down with the ring and center weight clamp. It' quiet startling actually . How did I play records without this thing?

 

I really want one of these, but unfortunately they're not compatible with my HW-19 MK-IV (unless I'm mistaken).

John K.

 

Greg, it seems like we were just encouraging you to "pull the trigger" and buy the Scout. Now you just jumped in and got the upgrade. Good work. Enjoy it.

 

So, it actually sits on the very edge of the record?

These come with the Super Scoutmaster, right?

 

Yes to both questions Jamie.

 

A Closer Look

These pictures may give you a better understanding of just how it works.

Notice the outer edge of the platter. The lip is for using the ring just for the flywheel effect. The ring fits on the lower edge. Your record does not come in contact with the ring when using it in this manner. Then taking a look at the underside of the ring you see the inside lip. It's very sharp and thin. When using it as a clamp, that edge seats itself on the extreme outer lead-in grooves of your vinyl without any interference with your cartridge.

The earlier version of this clamp didn't have that black strip of cloth inside the ring. Some folks were have trouble removing the ring from the platter. This solves that problem completely.

The ring weighs 4.5 lbs. The center clamp is 1.5 lbs.

 

It is amazing the amount of background noise a periphery clamp eliminates. Most of the surface noise is from vertical and horizontal motion of the grooves, ie, warps and the spindle hole being off center. The is partially the source of grinding, scraping and pop noise. The stylus never really gets to 'sit' in the groove correctly.

Reaming the spindle hole out and centering the pressing used in conjunction with one of these periphery clamps produces a very black background. Side benefit is the playback speed is much more constant.

 

Is this how you get such quite backgrounds?

 

Yes, the peripheral ring really works( I've used it for two years). The first time I heard it being put on in the hi-fi store I couldn't believe my ears.

As I have mentioned couple of times on this forum, it also flattens warp records. And to me, that alone is worth the price of entry.

Unfortunately for old VPI table owners, you will have to replace not the just the platter but also the shaft and bearing with the new shaft that has inverted bearing.

 

Yes, that is where they come from!

Just using a plain old center clamp helps as long as it flattens the LP. One of the best I have used is the relatively inexpensive Michell clamp.

One of the things that made the most noticeable difference in my rig was the periphery clamp!

 

This is a very true statement. One of the first things I noticed when using the ring is how motionless the arm and cartridge are on the outer area of a record. Dead still.

 

would you mind posting a close-up of the ring weighing down the outside lip of the record? I'm curious to see how that looks... also, how do you center it around the platter? hrmm... I'm probably thinking way too much into it...

 

Danny, this is the best I've got right now. It's hard to tell in this shot but there is plenty of room between the first track and the ring. It sits almost level with the LP. That edge on the vinyl is super thin.

As far as centering the ring, it centers itself. It fits snug around the platter. It's a perfect fit every time. Remember in the earlier photo of the black strip of cloth. That's what makes contact around the sides of platter.

All questions are welcome Danny. Fire away. That's why I posted the pictures in the first place. I always wondered how this thing worked myself.

 

OK, here is a question purely due to my ignorance because I think this looks like a great product. Believe it or not when I first started in radio we had a steel weight to put on the turntable for records that were warped. We were warned to use it only when absolutely necessary because it would wear the motor out faster.
So my question is if the weight necessary to flatten the record out is enough that it puts too much strain on the motor is wasn't designed to take? Again, this is purely from my ignorance.

 

I've being thinking about the Super Scoutmaster over the last year. Boy this only makes me want it more. Well not in the budget for this year.

 

I've been wondering the same thing. With that much extra weight it sure seems it would wear faster. I'd like one for my Scoutmaster but not at the expense of the motor.

 

I understand the concerns gentlemen.

If there is any strain at all, it is getting the platter started. But I believe this is where the flywheel effect comes into play.

When using the ring I grip the edge and give it a spin as I hit the power switch. This keeps any unnecessary strain on the motor to a minimum if there is any at all. Once the platter gets going it literally rotates by it self via the flywheel effect.
As I said earlier, when I turn the platter off it actually rotates an additional 3 rotations due to the added 6 lbs from the ring and center clamp.

I have not heard yet, of any negative issues connected with using the ring.

 

Also I do believe VPI did a motor upgrade around the same time the clamp was made available.

 

very cool!

 

interesting bit of trivia... when you run the Tube PS on a Brinkmann as the main motor power source, you may aide the overall tube life by giving the platter a simple jump start by hand... I thought that was kind of cool... It requires less of an energy spike from the tubes to get the motor moving...

My only recommendation/comment... be carefull not to accidentally drop the weight on your VPI! that would be a nasty accident...

 

My good friend Jack Daniels has mentioned this too on his visits during the weekend.

The first couple of times using the clamp it was a bit awkward. But I've really got a feel for it now and just included it in the whole ritual of playing a record. And you know how drawn out that whole process is.

 

oh he's your pal too? I prefer hanging out with the Warsteiner family but hey...

cool, glad its added a measure of functionality and sonic improvement to you!

 

Does anyone here konw who was the first company to introduce the peripheral ring?

Here are some examples:

http://www.xs4all.nl/~rabruil/ttring.html

http://www.needledoctor.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.421/it.A/id.1132/.f

 

The first time I saw one was in Stereophile 2 or 3 years ago. Clearaudio was the company.

 

After reading this Kenwood L-07D turntable website I'm led to believe that Kenwood was the first to introduce the peripheral ring(back in the late 70's or so).

http://www.l-07d.com/accessories.htm