Turntable Spindle size

H

Howiebrou

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Joined
Apr 16, 2013
Messages
237
I can getting more and more LPs that simply won't fit over my Clearaudio Master Innovation spindle. It is significantly bigger than the one on my Avid Acutus, so different in fact that i would be surprised if they were both within standard. My Stillpoints LPI clamp moves around on the Acutus but fits perfectly on the Clearaudio.

Question:

Can i enlarge the holes on the LPs that don't fit on the clearaudio (i saw some product that does it but can't remember where) or should i just play them on the Avid (which is a weird way of choosing TTs). The Avid has a clamp so i guess it doesn't rely on the hole size being too accurate but it would be nice to try the Stillpoints clamp on it too.

Thanks

howie

edit: found it. Ironically it is from Clearaudio. May be they know about it? https://www.amazon.com/Clearaudio-LP-Records-corrects-undersized/dp/B00NY869I2


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Howiebrou said:
I can getting more and more LPs that simply won't fit over my Clearaudio Master Innovation spindle. It is significantly bigger than the one on my Avid Acutus, so different in fact that i would be surprised if they were both within standard. My Stillpoints LPI clamp moves around on the Acutus but fits perfectly on the Clearaudio.

Question:

Can i enlarge the holes on the LPs that don't fit on the clearaudio (i saw some product that does it but can't remember where) or should i just play them on the Avid (which is a weird way of choosing TTs). The Avid has a clamp so i guess it doesn't rely on the hole size being too accurate but it would be nice to try the Stillpoints clamp on it too.

Thanks

howie

edit: found it. Ironically it is from Clearaudio. May be they know about it? https://www.amazon.com/Clearaudio-LP-Records-corrects-undersized/dp/B00NY869I2


View attachment 25962
Click to expand...

Yes, that will work. The stillpoints clamp is AWESOME. I think I prefer it to my Shun


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I use a flat head screw driver that is slightly larger then the hole and to make it more effective I took a file to one edge on each side of the screw driver and slightly cleaned up the edges, works great and basically a freebie as I had the stuff around the house already.....another alternative is buy the correct size brill bit and get a dowel, cut to desired length, drill a hole in the center of the dowel, add some super glue or similar, slide the drill bit in the dowel and your good to go.....and there is always the clearaudio tool at $50
 
I would use a stepped/cone drill bit so that you can center the hole much easier. Trying to enlarge an already drilled hole while keeping it perfectly centered is not easy.
 
I have an older Master Innovation (produced within a year of its introduction) and the spindle is on a little puck that just pops right out, making it easy to mount tight records away from the platter. Are the newer ones not like that anymore? Clearaudio tends to phase in improvements and changes over time - I wish mine were more current, but I'd miss the utility of a removable spindle puck if that's changed! I would be really quite hesitant to "shave" my more treasured records.

The Clearaudio spindles are indeed a bit larger/fatter than other brands (e.g. my SOTA Nova). Couple this with certain German pressings that have smaller holes (what exactly is the Germans' fixation with this?), and it can require quite a bit of force! Not surprised Clearaudio offers the tool, since the Germans seem to be the primary cause of this problem :D

I switched from the Clearaudio Statement clamp to the Stillpoints LPI (tall spindle model) some months ago. Like everyone else who own its, I totally love it! Highly recommended. I still use Clearaudio's Outer Limit ring, which I think is a must for these tables. By chance do you use an AccuDrive on yours? I'm wondering if it's worth the cost.
 
Thanks for all the comments. Seems like I’m not the only one with the issue. It still worries me to start screwing around with the hole though....
 
mulveling said:
I have an older Master Innovation (produced within a year of its introduction) and the spindle is on a little puck that just pops right out, making it easy to mount tight records away from the platter. Are the newer ones not like that anymore? Clearaudio tends to phase in improvements and changes over time - I wish mine were more current, but I'd miss the utility of a removable spindle puck if that's changed! I would be really quite hesitant to "shave" my more treasured records.

The Clearaudio spindles are indeed a bit larger/fatter than other brands (e.g. my SOTA Nova). Couple this with certain German pressings that have smaller holes (what exactly is the Germans' fixation with this?), and it can require quite a bit of force! Not surprised Clearaudio offers the tool, since the Germans seem to be the primary cause of this problem :D

I switched from the Clearaudio Statement clamp to the Stillpoints LPI (tall spindle model) some months ago. Like everyone else who own its, I totally love it! Highly recommended. I still use Clearaudio's Outer Limit ring, which I think is a must for these tables. By chance do you use an AccuDrive on yours? I'm wondering if it's worth the cost.
Click to expand...

I need to see if the spindle comes out but i don’t think it does. No i am using the original shitty wall-wart still. Apparently there is something made locally that is even better than the Accudrive and probably cheaper. I will investigate and report back.
 
A/V Solutions said:
I use a flat head screw driver that is slightly larger then the hole and to make it more effective I took a file to one edge on each side of the screw driver and slightly cleaned up the edges, works great and basically a freebie as I had the stuff around the house already.....another alternative is buy the correct size brill bit and get a dowel, cut to desired length, drill a hole in the center of the dowel, add some super glue or similar, slide the drill bit in the dowel and your good to go.....and there is always the clearaudio tool at $50
Click to expand...

if that clear audio tool is $50, only a true audio fool would buy it !
 
What's another $50 when the turntables from their mid-line and up sell for $8K - 31K? It's like paying $0.25 more for an extra dipping sauce when you get pizza delivery lol. I still wouldn't grind away at my records, though.
 
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