Thread: Clamp or Weight for Rega P3?

Wondering if a Clamp or Weight would be a good tweak for my Rega P3. I have been getting totally conflicting and confusing answers just about everywhere I post and ask.

I heard that Weights can be bad for the bearings of certain TTs, Rega in particular so was thinking about a Clamp, possibly the Record Doctor clamp. Of course, someone said that clamp is too heavy for the Rega.

So hence my confusion. Not looking to spend a fortune, just wondering if a clamp or weight is a valid low cost tweak or not to bother.

What do the guys here think?

TIA

I just had this discussion with my Pro-Ject dealer about my new X2 table. He suggested a weight, but when I pointed to a YouTube video warning the same thing you brought up (bearings not being designed for that much weight), my dealer conceded that the clamp would be just as effective. Sadly, I can't give any advice on low cost solutions because the recommended clamp is still $99 USD.

Brian

Check out the KAB Clamp on $38 and been around for years. Probably many in us at AK

KAB Electro Acoustics http://www.kabusa.com

I had a Tangospinner record clamp with my Rega P3-24 and I never heard a difference.
So no record clamp with my P8.

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

If Roy Gandy thought a clamp would improve the performance of a Rega P3 (or another Rega TT), you can rest assured he would have designed one.

After a 3.5 hr Zoom call with Roy and Phil at Rega last year, I came away with the conclusion that if you think you know more about Rega TTs than Roy and the Rega gang...you don't.

First rule of good engineering: Don't "fix" what isn't broken.

My thoughts have been leaning that direction, thanks.

Rega turntables definitely are designed contemplating no use of a clamp or weight.

If you own a Rega, use it as designed. It was very thoughtfully designed.

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

If Roy Gandy thought a clamp would improve the performance of a Rega P3 (or another Rega TT), you can rest assured he would have designed one.

After a 3.5 hr Zoom call with Roy and Phil at Rega last year, I came away with the conclusion that if you think you know more about Rega TTs than Roy and the Rega gang...you don't.

First rule of good engineering: Don't "fix" what isn't broken.

Exactly... Roy and crew do not recommend weights or clamps... their tables also have a lower spindle so many clamps do not work. If you must get something, Mitchell offers a special R version of their clamp that is designed to work specifically on Rega's.

Personally I use my RP8 without any clamp... the only "mod" I do is the Hexmat platter mat which seems to be designed with the same design criteria (I am not a fan of wool mats that come with Rega ).