Basis Reflex Clamp

Description

MY TAKE: Highly recommended as an accessory for all Basis turntables (works on most other turntables as well) . - Galen Carol
 

Precisely milled from a solid billet of aluminum, the Basis Reflex Clamp is a marvel of engineering, design and execution. Simply twist the top of the clamp to lock it into place on the spindle, tightly coupling the record to the platter, twist the opposite direction to release. Unlike record weights (and many other clamps) the reflex action grabs the spindle and pulls the clamp down tightly against the record as you twist the to part of the clamp. Ingenious and very, very effective. The Basis Clamp grips the spindle with enough force to lift 80 pounds!

Why use a clamp? As the stylus traces the groove, spurious vibrations are created in the vinyl. The vibrations are picked up by the cartridge and amplified as distortion. The distortion has a "masking" effect, reducing resolution by obscuring low-level detail. The turntable platter is designed to funnel away and dissipate these vibrations, but in order to be effective, there must be an intimate bond between the record and platter.The tight coupling afforded by the Basis Reflex Clamp, insures the maximum transfer of energy occurs.The result is a cleaner, "quieter" sound.

Most every turntable will sound better when a good clamp is used, and the Basis Reflex Clamp is certainly one of finest available.

THE DESIGN

The Clamp is designed to mate with the smooth spindles on Basis turntables. External thread design spindles and screw-down clamps were rejected from the beginning. Such designs are irresponsible as they wear the center hole of the record creating centering uncertainties of the record. Excess clearances on the order of a few ten-thousandths of an inch result in detectable losses in speed stability. No valued record should ever be slid over a threaded spindle. Internal thread designs were rejected due to the possibility of stripping the threads. Further, the small internal thread needed is subject to wear and the creation of fine metal powder and chips, which should be avoided near records and cartridges. Although the Basis clamp uses a smooth collet against the smooth Basis spindle, the precision is so high that a smooth turn of the knob will allow the clamp to grip tightly enough that the entire turntable may be picked up by the clamp alone without the clamp slipping on the turntable spindle.

The underside of the clamp is undercut, leaving only the outside periphery of the clamp to contact the record. In this manner the clamp forces the record to “bow” downward slightly for better contact across the record surface. The clamp also increases the pressure on the platter/bearing interface for a more rigid coupling, which increases the precision of the motion of the outer, belt-driven platter surface.

THE SOUND

The flattening and improved coupling of the record to the platter reduces record resonances, resulting in smoother and more powerful sound with greater low-level detail and firmer bass. Slight improvements in imaging are noted due to the better damping of the record and firmer coupling of the platter to the record. 

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