s888wheel

No it is exactly what I mean. Hold a vinyl record in the air and try
to flex it. It is quite easy. Now place it against a platter and
couple it with a record clamp. It won't flex in the direction of the
platter. so it is effectively stiffer.


That is true. That is why platter design is a lot more complicated
than just making it out of the stiffest material out there. Platters
and mats need to be damped and need to be carefully designed with
careful choice of materials to insure complimentary internal resonant
frequencies. You don't want a platter that rings like a bell. Well I
don't. There are some designs out there with some pretty stiff
undamped light weight platters. I tend to find these designs to be
noticably unpleasantly colored. You will find this a common design
feature in the Rega line of turntables. Sorry Arny. Nothing personal.
But I don't like the Regas.

You are absolutely right here. that is why we often find the most
successful designs incorperate clamps that are specifically designed
to go with the platter.


Yes, that is what I meant.


That is true but we can't get around the fact that the stylus is
riding the vinyl. Clealry any added vibration to the vinyl will be fed
directly into the stylus. Also the stylus is putting energy directly
into the vinyl. If the vinyl is flexing that is very bad. If it is
taking that energy that is being directly applied to it and reflecting
it back because the vinyl is coupled to a stiff undamped platter that
rings like a bell, you have yet another significant coloration.
turntable design is a pretty complicated endevour.

How do determine what is causing what when you look at your measurements?

Thank you for adding that. Clamps also help flatten out records.