Recently we have tested many different LPaccessories. Following the test report of the [FiveSpices Powder Chan’s LP clamp] in our last issue,
we make persistent effort to get the astronomical
luxury produced super great sounding LP tuning
devices, which are the Japan made Harmonix TU812MX LP Clamp (Net Retail at HK$25,000.-) andalso the Harmonix TU-800M-W LP Mat (Net RetailHK$9,500.-) complement each other.

TU-812MX Million Maestro LPClamp
According to the manufacturer of Harmonix as
mentioned on their website that the interferenceof resonances induced by the analog record itself
and turntable mechanisms employed in thetracking of the complex groves inscribed on therecord surface. Since the cartridges will morefaithfully reproduce source sound, these
undesirable distortions produced by analog
Hi Fi Review May 2018

record resonances will annoyingly be heard.
Conventional record clamp attempted to address
this problem by simply pressing the LP down
against the turntable in an effort to quiet suchnon-musical vibrations. While effective in somefrequency ranges particularly the low frequency infact most of the clamps merely trade one set ofresonances for another. The extraordinary
performance of the TU-800MX can deal with thisproblem amazingly effective that all resonances ofanalog records and turntable by tuning the record
itself and record platter assembly at a frequency
outside the audio band. It results that musicalclarity is greatly increased, and the separation ofmusical instruments releases unprecedented
depth of sound. It allows you to enjoy and discover
the potential of LP.
TU-812MX weighs 360g (0.79 lbs.), diameter of85mm (3.35”), and height of 43mm (1.69”).

The shape of the TU-812MX is exactly the same asits previous model, TU-812M, which comes withthe wooden handle, metal frame with six claws
attached with six round wooden discs respectively
on each claws as the surface touching on theanalog record, and there are also pit graves underthe metal frame. Although it looks so similar, it canstill be differentiated easily. The metal part of theTU-812MX is shinny in silver (just like the chrome)
and its wood is in darker color; while the metal
part of the TU-812M is in black chrome and its
wood color is slightly lighter.
It is not a large area of a circle at the bottom of therecord clamp, nor the bottom edge of the roundrecord clamp. It is using the six claws to press on
the LP. Such design is full of new ideas, and only
this one, the most unique. Some audiophiles saythat a large area of the circle at the bottom of therecord clamp touching with the vinyl record
would form a cavity and the cavity would generateresonance and feedback to the analog record. Thesix-claw design of this TU-812MX LP Clamp will
eliminate such problem. I also see another theory
to support the TU-812MX: Different materials do
Hi Fi Review May 2018

have its own resonance characteristics whichcannot be eliminated, but they can be resolved byshape. The pit grave pattern under this six-claw
metal frame is shaped like a flower petal – it is notdesigned because it looks good, but it is actuallydesigned to reduce the resonance. Although allthese points have not been confirmed by theowner and designer of Harmonix, the tuning
master, Mr. Kiuchi, but at the end it is a goodthought!Test Sound Equipment: -Acoustic Signature Thunder -Moerch DP-8 -Air Tight PC-1 Supreme-Nanotec PH-1S(DIN->RCA) -McIntosh MP1100(Analysis Plus Power Oval 2)-Accuphase C-3850(Analysis Plus Ultimate Power Oval) -Accuphase P-7300(Isoclean Super Focus II)-B&W 802 D3 -Analysis Plus Silver Apex -Dignity Audio Bravo -Audio Note ISIS LX168
The manufacturer reminded consumers that theyshould never use any of the rubber made orleather type of record mat underneath the TU812MX as these type of record mat would absorb
the delicated sound of the music signal.
Approximately one month ago, I have listened to 5
different types of LP Clamps, and I can still
remember them all. Thus, I decided to listen to theTU-812MX first.

McIntosh Phono Preamp. When I put the TU812MX clamp on top of the LP to play music, thechange of the sound immediately surprised me! Ioriginally got several pieces of the mid-priced
models of the “LP Clamp from Five-Spiced Powder
Chan” aside so as to be able to use anytime tocompare some similar characteristics. Anyway,the outstanding sonic performance of the TU812MX is as high as its price, and I wouldn’t need
to use any of them for the comparison at all…..!

I am using the same turntable system including
the Acoustic Signature turntable, Morch Tonearm,Air Tight cartridge, Nanotec Tonearm Cable,

I have chosen a very good recording LP, “I’m GladWe Met” by Carol Kidd, to playback those dynamic
songs with fast rhythm; “Lean Baby”, “I Guess I’ll

Hi Fi Review May 2018

Hang My Tears Out To Dry” etc. Without using theTU-812MX, it sounded already pretty good that
good body imaging, vivid movement, powerfulbass and sweet vocals and so attractive. However,“it is not the best, as there is even better”. Afterusing the TU-812MX, the piano, bass, drums
would perform to be even more vivid andpowerful. A strong and powerful dynamic unlike
the sturdy ruthless dead sound reproduced bythose heavy-duty metal LP Clamps. Moreover, it
has very good tenacity and elasticity, and thesound of the piano is beautiful and dynamic. Even
the bass also appeared to be more solid while
having a deeper submergence and tenacity as thetrue sound performance. The reverberation
harmonics are more abundant and drifted farther.
The vocal of Carol Kidd is of course a lot more
attractive; more cohesive with high imaging, andthe timbre is purely clean, fresh and beautiful! In
some slow rhythms, the TU-812MX also brought afaint intoxication. Carol Kidd’s vocal in the songs“Don’t Go To Strangers” & “Georgia On My Mind”
etc. beautiful slow songs, it’ll perform with a purer,
more noble and more analog beauty. Even singing
with a few more static notes, we can all appreciate
the new great contributions the TU-812MX canbring!
Moreover, with the TU-812MX playback Sonny
Rollins “Way Out West”, Tenor Sax is more aweinspiring and the timbre is more clear and mellow.
At the beginning of the first song, “I’m An Old
Cowhand”, the percussion is also vivid, focusedand solid but not the type of dead solid.
The body structure of the TU-812MX is beautifully
concentrated and heavy, but it is not particularly
heavy in the range of the LP Clamps. As mentioned
in our last issue, HiFi Stay Dharma, De Baer Center
Weight, Oyaide STB-MSX and STB-HWX are
heavier than it. However, its full-frequency control,
instrumental separation, and the most importantis the dynamic beauty, really stand out from thecrowd. None can be compared with it. I canreconfirm all these advantages of the TU-812MX
by listening to the playback of Clifford Curzon’s“Liszt”.
Talking about the dynamic beauty, as mentioned
in our last issue, the Furutech Monaco LP
Hi Fi Review May 2018

Stabilizer, De Baer Center Weight did impress me.
The former sound pace is the lightest but notheavy, and neither of them got hard edges or
sharp angles. However, the ability of the TU812MX can reproduce a strong and resilient
dynamic beauty and it can also further explore all
the faintness details in the recording, making it
highly true sound reproducible and reproducing
the true natural beauty of the original recording.
Unlike the other products to hide all the evil soundas a single goal, that even the faintness details in
the recording are also smoothened to be slippedaway together!
Many LP audiophiles know that the heavy duty LP
clamps would suppress the high frequency easily,especially for those floating turntables. Manyyears ago, I had used a Sota floating turntable withspring suspension and I picked a light weightwooden LP clamp being hand-made by a seniorserious audiophile. I loved it because it provided
the warm sound and it would not suppress thehigh frequency. Not sure if it is for the consumers’
consumption mentality, generally those LP clamps
selling for thousands of dollars are not lightweight at all (the Furutech Monaco LP Stabilizer
weighed at 210g is the rare available choice). I do
not know if the manufacturer thought alightweight design of LP clamp selling at highprices would create an illusion of “cheating” forconsumers! The TU-812MX weighed 360g, I am
not sure how it would perform on the floating
turntables. Although I can assure you that the TU812MX works wonderful with the Acoustic
Signature Thunder hard platter turntable!
Listening to the Butterfly Lovers Violin Concertoby Takashi Nishizaki with the TU-812MX, theviolin sound is slightly sweeter with moist, but it
also more cohesive with higher imaging. The ups
and downs are still chic, and at the fast pace parteven more exciting. The high frequency jumps up
high, full of ambience, and the soundstage
especially the top part is even higher, wider andfarther than before without the TU-812MX. Such
improvement is difficult to found from other LP
clamps as they could not do it!

It is the same to use the TU-812MX to playback thevocals of Carol Kidd and Michael Kwan Ching Kit
that the vocals can be even more cohesive withhigher imaging, the contours of the edges can beclearly defined, the voice of the high frequency israised upper and upper to develop a much higher,
widen and deeper soundstage at the top!

TU-800M-W Tribute Million
Maestro LP Mat
When I read the 1999 Harmonix productcatalogue, I saw the old all metal TU-812 LP Clamp,
and I believed that it was their first LP Clamp. At
the same time, I also saw an all metal LP Mat TU800 on the catalogue, and I also believed that it
was their first LP Mat. The main characters of thisarticle the TU-812MX and TU-800M-W and theyshould be the two new generations of current
models that evolved from those 2 old models
being made in 19 years ago.
There are currently 2 different models ofHarmonix LP Mats available, one is the TU-800M
with thin silver pieces in circle and strips on top of
Hi Fi Review May 2018

the black base, weighed 47g. Another one is theTU-800M-W (Wood) with thin wood veneer pieces
in different sizes of circle, weighed 32g. Both LPmats are with the diameter of 298mm and thethickness of 0.5mm. The manufacturer has
warned customers that this black material in light
film form should always be kept in flat and strictly
prohibit to bends or enfolded.
Both models of the TU-800M LP Mats are handcrafted piece by piece by Harmonix Tuning
Maestro and it is the only tuning mat in the worldthat can remove the distortion caused byturntable mechanism; and by cartridge duringtrucking over record grove. The effect is
miraculously impressive that the sound is natural,
smooth and crystal clear with rich details, and thesoundstage extends in full scale like a live
performance.
I first put the TU-800M-W on top of the originalsoft mat of Acoustic Signature Thunder Turntable,(TU-800M-W is very thin, VTA?.....very littlevariance, fine, no need to adjust, will leave it tocustomers to fine tune themselves), the sound issignificantly warmer and smoother and also very
clean with less interference. Just the tone, it isalready very pleasant to listen and it is also soquiet as if all the interference by resonance has
been eliminated. The imaging is more focus,
greater ambient, better instrumental separation,and even the dynamic ups and downs aresmoother and improved.
After using the TU-800M-W, the vocal of Carol
Kidd is a lot warmer and smoother, it is so
attractive; after adding the TU-812MX LP Clamp,
the vocal is even warmer with full body, clean andpure with very rich analog taste, it made me drunk!
I have also used these twin treasures to listen to
Michael Kwan Ching Kit’s “Heroes Out of Juvenile”,
how could you listen it again without them? Now I
can hear Michael’s easy listening songs “In theWilderness” and “Red Dust” with wide and open
soundstage, high density, strong dynamic, clearand mellow imaging. How to get the listeners not
to be drunk in it?
Listening to the “Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto”
by Takashi Nishizaki with the TU-800M-W LP Mat,such taste of wood, taste of vinyl, taste of analog
are simulated greatly. Moreover the highfrequency extension, the amount of information,and the sense of diffusion are also increased!
I have tried to remove the original soft mat of theturntable and put the TU-800M-W directly on topof the platter, the warm and moist feeling wasdiscounted, less a bit of moisture, less a bit of body,

Hi Fi Review May 2018

a little more cold. Thus, it is better to use bothtogether, although it is mentioned in the user
manual that the TU-800M-W should not be used
together with other record mat.
TU-800M-W LP Mat is good at bringing warmth,
moist and richness to music, silent background,calm and smooth changes while the TU-812MX LP
Clamp is more focused on the imaging outline,
enhancing the dynamic and better control. Using
both together in your turntable system, toreproduce the bass of Sonny Rollins’ “Way OutWest”, “Jazz at the Pawnshop”, and the piano of
Clifford Curzon’s “Liszt” to be so thick but steady,vigorous, rich information, strong, clean anddistinct that demonstrate the unforgettableattraction of HD analog playback, it is simply
wonderful!