Nobsound STB-01 Record Weight Stabilizer Review

The Nobsound STB-01 is a record stabilizer or record weight for LP playback, priced at $32.99. It sits on the turntable spindle and presses the record down onto the platter while it spins, which is the traditional approach to controlling resonance and vibration in vinyl playback.

The body is zinc alloy with a gold-plated surface treatment, 80mm in diameter and 30mm tall, with a 7mm shaft hole for the spindle. It weighs 230g. Douk Audio lists its benefits as lowering the noise floor, stabilizing rotational speed, providing clearer signal retrieval and improving stereo image and focus, as well as helping when burning quality CDs from LPs. These are the manufacturer's qualitative claims; no measured figures are included in the listing.

Buyers choose between a gold and a silver finish, and the package contains the stabilizer and a packing box. It needs no power and no setup beyond centring it on the spindle, though the 7mm hole means it is worth confirming your turntable uses a standard spindle before ordering.

Specifications

How it compares

The STB-01 is the lighter and slightly pricier of the group's two record weights. The Nobsound STB-02 Aluminum Record Weight Clamp and Turntable Disc Stabilizer review ($29.99, $3.00 less) lists 460g of aluminum, 40mm tall with a 7.2mm hole; the STB-01 lists 230g of gold-plated zinc alloy, 30mm tall with a 7mm hole. Both are 80mm across, and both pages claim steadier speed and a lower noise floor with no measurements. Choose the STB-01 for the lighter load on the platter and the lower profile under a dust cover, and the STB-02 for more weight at a lower price.

The HiFi Pure Brass Turntable Platter Mat for Vinyl LPs, 2mm review ($69.99, $37.00 more; $79.99 for the Other destination) adds 1.2kg under the record instead. The Little Bear 50/60Hz Stroboscopic Strobe Light with Turntable Tachometer Disc review ($36.99, $4.00 more) is the tool for checking whether any weight changes your deck's speed; the STB-01 page claims it stabilizes rotational speed but shows no measurement.

Shipping, returns and warranty

• Shipping: Douk Audio's current shipping page says orders are generally processed no later than the next business day and arrive in 2-8 business days, with duties, taxes and customs fees included in the checkout price unless noted otherwise.
• Older shipping terms are still online: airmail at 10-25 days for parcels under 2 kg, DHL, UPS or FedEx at 5-8 days above that, and a line saying the store is not responsible for import duties. Check the delivery estimate and any duties at checkout.
• Returns: ask within 30 days of delivery and wait for approval before sending anything; an approved return has to ship within 7 days. Items need all packaging and accessories and no excessive wear, or the store can refuse them or refund part of the price. Refunds go to the original payment method after inspection.
• Not refunded: original and expedited shipping, duties, taxes and customs charges, unless the law requires it or the store made the error. The return page does not say who pays return postage, and the older refund page excludes mistaken orders and change-of-mind returns from free after-sale service.
• Warranty: 24 months from purchase for manufacturing defects, with free repair, a replacement unit and free shipping both ways for covered repairs. Drops, liquid, DIY repairs, lightning, extreme temperatures and misuse are excluded (partial fees may apply), and damage from weak packing on the way back may not be covered. The older refund page still says 1 year.
• Seller: the site is run by Shenzhen Anba Technology Co., Ltd (Shenzhen, China) and HONGKONG LONGSHENG Import and Export Trading Co., Limited (Hong Kong); support is by email at [email protected]. These terms cover orders placed on doukaudio.com; other sellers apply their own.

For this product, the page offers Color choices (Gold, Silver) instead of a 'Shipping to' list and shows Free Shipping, 2-8 Days Arrival, 30-Day Return and 2-Year Warranty badges near the price.