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Aussie Mick wrote:
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What turntable mats are folk using? |
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morris_minor 
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Joined: 27 Mar 2012 Location: Surrey Status: Offline Points: 6197 |
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 Topic: What turntable mats are folk using?Posted: 27 Oct 2017 at 8:06pm |
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I've always been quite a sceptic about “tweaks” in hifi terms, and was, for instance, a complete agnostic when it came to cables. Graham's Spatia cable and his interconnects showed me how wrong I'd been about this. Likewise, the effects of different turntable mats have always seemed to me to be pretty minor and not worth making a big fuss over. But recently I was tempted to get an Analogue Seduction crystal glass mat for my PTP Solid12 (Lenco) platter. I'd never really liked the fact that the stock Lenco mat didn't support the record across it's whole width – having raised areas for 12, 10 and 7 inch discs. Also reading how some Lenco users reported benefits to using this, I decided to give it a go - - thinking I could sell it on for only a modest cost penalty. To make sure I wasn't reliant on memory alone for the swap I recorded a track from my go-to test record (a Spyro Gyra release on GRP) but used the rubber mat from my Kenwood deck – which does support the record all the way across – so the only variable would be the material of the mat. (This is assuming I could replicate the VTA after fitting the deeper glass mat – which with a little bubble level I'm pretty sure I did.) With the glass mat in place (and with a very thin slip mat between this and the platter), the track was re-ripped, keeping levels the same of course. I was really unprepared for the results. The soundstage appeared wider, bass a little deeper but much more detailed and had more texture and character, sparkly treble was more tangible and the mids, well, they weren't changed too much. What was a shock was looking at the waveforms in the audio editor. Both had been recorded at the same level, but the glass mat had a wave with a fatter visual profile all round – more energy and volume. Altogether more engaging and involving. Result! The only downside is that the depth of the mat means that there's not a lot of spindle above the mat so using a Michell clamp, for instance, is out of the question. But I almost always use a weight anyway, so this isn't too important. What kind of mats do folk here use, and what kinds work best on their turntables?  Edited by morris_minor - 28 Oct 2017 at 11:52am |
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Bob
Majestic DAC/pre-amp Accession MC/Enigma, Accession MM, Reflex M, Elevator EXP, Era Gold V Solo ULDE, Novo, Lautus USB and digital, Libran balanced, CuSat50 2 x Proprius + Spatia/Spatia Links |
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Richardl60
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Joined: 04 Nov 2014 Location: Yorkshire Status: Offline Points: 1475 |
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Posted: 27 Oct 2017 at 9:19pm |
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I have only ever tried the stock mat on my Luxman direct drive - replaced with a funk firm achromat. Certainly a worthwhile improvement.
My other experinenve many years ago was with two felt Mats on a Source Oddesey. The differences were similar to those Bob describes in many ways. |
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Aussie Mick
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Joined: 21 Feb 2014 Location: Bendigo Aust. Status: Offline Points: 1091 |
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Posted: 27 Oct 2017 at 10:58pm |
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I’m a Rega user, but I’m not really certain how much I want to buy in to the ethos as a whole. I use a “Graham Slee complete engineering solution” because I enjoy the sound and believe in the man. So, I use a “Rega solution” for TT. I know they believe whole heartedly in the felt mat they supply, so I’ve never tried anything else, and I’m perfectly happy.
I suppose it couldn’t hurt to try, right? Right?!?! |
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Rega RP8 - Apheta 2 - Accession MC Enigma PS -Solo ULDE (Focal Utopia) - PS Audio M700 - Fical Kanta No2
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ICL1P
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Joined: 04 Aug 2012 Location: Faringdon, Oxon Status: Offline Points: 2397 |
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Posted: 28 Oct 2017 at 8:49am |
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I used to use a felt melt on a glass platter; both original Manticore Mantra parts. I (Inspire HiFi at my request) replaced them with an acrylic platter and acrylic mat. It certainly cured problem of static, but I don’t know if it changed the sound.
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Ifor
===== Reflex M & ACCESSION M, CuSat50, Majestic DAC, a Proprius pair. |
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Chris Firth
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Joined: 16 May 2013 Location: Rossendale, UK Status: Offline Points: 1665 |
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Posted: 28 Oct 2017 at 9:12am |
I remember reading comments by Roy Gandy about turntable use. It was a good few years ago, and his views might have changed. There were a few things that he said that I disagreed with, and I still disagree with. The first was VTA. He said it didn't matter much. VTA is, in my experience, very important to get right. What RG neglected to say was that that Rega TTs come fitted with a Rega cart, which has quite a shallow body - it has been designed to work with a standard factory non setup, so the adjustment parameters don't have to be tinkered with when you et the deck home. Change anything, such as a cartridge, or a mat, and you then have to start coming up with ways around the Rega lack of adjustment. He also said it wasn't worth working all that hard keeping your records clean, and you should play your records with the lid down, because it helps stop the record getting dirty. The lid down thing is wrong - it needs to be off the deck altogether when playing records. All of the turntables I've had sound better in use with the lid off, and I've used both suspended and non suspended designs. The lid is great for reintroducing flutter vibrations back into the record, which are then picked up by the cartridge. Take the lid off and you can immediately hear improved tracking, and the sound gains clarity. Cleaning your records clean is just good housekeeping. The less dirt you have in the groove the less friction there is at the stylus tip, and consequently there's less wear on both the record and the stylus. Both record and stylus last longer. |
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Aussie Mick
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Joined: 21 Feb 2014 Location: Bendigo Aust. Status: Offline Points: 1091 |
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Posted: 29 Oct 2017 at 2:18am |
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Hey Chris,
I agree with you 100% about cleaning and VTA. I’ve run Ortofon carts as well as my current Rega, and the shims I used gave me options of lift from 0.5mm to 3.5mm in 0.5mm increments. Every height made a clear difference. I suppose I’m still just wondering, do I want to open the mats can of worms. Mick. |
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Rega RP8 - Apheta 2 - Accession MC Enigma PS -Solo ULDE (Focal Utopia) - PS Audio M700 - Fical Kanta No2
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Chris Firth
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Joined: 16 May 2013 Location: Rossendale, UK Status: Offline Points: 1665 |
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Posted: 29 Oct 2017 at 2:24am |
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Well Mick,
Before you mess with mats, have you tried the deck without lid yet? As I've said, I have heard an improvement with every TT that I've used when the lid is removed. As for mats - what's the platter made of? |
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