What Turntable Mat ?
Printed From: Graham Slee Hifi System Components
Category: Turntable Audio
Forum Name: DJ and Professional Turntable User
Forum Description: Technical Q&A, hints and tips
URL: https://www.hifisystemcomponents.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1642
Printed Date: 26 Mar 2026 at 10:40pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: What Turntable Mat ?
Posted By: Paul P
Subject: What Turntable Mat ?
Date Posted: 18 Dec 2012 at 10:31am
| Hello. I was wondering what the difference between a Felt Turntable Mat a Cork and also a leather one is ? Thanks . |
Replies:
Posted By: ICL1P
Date Posted: 18 Dec 2012 at 1:04pm
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I ditched felt for acrylic and now have much reduced static. ------------- Ifor ===== Reflex M & ACCESSION M, CuSat50, Majestic DAC, a Proprius pair. |
Posted By: Fatmangolf
Date Posted: 18 Dec 2012 at 8:23pm
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Same experience here. ------------- Jon Open mind and ears whilst owning GSP Genera, Accession M, Accession MC, Elevator EXP, Solo ULDE, Proprius amps, Cusat50 cables, Lautus digital cable, Spatia cables and links, and a Majestic DAC. |
Posted By: kgilroy
Date Posted: 18 Dec 2012 at 8:37pm
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I use a Boston Audio Design Mat which is made out of graphite and does the trick for me. Keith |
Posted By: ICL1P
Date Posted: 18 Dec 2012 at 11:09pm
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Mine is an Inspire Acrimat. ------------- Ifor ===== Reflex M & ACCESSION M, CuSat50, Majestic DAC, a Proprius pair. |
Posted By: tg [RIP]
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2012 at 3:01am
|
Paul, the effect of those different materials will vary somewhat according to what type of deck you use and the material of the platter, whether it is metal, glass, acrylic or some other material. To some extent the effect will also vary according to what arm and cartridge you use. Since none of the materials you mention are expensive, perhaps the best solution is to try them for yourself and see which you prefer. You could make your own from cork gasket sheet or a piece of upholstery leather. The effects can also be altered somewhat by use of a clamp or weight, you may also wish to experiment with those. Even changing the support on which your turntable stands will affect the sound produced and may prove a fruitful area in which to experiment. All good fun, have a try and see what you think. |
Posted By: Paul P
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2013 at 8:14am
| Thanks for that . What about isolation platforms that the Turntable sits on I've seen ones made by Pro-ject and Russ Andrews any thoughts? |
Posted By: kgilroy
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2013 at 8:51am
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I have not tried any of the commercial solutions but instead use a 1 1/2 inch block of maple wood underneath my turntable and that is isolated from the supporting shelf with silicone rubber feet from Herbie's audio ( http://herbiesaudiolab.net/ - http://herbiesaudiolab.net/ ) Herbie's is a good source of isolation material. Keith
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Posted By: morris_minor
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2013 at 9:13am
I've a couple of platforms from SRM/Tech which do the business for me. Stuart's a nice guy to deal with, and was happy to facilitate a bespoke size platform for my little SL7.   Edit: talking about TT mats you'll see that for the QL1 I ditched the Technics rubber mat and had a copper platter bonded on top of the stock metal (steel?) one. Though the rubber mat deadened the ringing a fair bit, the copper makes it totally dead.
------------- 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 |
Paul P wrote:Posted By: Fatmangolf
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2013 at 10:33am
|
Those platforms look great Bob. I've used soft wooden cutting boards for small boxes with some success, usually on spikes. ------------- Jon Open mind and ears whilst owning GSP Genera, Accession M, Accession MC, Elevator EXP, Solo ULDE, Proprius amps, Cusat50 cables, Lautus digital cable, Spatia cables and links, and a Majestic DAC. |
Posted By: morris_minor
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2013 at 10:46am
Thanks Jon. I also use some small sorbothane feet under some components - you can just see them under the Solo to the left of the QL1. Whether or not these make any actual difference I don't know  . But it's nice to know you're giving the kit the best chance of working well . . .------------- 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 |
Posted By: LOINER
Date Posted: 03 Aug 2014 at 7:43pm
Just done a quick test with leather and the original felt mat and I thought the leather sounded a little bit clearer but there wasn't much in it.I cant say I noticed any difference in surface noise. Record Deck ...Rega Planar three (1992)Rega RB300 arm ------------- STUART SOLO ULTRA LINEAR DIAMOND EDITION LAUTUS DUAL MONO 1.5M INTERCONNECTS GRAM AMP 2SE |
Posted By: Ash
Date Posted: 03 Aug 2014 at 9:43pm
|
My turntable has a rubber mat. It doesn't seem to attract dust or encourage static buildup, doesn't leave any residue on the vinyl underside and provides plenty of grip so that it would never slip during playback. I only have a cheap £90 Ferguson turntable but the last time I listened to it through a HD250II, I thought it sounded pretty awesome. ------------- We do not see things as they are. We see things as we are. |
Posted By: Drewan77
Date Posted: 03 Aug 2014 at 11:45pm
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I can second Bobs' comments about the SRM Tech platforms, I have a SRM Silent Base under a Rega Planar 3, my second turntable. The three adjustable feet also make TT levelling a breeze ------------- Older than I once was, younger than I'll be ............................. Andrew |
Posted By: 16s
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2014 at 2:25am
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My TT is on Michells own acrylic iso platform. Very dense. Works well for me. ------------- Rich Michell Gyrodec SE, Michell Tecnoarm, Ortofon 2M Black, Systemdek IIx 900, RB300, 2M Blue, Rega Fono mkII |
Posted By: lfc jon
Date Posted: 12 Sep 2021 at 7:01pm
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I know the colour of the mat makes no difference to the sound quality but the red leather one I use adds a bit of colour to all the black and silver box's in my system. I have tried other materials but I have found that leather works for me, I also tried it with out a mat (acrylic platter) but found the bass was warmer with the mat, plus with the mat I felt that there was no danger of the record slipping on the platter (maybe my mind is over playing things here but I just had that nagging feeling that just wouldn't go away) Got a red mat because my football team plays in that colour. ------------- Reflex M, Solo (both with PSU-1) CuSat50, Lautus, Spatia & Spatia links cables. Ortofon Bronze. |