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Special turntable mats? Improvement?

Mr. Record said:
Re. running LPs on a bare Rega glass platter: I'm sure the detail and attack is better. Felt mats stink in those 2 areas. Of course, I don't know what the Herbies would do on a Rega. (I still need to audition a Rega for myslef!), but I do know what a Ringmat does on an AR and a Sota. It offers the sonic benefits of running w/o a mat,. but it seems to also have the right amount of damping to get rid of the glare. Perhaps a Ring-matted Rega is the best value in audio. Wouldn't that be nice?!
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I tried to show on another post that it depends on the design of table. Different things work in different situations.

I have found that cork pods $1.99 at the hardware store work the best on Rega's. I owned 3 at on time once and this platter worked the best. It achieves the same thing as the ringmat for pennies. The idea is to let the records resonance disapate into the air and not be reflected back.

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My other 3 tables do things different and all are better. It's just about trying to get the best out of the combo. IMO It's trial and error and personal preference.
 
Marc,
Interesting dots! What did you use to cut them out?

BTW, what cartridge is that I see on the table? BTW, nice to see you love tubes! Isn't the Joule a line stage? If so, what is your phono stage?
 
Mr. Record said:
Marc,
Interesting dots! What did you use to cut them out?

BTW, what cartridge is that I see on the table? BTW, nice to see you love tubes! Isn't the Joule a line stage? If so, what is your phono stage?
Click to expand...

You can buy the dots.They are already like that.

I use a variation of the dots,only each dot is atop a little square of insulating foam(like a door-sealing strip).I cut a square of foam just big enough for a dot to sit atop.About 12 of the cork/foam dots sit on the platter then atop them I place the Boston Audio Mat 2 carbon graphite mat.

This is the best performing foundation for a record that I have heard(and no, I haven't heard everything).
 
Mr. Record said:
I assume these are stick-on cork "feet"?
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They come in packets and can be used for whatever purpose one disposes.I found them at the local hardware superstore.

The cork/foam dot 'spotmat',was an idea of an Australian poster on Audio Asylum,named 'Olly'.I have liked what the cork/foam spotmat does on a few turntables now.In the spirit of experimentation,I tried placing a rigid mat atop the cork/foam spotmat.I liked that even more.The rigid mat variously was replaced with the Boston Audio Mat 1 and now,the Boston Audio Mat 2.

As I said earlier,I haven't tried everything,but I like what the combination I am using,does. :yes:
 
Mr. Record said:
Marc,
Interesting dots! What did you use to cut them out?
Click to expand...

They come like that. They just stick on.

Mr. Record said:
BTW, what cartridge is that I see on the table? BTW, nice to see you love tubes! Isn't the Joule a line stage? If so, what is your phono stage?
Click to expand...

That is a Denon DL103, I like tubes and solid state. The Joule is a line stage that replaced a Jadis Defy 7. I liked the Jadis which had an MM and MC stage in it. But the Joule is far better in every way and is more in line with the VAC's. I do run other speakers on my tube system and it is nice. I am a huge fan of Phil Clements speakers as well as Dayton-Wrights. And since the VACs can be switched from Triode (45 watts) to Ultralinear (90 watts) they can drive most anything.

Your right the Joule is a linestage although he makes a phono stage for it. I have been using the phono stage in my Dayton Wright SPA preamp which was designed by David Reich of Classe audio fame. I run a Clearaudio Aurum Beta S on 2 different tables and they are MM's that behave well. But moving the Jadis out has left me short for now on my main systems phono stage. But not for long, a better phono stage like an E.A.R or ARC is on my list but I will be getting a Bryston 10b crossover for one of my active systems next. My heart has been in SS active systems for a couple years now.

marc mc
 
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theophile said:
They come in packets and can be used for whatever purpose one disposes.I found them at the local hardware superstore.

The cork/foam dot 'spotmat',was an idea of an Australian poster on Audio Asylum,named 'Olly'.I have liked what the cork/foam spotmat does on a few turntables now.In the spirit of experimentation,I tried placing a rigid mat atop the cork/foam spotmat.I liked that even more.The rigid mat variously was replaced with the Boston Audio Mat 1 and now,the Boston Audio Mat 2.

As I said earlier,I haven't tried everything,but I like what the combination I am using,does. :yes:
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Theo, I trust that you've tried the Boston Audio mat on a full cork mat? I'm using an SDS Isoplatmat currently and really like the cork mat underneath, but might have to give the dots a shot. I ask because my SDS has been compared to the Boston mat...
 
Redboy said:
Theo, I trust that you've tried the Boston Audio mat on a full cork mat? I'm using an SDS Isoplatmat currently and really like the cork mat underneath, but might have to give the dots a shot. I ask because my SDS has been compared to the Boston mat...
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Redboy,I take it that you mean a full one-piece cork mat beneath the Boston Audio mats(as opposed to the cork dots)?

No,I haven't tried that. :no:

I have to admit to being very,very happy with the results I am getting at the moment with my turntable.Optimising the compression on the 8 Clearaudio Magix has been an 'ear-opener'.
 
theophile said:
Going Active? :D

I love it.Please start a separate thread with your impressions of the change-over. :yes: :thmbsp:
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Yah I've ran 2 active systems for a couple years but the SAE and Rane crossovers have reached thier potential.

As for active impressions it's simple. IMO, You can take so-so gear and destroy a TOTL passive system. Now I've decide to see what a top flight active system like yours will do.

marc mc
 
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Rdboy,I just perused the 'Enjoy The Music' review of the SDS mat by Rick Becker.

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/Magazine/equipment/0706/sds_isoplatmat.htm

I think that in principle,the idea behind the SDS mat has much merit,and please don't take what I say next as a criticism of that product.Because it is certainly not intended as such.

Not in the slightest. :no:

I feel that what becker failed to take into account,is that because these mats weigh differently,they affect the sprung suspension of the LP 12 differently.They really need to be compared on an unsprung turntable.

Once again,I wish to reiterate that the previous paragraph of mine is a criticism of his methodology.Not of the Isoplatmat.I know from using(in my system) products with a very similar method of approach to damping(two pieces of metal with an elastomer sandiwched between them),that the approach works.It is effective. :thmbsp:

I just think that Becker could have considered his test a little better.
 
Yeah, I don't mean to imply that they're that similar either - I just tend to lump the two together because when I was researching the SDS mat I read that same article. Guilty by association.

My turntables are most certainly "unsprung," so your experience will probably be quite different than mine anyway.

I was mostly curious if you had tried the cork mat (yes, the full cork mat). I really like mine, and it was by far one of the cheapest things I've ever put in my system. :thmbsp:
 
marc mc said:
Yah I've ran 2 active systems for a couple years but the SAE and Rane crossovers have reached thier potential.

As for active impressions it's simple. IMO, You can take so-so gear and destroy a TOTL passive system. Now I've decide to see what a top flight active system like yours will do.

marc mc
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I love my Accuphase F-25. :yes: :thmbsp:

I don't like the sound of it's balanced outputs,though. :thumbsdn:

My(two)Kenwood L-1000M amps are designed as true balanced amplifiers(unlike the Denon POA-4400 monoblocks I also own which are single-ended with an OP-AMP to convert back and forth between 'balanced' and single-ended).I tried the 'balanced' output of the Accuphase F-25(another OP-AMP converted 'balanced' unit :thumbsdn:) into the balanced inputs of the L-1000Ms and really disliked it.The L-1000Ms are very nice sounding amps.Lovely sounding amps.The 'balanced' output of the Accuphase F-25 ruined all that. :thumbsdn:

I was annoyed that the Accuphase F-25 designers did not choose to do a proper true balanced design of it.I understand that it would have made the slot-in crossover modules very complex,and expensive,but the crappy sound of the 'balnced' output(compared with the sublime sound of the single-ended outputs)is indeed extremely annoying,and dissappointing. :nono: :tears:

We are however taking this thread 'off-topic'.Send me a PM(if you wish). :thmbsp:
 
As an aside here,I also use the HRS Analog Disk record-weight atop my cork/foam Boston Audio combination mat.The Orsonic headhsell also.

They have all contirbuted to the overall sound of my turntable system positively. :yes:

None of them have negatively impacted on the other products(quite the opposite).Throw in here,the inherent high performance of the Yamaha GT 2000,and the FACT(despite the naysayers)that the Clearaudio Magix(when optimally compressed)have given that inherent performance level of the GT 2000 as major,major boost,then I have good reason not to discount the effect of ANY of these elements.I would be loathe to take any of them off my turntable(though I am still open to trying new ideas).

Not every good implementation of any one idea works across the board on all turntable set-ups.Some will work across the board.Others are dependent upon other elements unique to the particular situation in which they are used.The best approach is to keep an open-mind and be prepared to experiment.Increased musical resloution,communication and satisfaction can be delivered.The opposite can also occur.

It pays to experiment(I feel). :yes:
 
marc mc said:
And since the VACs can be switched from Triode (45 watts) to Ultralinear (90 watts) they can drive most anything.
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I've only heard the PA 90s once. I think they are great! However, like every other triode/ultralinear switchable amp, I prefer them in the higher power mode, regardless of the load, the volume, or the playback level. I'm sure it has to do with the transformer and the speaker load, so I can't say it's a guarantee that I will always feel this way, but as of yet.....

BTW, if you decide to go with an EAR 834P contact me. I know what vintage tubes it likes best and a few other tweaks. The less than perfect bass that most people talk about is completely a function of the wrong tubes and the lack of cheapo damping rings. The factory supplied tubes are fine for some cartridges but simple tweaks makes it a lot better and more versatile. Also, the internal step-up trannies are great with some cartridges (They sing with Dynavectors) but my Bryston TF-1 trannie was the far better choice with an OC9 and a Blue Oasis. It's a fabulous phono stage and a bargain!
 
theophile said:
It will damage your records.How do I know?I've used it myself.Unfortunately I have many records which are left with a residue which transferred from the mat.I have not yet tried to clean it off.Please learn from my experience.
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I tried it as well (non-slip shelf liner) and it did transfer some kind of material to the record. The surface is left with some spotting but it does clean off if it hasn't been on for too long...
 
The Sonic Bliss mat I ordered from Ebay arrived today. There is a noticeable improvement over the original Empire mat I've been using. Is the Sonic Bliss mat made from the toolbox liner people are referring to in this thread?

Bill.
 
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