Any reason not to use anti-static mat + stock mat?

[seely]

Yamaha P 350. The platter on the unit is very light and lacks damping, so from the factory it came with a thick rubber mat that weighs as much as the platter itself (according to my hand scales). I have a pretty big issue with static build up and discharge from the LP/platter and have noticed some static crackle through the speakers.

The cork mats I've looked at all say they replace the stock rubber mat, but I'm concerned about the loss of mass/damping on an already lightweight unit. If the mat isn't too thick, is there any reason I *shouldn't* double up mats? Would a thinner felt mat be a better idea? Just in my general searching cork seemed preferable.

 

[noisefreq]

A felt mat will most likely not help with stopping static.
I've had the best luck with cork or leather.
Changing mats can change your vertical tracking angle which can change the sound of your cartridge.

You might try lightly rubbing the platter surface, the underside of the mat and gently on top of the mat with a dryer sheet.
I've even left a dryer sheet between the mat and the platter to help reduce static.
The concern would be getting the wax from the dryer sheet on the record surface.
Just use common sense.

 

[vinyl1]

Yeah, VTA would be an issue, and the arm of an inexpensive turntable is probably not adjustable. I'd try to find a gel-style mat that is the same thickness and weight, but won't have the static electricity problem.

 

[seely]

Yeah, VTA would be an issue, and the arm of an inexpensive turntable is probably not adjustable. I'd try to find a gel-style mat that is the same thickness and weight, but won't have the static electricity problem.

I'll look into those, thanks!

 

[Stephen300]

According to this guy's experiment felt mats have less static than rubber or cork mats.

 

[seely]

A felt mat will most likely not help with stopping static.
I've had the best luck with cork or leather.
Changing mats can change your vertical tracking angle which can change the sound of your cartridge.

You might try lightly rubbing the platter surface, the underside of the mat and gently on top of the mat with a dryer sheet.
I've even left a dryer sheet between the mat and the platter to help reduce static.
The concern would be getting the wax from the dryer sheet on the record surface.
Just use common sense.

I thought the angle of the arm might be an issue. Thought about the dryer sheet trick, too, but wasn't sure if that's "kosher".

 

[seely]

For what it's worth, I am going to be trying out the Feir silicone mat: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Turntable-...712291?hash=item365b57c363:g:qn4AAOSwyqleFzmf

I removed my stock mat for the first time in a few years and the back was *dripping* with oil, presumably as it's aging and drying out the oil is coming out of the rubber.

I struggled to find specs on the weight of the mats I was looking at, but the Feir at 3mm was on par with the thickest I found, and a couple reviews mentioned it being "heavy" with overall good reviews. At >$30 shipped I'm not out too much if it's not quite what I'm looking for.

 

[ETI_5000]

An anti-static mat works by discharging the static charge on the record through the conductive mat to the metal platter, so if you also use an insulating mat, you’ll get no anti-static effect. So that would be the main reason why using two mats wouldn’t be a good idea, if you want the mat to reduce static.

In the past when turntable use was more widespread some anti-static mats were quite heavy, but recently lightweight anti-static felt mats with conductive carbon fibres in the felt seem to be more common. Heavier mats are more effective at dampening any (metal) platter resonance, so I’d prefer them.

 

[ripblade]

According to this guy's experiment felt mats have less static than rubber or cork mats.

I'm sure the people who've had to peel the felt mat off the back of the record would find this video most interesting. Another material to consider is PVC, which should generate almost no static at all in the record. Acrylic comes close, and is very widely available. It doesn't damp a metal platter quite as well as other materials, but still much better than felt in that regard. Plus it doesn't harbour dust and is easy to keep clean, a consideration more important than most people realize.

 

[seely]

Acrylic comes close, and is very widely available. It doesn't damp a metal platter quite as well as other materials, but still much better than felt in that regard. Plus it doesn't harbour dust and is easy to keep clean, a consideration more important than most people realize.

I was curious about the acrylic ones I saw. In my mind, stiff/rigid = loss of damping/more noise transfer, but I haven't really looked into them much.

 

[ripblade]

I was curious about the acrylic ones I saw. In my mind, stiff/rigid = loss of damping/more noise transfer, but I haven't really looked into them much.

Depends on coupling. The mat should be glued down to the platter with near 100% adhesive coverage, and the record *should* be clamped to the mat, though I'm learning that last part is optional. FWIW, Oracle has an acrylic mat with pressure sensitive backing. It's also dish shaped to work with the clamp. It's also well more expensive than the ones you see on eBay these days.