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Felt vs. cork platter mat

JohnMac

JohnMac

Addicted Member
I have an ARXA in need of a mat. I tried a couple of spare rubber mats but I think they are too heavy for the suspension.

I cut one out of felt. It was a little thin so I doubled it up and it seems to work fine but I also considered using cork. Any opinions on which might be best?

Thanks,

John
 
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I think you'll get a lot of different opinions. I haven't tried either, but I might some day. I'm using a lighter rubber mat from a Micro Seiki table that works pretty good, but it will be returned to the Micro when I get it going.
 
JohnMac said:
I have an ARXA in need of a mat. I tried a couple of spare rubber mats but I think they are too heavy for the suspension.

I cut one out of felt. It was a little thin so I doubled it up and it seems to work fine but I also considered using cork. Any opinions on which might be best?

Thanks,

John
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Yes..........there is something that works best on the AR platters. I have made cork mats and it works fine......but deer hide is superior to anything.
It's very light, conforms to the platter, rejects any reflective wave from the platter to the album. Give a very open, quiet background presentation. It does not charge up with static.
 
marcmorin said:
Yes..........there is something that works best on the AR platters. I have made cork mats and it works fine......but deer hide is superior to anything.
It's very light, conforms to the platter, rejects any reflective wave from the platter to the album. Give a very open, quiet background presentation. It does not charge up with static.
Click to expand...


+1 on hide. I use something similar on my AR XA. Felt is the worst...it's like putting your LP on compressed dust. The act of playing a record generates static electricity which transfers junk from the platter to the underside of your record. You may find that after playing a record, the felt will come right off with the record for this reason.
 
marcmorin said:
Yes..........there is something that works best on the AR platters. I have made cork mats and it works fine......but deer hide is superior to anything.
It's very light, conforms to the platter, rejects any reflective wave from the platter to the album. Give a very open, quiet background presentation. It does not charge up with static.
Click to expand...

I have heard of leather Mats, and the name eludes me at the moment, but if I remember correctly, one Turntable Manufacturer uses them?

Another Mat you might consider, would be a Herbies Mat. A lot of people say good things about them. The come in a number of various diameters, and thicknesses, so I'm sure he's got one that will fit your needs. One beauty is, they all have a 90 money back if you don't like the product. I doubt you'll send it back. Mark
 
Deer hide. I like that idea. Like chamois thickness? That tan color would look great next to the dark brown base.
 
Leather mats... Kinky..
Never tried it, but am gonna try. :)

I have good experience with cork (and neoprene) too, but not 'better' than rubber.
 
JohnMac said:
Deer hide. I like that idea. Like chamois thickness? That tan color would look great next to the dark brown base.
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Yes, about the same thickness.......I've tried pigskin, soft cow hide, etc. Deer works best. I have it on both my ARs now. I've had other mats as well including sorbathane, shelf liner, foam rubber, rubber backed cork, cork dots on hard paper.....you name it.
 
slippers-on said:
I have an old suede coat that I have been thinking of making a mat out of...would suede work?
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Yes, it will. A member from another site did just that after he pulled up a post I had made years earlier about using leather on the Rega glass platter. He raved about the difference on two of his tables. I sent him samples of soft "glove leather" and deer hide. He came to the same conclusion. The deer hide is superior. The suede will be superior to what you are now using.
 
LCDeuce said:
Haha I don't know what VTA stands for. Looks like I've got more reading to do. :thmbsp:
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It stands for vertical tracking angle.
Yes you have a lot of reading to do, but you will enjoy it. Both the reading and applying the reading your system.
Welcome to AK.:thmbsp: Are you using an AR as well?
 
Hey KrisM, what mat thickness have you found to be good. At a perfunctory glance it looks like about 3/16".

LCDuece, this can all be a little confusing at first but a lot of fun once you begin to understand the importance of proper set-up and experiment a little. I'm no expert but have found that often times "in the ballpark" is good enough.
 
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JohnMac said:
Hey KrisM, what mat thickness have you found to be good. At a perfunctory glance it looks like about 3/16".

LCDuece, this can all be a little confusing at first but a lot of fun once you begin to understand the importance of proper set-up and experiment a little. I'm no expert but have found that often times "in the ballpark" is good enough.
Click to expand...

I don't think I've ever measured it, but I would guess the one on there now is close to 1/8". With all of the messing around I've done I think the weight is the biggest issue. The heavier Sony mats weren't a lot thicker, just heavier. The weight mucked with the suspension. And even then it all relates to the cart you are using and the VTA with that cart.
The "in the ballpark" rule is a good one. As long as the VTF and whatnot are good just play it and enjoy it. As long as basic cart set-up rules are understood and followed, and vinyl isn't getting ruined, you'll be OK LCDeuce.
 
You are right about the difference in carts in relation to the VTA. Sometimes I think I forget as much as I learn.
 
My original AR (foam) mat was about 3/16" or slightly less. Had to replace it years ago. At that time, suitable mats were available. Replaced it with a carbonized foam mat. Still use it. It seems to mitigate static effects.
 
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