Platter Bed Material

[curtnz]

Hi All

What is the best platter cover material?

Rubber, Felt, Foam?

My turntable currently has a rubber mat on top of the platter.

Cheers

Curt

 

[illini]

rubber

 

[Pio1980]

Usually the heavy-ish rubber-like stocker mats, avoid those that let the platter ring with it on or it doesn't properly support the record like felt mats, cork or a few little cork dots, ect.

 

[illini]

it doesn't properly support the record like felt mats, cork or a few little cork dots, ect.

Size is important, too. The thick rubber mat Pio mentioned should cover the entire platter, including the raised outer edge, e.g. the technics 1200 platter edge 'lip'. It's the only way to dampen platter ring. Some mats have a reduced diameter for some reason (azimuth?).

 

[curtnz]

Cheers Guy's that's awesome. Mine has a nice thick rubber mat that extends almost to the edge of the platter. So I'm sorted, just need the new cartridge to arrive. Curt.

 

[Tedrick]

Hi All

What is the best platter cover material?

Rubber, Felt, Foam?

My turntable currently has a rubber mat on top of the platter.

Cheers

Curt

The real answer to your question is "it depends on the 'table and what sounds best to your ears."

I don't use any mat on my VPI 'tables, as VPI's are designed to be used without one. However, I use a polymer mat from Herbie Audio Labs on my Kenwood KD-500; it is superior to the stock rubber mat.