Platter Mat or No Mat

[ripblade]

Lot of misinformation showing up in this thread. The OP has a VPI Prime with the aluminum/SS platter. This platter is so finely machined and polished that there is NO danger of scratching a record, certainly no more risk than any other 'table.

I don't disagree, but dust on the platter can become lodged in the grooves on the underside of the record, especially if clamps are used. For this reason, I use a sticky roller to clean the acrylic mat on my Delphi before I place a record on it. I didn't always, and have the damaged records to prove this is an issue.

 

[illinoisteve]

I'd use a mat. I don't want a slab of bare metal making my records cold.

 

[malden]

I'd use a mat. I don't want a slab of bare metal making my records cold.

Now that should be whole new thread, "Should I Play My Records Warm or Cold?"

 

[illinoisteve]

I don't want them to get cold. After all they're used to wearing jackets all of the time.

 

[Tedrick]

I'd use a mat. I don't want a slab of bare metal making my records cold.

So you keep your 'table in a refrigerator? My platter is at room temperature, which is exactly the same temperature as my records.

 

[Tedrick]

I don't disagree, but dust on the platter can become lodged in the grooves on the underside of the record, especially if clamps are used. For this reason, I use a sticky roller to clean the acrylic mat on my Delphi before I place a record on it. I didn't always, and have the damaged records to prove this is an issue.

Not sure how a metal platter is going to be any more or less susceptible to dust than a platter with a mat on it.

 

[theoman]

VPI does supply a 1 1/2" rubber washer now for the spindle. its to be used under the record then the clamp. I just need to find it again.

 

[theoman]

Brilliant idea! I have 5,000 LPs — all I have to do is buy 5,000 of those platters! Consider it done.

how would you play the B side? with 10k of Lps'?

 

[Oerets]

Mat!



That vinyl needs a cushion.


Barney

 

[malden]

A cushion would allow movement. Would it not be better if the record had zero give?

 

[illinoisteve]

So you keep your 'table in a refrigerator? My platter is at room temperature, which is exactly the same temperature as my records.

A doctor's stethoscope is carried around all day in the ambient air temperature, but when it's put on your skin if feels like it just came out of a refrigerator.

 

[malden]

Not if they're wearing their jackets.

 

[Tedrick]

A doctor's stethoscope is carried around all day in the ambient air temperature, but when it's put on your skin if feels like it just came out of a refrigerator.

Because it's ~25 degrees cooler than your skin.

 

[Bob_in_OKC]

Because it's ~25 degrees cooler than your skin.

Put a piece of felt against your skin. It’s the same temperature as the stethoscope. Does the felt feel as cold?

 

[Tedrick]

Put a piece of felt against your skin. It’s the same temperature as the stethoscope. Does the felt feel as cold?

Simple physics. The stethoscope conducts heat away from your skin faster than the felt due to its much higher thermal conductivity, so it feels colder.

 

[Blue Shadow]

Simple physics. The stethoscope conducts heat away from your skin faster than the felt due to its much higher thermal conductivity, so it feels colder.

It is cold transfer to your skin.*

The dust on the platter is only going to get ground into the outside edge, the raised rim of the record and the label, another raised section. The record will be free floating and moving around on the metal as the pvc isn't a good friction resistant combo with the metal. This means that a ring weight and center weight would be more beneficial than on a mat that holds things firmly. You need to give it a listen and maybe try some stuff to see if it makes a difference.

*Well they thought that was funny in a similar instance in a heat transfer course I took.

 

[theoman]

Is anyone not using a platter mat?

 

[stoutblock]

I don’t use a matt on my VPI but it is important to get the record down flat and coupled with the platter. The key is to use the small rubber washer and the screw down clamp to secure the record flat against the platter. The cavity on the bottom of the screw down center clamp combined with the washer really forces the record down flat very nicely. This method works very well. If you use a signature type center weight it will not work correctly with the washer because it does not have the cavity and will not secure the record all by itself against the platter flat. The washer and screw down clamp does this much better. However, the ideal is the signature type center weight with the VPI clamp ring. This combinations works great but the signature center weight on its own without the clamp ring is not adequate. The screw down center clamp with small washer is certainly the best economical solution for the VPI platter.

 

[Guest135]

Not sure how a metal platter is going to be any more or less susceptible to dust than a platter with a mat on it.

Maybe not so much dust but general debris that will find it's way in any lived in, used environment of the harder than vinyl plastic variety will get between that platter surface and the disc. With any down force (even the records weight) and slippage you will have greater potential for scratching and embedding than having a cork/rubber/leather mat since they have give that the sexy platter won't... at least in my mind.

 

[restorer-john]

Get one of these and do some patriotic scratching on that VIP turntable