Platter Mat or No Mat

[Tedrick]

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 do 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.

Replace the word "dust" with "sand" and see if your conclusion is the same. Because many dust particles are nothing more than really fine sand, and will be just as abrasive on a rubber or cork mat as they would be on a bare metal or acrylic platter.

 

[Guest135]

Replace the word "dust" with "sand" and see if your conclusion is the same. Because many dust particles are nothing more than really fine sand, and will be just as abrasive on a rubber or cork mat as they would be on a bare metal or acrylic platter.

In my world, inconel and titanium are what make up at least some of the dust I deal with and are at least as deadly to vinyl as sand but yeah, stuff harder that vinyl plastic.

Going with what you've defined dust as being I'll mention that the traction supplied by any mat is going to significantly reduce the opportunity for friction between contaminant and disc. Along with the surface compliance advantage of a mat I see usage of one as a good protection measure against damage. The only disadvantage to using a mat in this case is, if I read and remember correctly the basics of the thread's content, that the manufacturer intended the platter to be used bare. I always defer to the OEM.

 

[stoutblock]

Is anyone not using a platter mat?

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.

A very valid concern and you have to keep the platter clean and covered when not in use. I keep an old record on it to keep dust off when not using it. It is easy to clean the platter by turning the motor on and wiping a cotton ball with alcohol against it.

 

[the_nines]

That platter was designed for the record to be placed on it without any mat. If you try a mat on top, make sure you readjust your VTA setting!

This ^ ^ ^ ^

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.

And this ^ ^ ^ ^

I would use the table the way the manufacturer intended.

Just my opinion..

 

[malden]

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.

I have always been skeptical about the idea that a record needs a "cushion" between it and the platter. It seems to me that there should be absolutely no movement or "give" of the record while being played. My idea of gluing a record to the platter is ridiculous but I'm going to give it a try.

 

[run_around]

Is anyone not using a platter mat?

I have both an VPI HW-19 MKIII with lead/cork platter and an Aries 2 with acrylic platter/HRX weight and do not use a mat on either.

A mat on the HW-19 would defeat the vacuum effect of you get with washer/clamp.

On the Aries, I have used mats without the weight to experiment with VTA on certain cartridges (RB900 arm w/o VTA adjustment), but I definitely think that sound was less open than w/o mat.

 

[Freddymac2]

In my experience the openness that you speak of is uncontrolled vibration of disk.

 

[UncleBingo]

I have always been skeptical about the idea that a record needs a "cushion" between it and the platter. It seems to me that there should be absolutely no movement or "give" of the record while being played. My idea of gluing a record to the platter is ridiculous but I'm going to give it a try.

There are a few tables that vacuum clamp the LP to the platter. Atmospheric pressure adhesive in a sense.

 

[Joel66]

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

I felt the urge to try this so, I took the felt mat of one of my tables. The felt felt as I felt it would feel.......fuzzy

 

[JamVal]

I found this in a thrift a few years ago and have been using it on a PL-530. To me it sound a little better than the stock Pioneer mat.


It seems to be sticky. The mat sticks to some of my vinyl so much that the mat comes up with the record when taking it off the platter.
Of course with that stickiness comes the dust.

Here is some info I found on it, but don't know how true it is:
"It is a dense rubber mat for Delphi and Premier MK I - MK III - made in France. Made from a vinyl based compound which is positive charged. Since all record vinyl exhibits a negative charge, the two are electrostatically opposite therefore creating the apparent "stickyness" through electrostatic attraction. This is not a chemical bond, such as what would be found with Sorbothane or even glue. This method was chosen because an electrostatic bond leaves no chance for a chemical residue on the record itself. The other advantage of an electrostatic bond is the direct cancellation of negative static build-up in the record due to triboelectric stresses. The ORACLE mat doesn't really stick to the record, both are drawn to each other electrostatically. This is why it is important to keep this mat fastidiously clean. Weighs about 330 grams and is 4 mm thick. Designed by the Riendeau brothers for the tightest contact for LP record to platter using ORACLE´s clamping method. "

With the PL-530 I don't think there is any choice but use a mat. The metal platter has a raised lip on the outer edge which is inside the OD of an LP and there is no VTA adjustment for the arm.