Turntable Mats???
- Thread starter quadaptor
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quadaptor
Active Member
Do they reduce rumble, static,...? What makes a rubber mat good? Thanks again.
quadaptor
Active Member
Cork always struck me as a harsh medium for running against vynle. What does cork do to improve the performance of a turntable? Just curious for answers.
Poinzy
Super Member
Rubber's easy to keep clean, unlike felt, which is a dirt magnet. In my experience, rubber is a lot better than cork or felt in controlling static electricity. The problem is, rubber's heavy. So it may not be the best choice for a lot of these light-weight, low-torque belt-drive turntables.
You might want something like a cork-rubber composite for a belt-drive turntable. Again, that is just my opinion.
quadaptor
Active Member
I never thought of the last example, but then again wine and I don't really get along too well. Thanks again!
PS - By the way I have two belt drives (AR XB and KLH 20) and two idlers (Garrard Lab 80 and Zero 100). Right now most of my play time has been devoted to the Lab 80.
PS - By the way I have two belt drives (AR XB and KLH 20) and two idlers (Garrard Lab 80 and Zero 100). Right now most of my play time has been devoted to the Lab 80.
Poinzy
Super Member
Just to get you started. I'm sure others will offer their own source ideas:
http://www.sleevecityusa.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=mat&Submit=Search
http://www.sleevecityusa.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=mat&Submit=Search
quadaptor
Active Member
Thanks
I picked up a couple of Herbie's mats recently and put one on the Rek-O-Kut B-12H in place Esoteric Sound repro mat that came with it. Huge improvement in every aspect; cleaner high-end, better resolved mid-range, tighter, deeper bass, very natural tonal balance and quieter background. Well worth the investment, to me at least.
WaynerN
Addicted Member
Mats can do several things for your table.First, they may act as a platter damper, removing the tendency to ring with die-cast type platters. Next, they can isolate some mechanical noise from the platter or motor. Third, they can support the vinyl and may drain off some surface noise. Mats can also help change VTA for those that don't have that adjustment, by using a thinner or thicker mat to set your cartridge as you wish.
I use a mat "sandwich" which is usually 2 or 3 layers of different material. The hard rubber mat goes directly on top of the platter, the softer mat goes on top of that. It helps to make very quiet back-grounds.
'ner
I use a mat "sandwich" which is usually 2 or 3 layers of different material. The hard rubber mat goes directly on top of the platter, the softer mat goes on top of that. It helps to make very quiet back-grounds.
'ner
Jim Creek
Jazz, Wine, Electronics
My favorite cork with vinyl:
Ah, yes, I am very familiar with those. Very familiar indeed!
quadaptor
Active Member
Did you have to see a doctor about it? Just kidding! Was it worth it??
I like the mat. Seems to clean the sound up a bit. Of course, I am always chasing that elusive perfect sound.
iLUVanalog
Addicted Member
For literally DECADES, turntable manufacturers have used rubber for their mats. Why fix something that isn't broken?
However...if your turntable comes with a felt mat (unless you are a DJ), get rid of it.
A rubber mat also helps alleviate platter ringing...generally the thicker the mat, the better the alleviating.
However...if your turntable comes with a felt mat (unless you are a DJ), get rid of it.
A rubber mat also helps alleviate platter ringing...generally the thicker the mat, the better the alleviating.
