Felt Mats or ???

I second the Boston Audio, after trying at least 8-10 alternatives, everything from two Herbies mats (different thicknesses) to felt to those gawdawful shelf-liner things :-)

Taking another stab at this, I do not use a clamp with the Mat 1. In fact, I haven't used a clamp since discovering that, for me at least, that silly paper-and-cork Ringmat sounded better on my VPI TNT Mk. II than the recommended mat-less platter and supplied VPI clamp. I couldn't have been more surprised (I had borrowed the Ringmat after being cajoled into trying it). Once I was clamp-free, I decided to see what else was out there and wound up with the Boston Audio which fortunately also sounds the best on my current replinthed Lenco. Dave

Just for the, er, record my platter is metal. Zinc, I believe. The TNT lost out to the Lenco some time ago.

I'm not sure I'd try to clamp a graphite map (Boston Audio) because of its composition/fragility. But then I wouldn't try to clamp anything :-)

And oh boy does it save time and eliminate the danger (ask me how I know) of dropping a clamp on an LP! Dave