Vic at TransFi has an interesting new mat, one with little nubs the LP sits on, the LP suspended above the surface of the backing sheet the nubs are attached to. I don’t approve of that design (there are others making similar mats, primarily British), but some users like what they hear. Vic argues than any surface an LP is in direct contact with will cause reflections from that surface, not absorbing them as claimed.
So I replaced the original Garrard 401 mat with an EP
So I replaced my original Garrard 401 mat with a 10" record.
Years ago, I had tried the Boston graphite mat and it deadened the music. I’ve messed around with cork tile, paper, little brass rings, 12" record, no mat, and kept going back to the old mat. The 10" record on the other hand is interesting...reduction of smearing, damped and woolly bass. It’s not that it was badly smeared and soft, but it definitely tightened things up and improved (increased) the highs.
Any stories to tell?
Years ago, I had tried the Boston graphite mat and it deadened the music. I’ve messed around with cork tile, paper, little brass rings, 12" record, no mat, and kept going back to the old mat. The 10" record on the other hand is interesting...reduction of smearing, damped and woolly bass. It’s not that it was badly smeared and soft, but it definitely tightened things up and improved (increased) the highs.
Any stories to tell?