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Platter mat insanity

I was doing an idler upgrade to my 401 (more anon) and when finished used the Keystrobe disk to ensure speed. I use a 10" EP as a platter mat. I played a bunch of albums and it sounded fantastic. On the 6th side, I noticed I'd forgot to remove the 4" strobe disc. Duh. I took it off and figured VTA was responsible. So I lowered the arm to see if that made it sound so good. Nope. Put back on the 4" strobe disk and raised arm. The awesome sound returned. So air under the record removed haze, smearing, flattened soundstage and muddled bass; and made it so more musical. Comments... 
128x128noromance
terry9
2,211 posts
 
My search stopped with graphite. I use a 1" slab of graphite atop the platter, like Nottingham Analogue (Tom Fletcher design).

Does two things - couples to vinyl, and deadens the platter.
sleepwalker65's avatar
sleepwalker65
832 posts
 
I am feeling much better about the design-intelligence in the 1/4” thick rubber mat on my Technics SL-1700mk2 turntables after this thread of conjecture. Seems Good ole Technics had it right all along, despite less than optimal tonearm geometry. Yet another reason to ditch the archaic SL-1200mk2 derivative. 
boxer12
8,654 posts
 
" I am feeling much better about the design-intelligence in the 1/4” thick rubber mat on my Technics SL-1700mk2 turntables after this thread of conjecture" 
Okay I'll bite... Where from this thread did you get the idea that a .250 thick rubber mat is a good idea?
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,412 posts
 
Everybody I knew dumped their rubber mat when the Audioquest Sorbothane mat came out. Then companies started exploring, as Thom @ Galibier put it, impedance matching materials like Acetal (Delrin), Graphite, even lead.
sleepwalker65's avatar
sleepwalker65
832 posts
 
Box head, I know it’s a good idea because of your reaction. 😂 😆 🤣 
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