Yes
when put the HEXMAT ECLIPSE in play it was a major cleanup
and improvement in overall clarity .
Changed tubes & interconnects, now listening to platter mats?!
I recently upgraded the interconnect and output tubes on my phono pre and suddenly platter mat height and material seem to make a huge difference. I have a modest analog setup and for many years I was using Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 output tubes and was quite happy. I noticed recently after changing in new interconnects to both my digital and analog front ends that my records were not sounding as good as files.
Since my tubes were 6 years old I suspected they had gone around the bend, and sure enough, putting in the stock tubes that came with the preamp made an immediate improvement in the immediacy of the sound, if a little lacking in soundstage width and depth. So in the spirit of trying something new, I got a pair of matched Tung-Sol Gold Pin tubes to try out and have been kinda floored by the result.
After a 100 hours the detail retrieval and slam is mind blowing. The interesting thing is that I have never heard my system so sensitive to both platter mat height/VTA and material. I have a number of different mats on hand and have been experimenting with different ones and combinations. I have landed some place very different than I started, but am very happy.
Has anything like this happened to you with a simple change in output tubes made your system more sensitive to the mat material used on your table?
kn
- ...
- 13 posts total
Never knew a platter mat could make a noticeable differance. Good timing on post. Wife just asked what christmas gift I want. Thinking of something for stereo not crazy expensive a platter mat fits the bill. Been using a simple thin cork mat on my Musichall mmf 9.1 which has a thick acrylic platter. Does anyone have a specific recommend for this? The cart is a Soundsmith Zephyer mklll if that matters. Anyone else have experience with the brass " mat" mentioned? Cant see the damping affect with that. Almost seems just the opposite IMO. Something to research. |
@bikefi10 curious what your acrylic platter sounds like without a mat at all? My daughter has a Pro-Ject table with an acrylic platter and it sounds pretty good with no mat. She has tried with cork mat but some challenges with static electricity. kn |
@knownothing Funny you mention that. As Ive now been reading about matts, I see acrylic matts. So Im thinking, the whole big platter is acrylic. Yes, that is a good free idea to try. My concern would be slippage. A smooth record against a smooth surface. Form what Ive gathered so far, seems softer matts enhance bass, warm but can cloud detail where as hard matts enhance detail, treble. Basically different material matts tweak sound to ones preferance. Too bad some of the higher rated matts are way overpriced. Makes it hard to compare. |
”Form what Ive gathered so far, seems softer matts enhance bass, warm but can cloud detail where as hard matts enhance detail, treble.” This squares with my experience. Here is a discussion on acrylic platters with no mat containing some conflicting advice: https://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?t=117475#p1044167 The owner of a local HiFi shop once told me that I should use a record clamp (not a weight) when placing a record directly on an acrylic platter to help address the slipperiness you mention and improve coupling. Something like this, or the $50 little plastic bit that is marketed by Clearaudio. kn |
- 13 posts total