Vintage DD turntables. Are we living dangerously?

As far as the mat goes. I have two needs: I want to deaden the ringing of the platter sufficiently, and I want to absorb the vibrations of the record without deadening the sound. Bad vibes and good vibes. That is why I am using a sandwich of lead to dampen the platter and the Achromat which is made of a foamed vinyl that can absorb the excess vibrations but is hard and smooth.

I also use a very thin (1mm) disk of rubber that is about half the diameter of the record label,with a center hole for the spindle, over the achromat. Combined with the Merrill clamp it forces the whole playable area of the record against the mat. This prevents slipping and chatter and helps the mat to do its job.

Perhaps I would be better off with the lead mat mated to a leather mat. I wouldn't want the record touching the aluminum platter or not being evenly supported. So the combined mat would need to be thick enough.
Gary

I hear less noise - especially less 60 cycle hum.

That's exactly what I wanted to hear from you, Aigenga. Thanks.

Regarding ringing of the platter, be sure that on the underside of the platter resides the OEM rubber ring like "mat"

Over time the bonding can loosen and the damping rubber ring will come lose, without this material the platter is better suited to announce the second coming.

A good point Totem....
Rubber platter pad

Hi Henry aka Halcro

I now see you put the leather mat directly to the platter, not on top of the rubber mat like the Jico play pictures😀

I am a little worried as I dont use a record weight with my P3 or P10 as it sounds better without. The same platter or is sunken a bit with the lip around it. The thin Millennium mat did not get over the height of the platter lip so the lp was sort if touching it.

I have tested the P3 rubber mat ( it is very thick) and it has sounded better than the thinner Technics mat, Boston 1, Millennium, SAEC steel mat and Living Voice mat.

So the leather will be interesting