Turntable Mat question

Atmosphere ...I would like to ask you about using record for record mat.
You said that using an LP for record mat is trickier but should be the same hardness as traditional record mat. I have tried it ...sounds good.

@rocky1313 What I said was

But the LP is trickier- the platter pad has to be very nearly the same hardness as the vinyl (a durometer is helpful) to be most effective.

What I meant by this was that the interface with the LP is trickier to get right with a platter pad because it has to be the same hardness as the LP itself.
I have thought about using vinyl as part of a platter pad material, but as has been pointed out, an actual LP won't work because its the wrong shape. A platter pad has to be a complementary shape so its in contact with the LP surface and another LP or stack of LPs won't let that happen.

Interesting test Ralph.
I literally had to place my ear within 3 inch of the arm/cart before I could hear it.
One foot away absolute silence.

Nice to have some type of confirmation of what my listening tests have told me.

Thanks!

Atmasphere, I have been using vacuum hold down for 30 years and have never damaged a record. I suppose if you threw sand on the platter before the record you might be able to do some damage. No flat mat of any material can control a record that is not flat. They can dampen platter resonance and to some extent in the record (fortunately vinyl is pretty lifeless stuff) A properly designed vacuum system works perfectly all the time and every time regardless of the condition of the record at some additional expense and another box ( big box for the Walker) 

Ralph....in response to your latest post, I need clarification ...I am confused....explain complementary mat shape   
since the record is the same size as the platter and being used as a mat,both mat and record are same size and shape.Please explain
Thank you

@rocky1313 you’re thinking about diameter, but think about the thickness and concave of the vinyl, look here

Then look at the proper mat and try to understand why it is not flat as a pancake, but curved inward on the label area and on the area under the edge of the record.

SAEC engineers were a bit smarter and designed their mat not only for LPs, but also for 45s, this is why SAEC SS-300 mat shape is not flat. There is an inward curve circle for the 7 inch size of the recod.

Using an LP as a mat is bad idea. The best mats designed 30-40 years ago, you can’t find a better solution than Micro Seiki CU-180 / CU-500 Mats and SAEC SS-300 mat in my opinion.