TT mats

@jollytinker, I found an Aries 1 plinth and motor, without a platter and bearing. I was looking at the platter options for the Aries when I was offered one of the type that came on the table, the TNT-3/4 type. When I was considering getting what the op of this thread and you have---an aluminum VPI, either the Classic or Scout 1.1---I knew I, like he and you, would want a platter mat on top of the aluminum. It's funny no one makes a Delrin mat, as it is an excellent interface between an LP and a metal platter.

@invictus005

@invictus005 Both of those mats are metal placed on a metal platter. That’s like placing a record directly on the brass top plate on the new 1200G.



There’s not much dampening going on there.

Can you describe the sound difference between what you use and a mat made out of elastomer type of material?

Saec SS-300 alloy mat (870g) , as you can find online, eliminates the distortion-producing resonance in the 200-400Hz range, which is common to most all conventional rubber mats. This results in a 10~20dB net reduction in overall resonance, to further reduce distortion at its source. Some cartridges are sensivite to the rotor under the platter, felt mats can't solve the problem. 

For direct drive is a must have! I like SAEC for two reasons, one of them is the affordable price under $350 (used), second reason is the concave for 7inch records. I don't use SAEC without my Disc Stabilizers on top (Micro ST-10 or Noritake Ceramic Stabilizer). 

SAEC is also eye candy, i really like the design of that alloy mat. The most important is the size which is exactly like my Luxman PD-444 platter, so it's a good match. I'm happy, some other mats are different size and does not fit the platter well. 

SAEC is a top quality mat! I will not describe the effect on the sound quality, but it's an upgrade over the rubber mat for sure. I don't like rubber mats at all. 

Micro Seiki CU-500 is super heavy (2.7kg) pure copper mat, very rare and very expensive (over $1200), better than SAEC SS-300, but not for every turntable. I use it on SP-10mkII and they are looks like they are made for each other. I remember when i replaced stock rubber mat, the effect was huge! It was the biggest upgrade for my SP-10mkII. CU-500 and thinner, lighter and cheaper CU-180 does not fits the Luxman PD-444 well, so it is always important to measure the platter and mat before buying any of them. 

I'm fine to put the records on the metal mat, i think the engineers of Micro Seiki knows well what they are doing. The platters of Micro turntables are copper. I don't have the ST-20 clamp, it's extremely rare, but i use ST-10 instead. I think the ST-20 was made for CU-500 mat. 

 

 

Chakster, With reference to my earlier post about EMI, one reason you may like the copper mat on the SP10 is its capacity to block EMI.  On my L07D, I am about to compare the OEM stainless steel "platter sheet" (Kenwood's name for the ~5 lb stainless steel platter mat on the L07D) with a replica that I had made using copper instead of stainless steel.  Copper ought to be better than SS for blocking EMI.  The OEM and the new copper mats weigh the same, about 5 lbs.  So the comparison should enable me to discern whether EMI is an issue.  The MK3 has a huge thick hefty platter with brass and other metals, probably adequate to do a better job of blocking EMI than does the Mk2 platter.

I agree about the SAEC SS300. I bought mine from Raul.

@bdp24 - yeah I bet Delrin would be a good material - seems pretty similar to acrylic and PVC in density. maybe it’s the cost?

Here’s an interesting thin, coated, aluminum mat I’m using on my TW Acustic Anniversary, the SPEC Analog Disc Sheet AP-UDI, and a related TT mat comparo at Part-time audiophile:

https://parttimeaudiophile.com/2017/02/15/five-turntable-mats-an-audiophile-shootout/