SP10mk2: OMA Graphite plinth vs.Dobbins plinth

@rauliruegas 

Raul - as you know, nothing is for certain in turntables.  The MS cu-180 definitely sounds better than the thick or thin technics mat or any other mat I have tried - fits like a glove as well.

 With the Pioneer Exclusive P3, not so sure. the P3 rubber mat is original and does things that no other mat has done on the P3. That said, nothing wrong with the sound the Tenuta is producing.

lewm
"I would keep in mind that the "CU" mats made by M-S are expensive not merely because of their association with M-S but also because they are made of copper, which is very expensive these days." 

Slight correction.  Vintage Micro Seiki CU series (180, 500) mats were manufactured from gunmetal Copper alloy, which although not "cheap" by way of material is still vastly cheaper than pure Copper to manufacture.  The Tenuto mat = gunmetal Copper alloy as well, however, this company also used to make a pure Copper version at one point in time but is now discontinued.  After having owned a couple of CU 180's in the past and now an AF pure Copper mat (3.6kgs.), in my personal opinion, a pure Copper platter mat's tonal characteristics are superior in every way.  

@ferrari275 you said you tried the slim CU-180 (1.8kg), but try the thick CU-500 (2.7kg) if you want to compete with the AF (3.6kg). Or simply add SAEC SS-300 in this competition. Micro Seiki made comparison chart with various mats of that era, the closest to CU-500 (according to their measurements) is the SAEC SS-300. This is very interesting, because the SAEC is a speciall alloy of only 870g in total. 

This is very interesting, because the SAEC is a speciall alloy of only 870g in total.

.......mmmmhhh    perhaps the heavy weight does not mean everything.

chakster, the only other mat on my radar would be a stainless steel type.  Weight is a factor not to be dismissed but imho, it's not everything.  The Cu-500 is still Gunmetal.  During listening, I quickly ascertained my AF pure Copper platter mat was heads above the MS Cu-180 Gunmetal Copper alloy, so I had no real motivation to seek out their other mat but perhaps I will buy one to try anyway per your recommendation.  To clarify, does anyone know if the SAEC SS-300 compromised of any stainless steel at all?  At only 870 g it must be a type of lightweight aluminum alloy, no?  I presume by comparison measurements provided at the time by Micro they were referring to weight, density and resonant frequency...ect.  I had the hardened aluminum alloy Oyaide MJ-12 years ago and as I recall it was thin anemic sounding, not at all musical so I sold it. 

.......mmmmhhh   perhaps the heavy weight does not mean everything.

@best-groove My good sir, welcome to the eccentric world of high end audio, nothing means everything! :)