SP10mk2: OMA Graphite plinth vs.Dobbins plinth


According to the price lists they are in one category, but anyone could comment on quality/performance? At the moment i use big Teak Wood plinth (just $750) custom made in Taiwan for my SP10mk2. Looking for upgrade in the future. I use my sp10mk2 with Reed "12 tonearm now. Doest the plinth actually makes a big difference in sound? My stand is well damped with glass, metal and sarbothane in between.

1) Oswald Mill Audio graphite slate plinth (single layer) $2750, double layer looks fantastic but cost $3500

2) Steve Dobbins famous custom plinth cost $2650 including three Stillpoints feet and automotive show quality paint in black or white. Design has changed many times, still hard to find any current plinth picture online.

I know there are Albert Porter's and Artisan Fidelity quality plinth available, but i don't like the design (i mean just how it looks) for SP10.
128x128chakster
from what I read in many 3ads in the world the best mat for the SP 10 remains always its original .... little expense much performances.
Raul, I am surprised that in your post above, you seem to be saying that the platter mat should be "seen but not heard".  That's a good goal, but in fact we know that the platter mat is always heard, even if it is heard to be neutral, which is the way I would put it.  Can you say more about the SOTA mat?  I used to own a Star Sapphire Series III with vacuum, and as I recall, it had a felt-like material that was glued directly to the main body of the platter; it did not have a removable mat.  And of course one could not put a mat on top, because it would interdict the vacuum.

Ferrari, Thank you for pointing out that the MS mats are gunmetal copper, not pure copper.  I did not appreciate that fact, because I have never seen, much less owned, an M-S platter mat.  I did read that the Tenuto mat is also gunmetal copper, not pure copper. However, my recent experience with a true pure copper mat that I had custom-made for my Kenwood L07D is consistent with your observation that pure copper seems to sound superb, and I do not really know why copper seems superior to all other metal mats I have tried, albeit on turntables other than the L07D.  Except whereas Raul concedes that a metal mat may function to block EMI, which I think has a lot to do with its superiority on my L07D. 

In this case, the pure copper mat replaced the OEM stainless steel "platter sheet" (Kenwood's term for it) supplied with the L07D.  Copper is superior to stainless as an EMI shield, which may account in part for my experience with the L07D. Both mats weigh about 5 lbs; I did not wish to greatly exceed the mass of the stainless steel platter sheet in creating the copper replacement, because the L07D platter is partly supported by magnetic repulsion, and also because I am categorically opposed to using after-market mats that are very much heavier than the OEM mat on DD turntables that rely upon a servo mechanism.  It may be OK to do it, up to a point (the capacity to tolerate a very heavy mat without disturbing speed stability) , but that point is likely to be different for different turntables.  One would have to test the speed stability on a case by case basis using sensitive equipment, in order to feel certain that no new problem is created by a very heavy mat.  And this is in addition to putting stress on the bearing and thrust plate.  Just my 2 cents on that subject.
I have the original box and original manual for my Micro Seiki CU-180 which i am using now. There is a sticker on the box with model number and they call it "MICRO GOLD DISC CU-180". The manual is in japanese. 

Here is more about gunmetal:
Gunmetal is a type of bronze — an alloy of copper, tin and zinc, originally used chiefly for making guns!  Proportions vary by source, but 88% copper, 8–10% tin, and 2–4% zinc is an approximation. Gunmetal, which casts and machines well and is resistant to corrosion from stean and salt water is used to make steam and hydraulic castings, valves, gears, statues, and various small objects, such as buttons. It has a tensile strength of 221 to 310 MPa, a specific gravity of 8.7, a Brinell hardness of 65 to 74, and a melting point of around 1,000 degrees Celsius.
Fortunately, the ambient temperature in most of our listening rooms probably does not exceed 1000°C.
Dear @lewm : The original SOTA mat has not that " felt like material ". The SOTA mat was on sale as an after market mat and goes glued ( self glued. ) to any TT platter, in that way the mat is part of the TT platter and not changeable: it keeps fixed there for ever. Another very good characteristic is that its spindle center hole is small diameter enough for the spindle form part of the TT/MAT part. The mat has no " play " around the spindle even you have to push it with care but enough pressure to install it.. It helps to damps the metal spindle too. Was very good thinking item other than its undisclosed build blend material. Recomended.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.