Turntable Mat question

Tried the Boston mat and it killed the sound. Yes, it made things quieter and more controlled but it robbed the music of soul. Almost like going from a great original analog pressing to a remastered CD.

Sorry, i was wrong about the measurement of my platters, so i delited my post regarding The Mat vs. Micro Seiki mat.

The Mat (aka BA mat, 293mm diameter) should be fine for Technics platter. But Sakura Systems does not ship overseas.

But i prefer Micro Seiki gunmetal mats anyway.

Nobody here heard a turntable with vacuum hold down? Basis, SOTA and Air Force take things to a whole new level. Walker also. 

You do have to be careful with vacuum hold down. I have records that are permanently noisy on that account alone. 


A record mat has a specific job: control platter resonance and control LP resonance. If you can tap on the raw platter and it rings- the platter pad will help. 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. Otherwise the pad will fail to absorb certain frequencies and may reflect them.

One way to tell your platter pad is working right is to turn the volume all the way down and just listen to the stylus in the groove. It should be pretty quiet. But if you can hear it from a foot or more away that's a pretty good sign your platter pad is failing at its job.

I have a KD 500. Using the original mat. Sounds fine. Are there particular ones I might investigate for this turntable? Only if you have personal experience. Theory only goes so far. Thanks.