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So I replaced the original Garrard 401 mat with an EP

So I replaced my original Garrard 401 mat with a 10" record.

Years ago, I had tried the Boston graphite mat and it deadened the music. I’ve messed around with cork tile, paper, little brass rings, 12" record, no mat, and kept going back to the old mat. The 10" record on the other hand is interesting...reduction of smearing, damped and woolly bass. It’s not that it was badly smeared and soft, but it definitely tightened things up and improved (increased) the highs.

Any stories to tell?

128x128noromance
noromance's avatar
noromance OP
9,860 posts
 
Forgot about the thread. I did some more tests and am now staying with the 10" EP as the best compromise. 
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
Noromance.
Glad you linked back to this thread.
I found on my Victor tt-81 that a 10" EP gave the best results by far.
Very fast and dynamic, even better than the MyMat.... On that table.

On my 401 the MyMat comes out ahead.

Then a lead/ cork hybrid followed by the 10" EP.

Most interesting how results vary considerably between differing tables.
noromance's avatar
noromance OP
9,860 posts
 
Hey Uberwaltz. Since I replaced the platter with the PAC 20mm oversized aluminium (it's UK made!) one, I prefer no mat. Rings like a bell -by design- until the record is placed on it. Sounds by far the most resolving.
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