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IMHO (and friend's) opinion of acrylic platter

Hello all...

In my quest to tweak my system for a better possible sound...  

I have gone through the latest item for review, inspection and opinion. I picked up an acrylic platter for my Dual 1219 with a Grado Platinum 1.  

Going in, I was highly skeptical and my skepticism was aligned with a myriad of opinions out their on the net. Such as snake oil, yes, no and every variable opinion possible wedged within.  A discussion happens...yet, not quite like when someone asks about "cables".

I set out to give the best subjective platform for the "test".  I called in a friend of 38 years...who is a musician who is gifted with perfect pitch...and not saddled with tinnitus, like me. He is also a luthier as as well...who knows, on a retail, musical and technical level, the best sound possible...and what to listen for...and how.

I set the volume at a reasonable level, placed him in the sweet spot 'tween the speakers...me to his left. I sought  an album we were both very familiar with...one of the most sonically perfect and best produced albums ever... Steely Dan's "Aja".

We started without the platter for "Black Cow".  We sitting respectfully poised, solemn, quiet and with bowed heads carefully and methodically listened and took in as much musical and sonic information our minds and ears could handle.

When done...I asked him to step away...not wanting his to see what I was going to do...I placed the acrylic platter on...and set every up as before.

I started it again.  5 seconds in...we both had an opinion...and we needed to vocalize it... YES...there was a difference and we agreed there was a bit more bass and it was a bit more defined. We listened through the second spinning (with platter) pass at "Black Cow"...and we agreed there WAS indeed a difference.

So...trying to give the situation the best chance to prove us wrong...I sent him away again...removed the platter...ands ran through "Black Cow" a third time.  A scientific  "A-B-A" test.  At he end of the third spin...we were confirmed...  I showed him what the "change" consisted of...and he was very surprised. 

Yes...the platter did administer a subtle, yet still distinct change to the sound.  I didn't want to believe it...but I could not reasonably disagree with what I heard; neither could my friend.

On a technical level...I cannot explain it... Perhaps it was the materials in the platter that affected the relationship between the cartridge, platter, album...with resonance or rumble...wow/flutter?  I dunno.  Or...since the album is sitting 3mm higher, perhaps it has something to do with the VTA setting...making the stylus' relationship with the groove different...or...more like the VTA when the album was originally "cut" on the "master".

I would enjoy responses...

What a hobby!!

Thank you!

Sincerely,

vinylspin
vinylspin
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Yes you should have corrected for VTA. Not that it would change much. The difference between platters is much greater than even that much VTA.

The improvement is of course due largely to vibration control, and also mass. If the acrylic platter is more massive that alone will improve bass drive and make the music more compelling and dynamic.

I know this from having compared four different platters side by side. My table is based on Chris Brady's Teres Audio design. Chris offered four different platters of different materials but otherwise dimensionally identical. https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/8367#&gid=1&pid=10 Mine is acrylic lead shot filled. Another acrylic platter identical but without lead shot is clearly not as good. They made one out of cocobolo also lead shot loaded but stabilized wood, much more expensive and clearly better. These could be swapped with no change in VTA. Everyone who heard the demo heard the obvious differences.


br3098
1,001 posts
 
The difference between platters is much greater than even that much VTA.
@millercarbon  What, seriously?

I have mounted hundreds (if not thousand) of cartridges in my otherwise wasted lifetime and I always use the "ear" method for making final adjustments to VTA.  And I have experimented with several different platter materials on various turntables, as a rebuilder and later as a dealer. There is no doubt that changing the platter material makes a difference in sound. Some materials sound better on certain turntables than others, but you can always hear the difference.

But I have never heard a platter change that is as noticeable and significant as properly vs. improperly adjusted VTA. It's a night and day difference with many cartridges and stylus shapes.

Maybe you have spent your life listening to mass loaded, overdamped tonearms and spherical stylii? I'm not trying to be insulting. I'm just wondering what could cause you to make such an outrageously silly statement.

stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,523 posts
 
another confirmation that everything makes a difference.
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Maybe you have spent your life listening to mass loaded, overdamped tonearms and spherical stylii? I'm not trying to be insulting. I'm just wondering what could cause you to make such an outrageously silly statement.

Yes, you are. Deliberately insulting. And no, you're not wondering, not at all. Because I stated very clearly exactly what my opinion is based on. A demo conducted in person and before a large group of audiophiles.

Not my fault your experience has been with platters not very far apart in performance. It is however your fault that you choose to ignore everything I said in order to throw your shamelessly gratuitous insult my way.

Sorry, but I'm developing quite a low tolerance for arrogant ignorant wanna-be posers these days. Hope your ego got a nice little shot out of it, its the last comment of yours I'll be reading. Hope it was worth it to you. Bye!
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
What goes around comes around.....
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