Yup @slaw, saw the review (I’m on Bill’s blog mailing list. Though our musical tastes are very different, I like his writing a lot). If I was lookin’ for a mat I’d sure give yours a shot (still may, actually). I’m pretty darn happy with the Delrin top layers on both my Townshend Audio Rock Elite (the Delrin bonded to the cast-Plaster-Of-Paris platter) and VPI TNT-4 (Delrin on top of lead-lined Aluminum) and -5 (Delrin on solid Stainless Steel) platters. I would definitely use a mat on the VPI Classic, with it’s aluminum platter. I like the Delrin/LP vinyl interface, the best in my experience.
I know you don’t approve of clamps Steve, but I like those too (been using 'em for three decades now). The Rock came with a reflex clamp (pretty fragile, don’t over-tighten!), as did of course the TNT. I know there is a rationale for using a damping layer between LP and even Delrin, and for no clamp (your hypothesis of the bearing noise being transmitted though the clamp into the LP). If I make it up to Jims place in upstate Washington, checking it out on his SOTA will be at the top of my list.
I know you don’t approve of clamps Steve, but I like those too (been using 'em for three decades now). The Rock came with a reflex clamp (pretty fragile, don’t over-tighten!), as did of course the TNT. I know there is a rationale for using a damping layer between LP and even Delrin, and for no clamp (your hypothesis of the bearing noise being transmitted though the clamp into the LP). If I make it up to Jims place in upstate Washington, checking it out on his SOTA will be at the top of my list.