What are the audio differences you hear with turntable Mats.

Atmasphere’s explanation makes perfect sense, and that’s where I’d begin if I were a beginner. But with his hypothesis as a model there is still wiggle room. Which is to say there are other materials that approach the suitability of acrylic and which might be preferred after audition. Whether you also use a clamp vs a weight and the mass of any chosen record weight, these also affect results. I have never liked rubber or felt mats. I do like the now unavailable Boston Audio graphite mats which probably are similar in hardness to acrylic, and yet I don’t like acrylic. I guess if there were only one best answer to this question, we would all be using the same record mat, and there would not be such a big market for such a wide variety of them.

@lewm , 

the now unavailable Boston Audio graphite mats

The BA graphite mat is available from Sakura systems, as I said earlier in this thread.

https://www.sakurasystems.com/mat.html

Good to know that the BA mat is still available. I missed that point in your earlier post. I think Chakster also bought one from Sakura.

I might be wrong, but my impression is you need to use a record clamp with the Oracle mat due to the concaved nature of it.  
 

Does anyone know if you need to use a record clamp with the BA The Mat?

Thank you,

Don

@no_regrets , as stated in my previous post, no, you do not need a clamp on Oracle mat! I’ve been using one for 12 years, so I should know. The concavity is not that deep. Any weight will suffice, even the featherwight Gravity One that I prefer. Nor is a clamp needed on the BA mat, which I have had for 3 years. Cannot say it any plainer than this. I’m getting the sense that people just aren’t reading my posts!