" but no one has responded to my conjecture that some cd players, are either unaffected by cd mats, or sound worse with them."
These are two separate questions, first involving at least techical aspects and second to subjective analyses.
1. Your CD Transport read is based on RUR principle i.e. its read until right whereas conventional CD Transport read and then use error correction algorithms. Since mat suppose to imporve ONLY accuracy of the reading (its measurable and shown centuries ago - remember $15 "green pen" - I still use it and hear the difference very clearly) it design to help conventional CD Transports only.
On paper, therefore RUR reading should be unaffected by change in accurace of first read as it reads again and again.
In real life its not so simple - different ripping softwares like Foobar, JRiver, EAC should produce identical results but ...they are not. So, it could be some effect of MAT but in much lessen degree then in conventional CD Transports. As you describe - your Transport does exactly what is suppose to do (withing accuracy of your hearing)
Second question of worsening sound due to the mat - I prefer not to go there as totally subjective matter.
All The Best
Simon
These are two separate questions, first involving at least techical aspects and second to subjective analyses.
1. Your CD Transport read is based on RUR principle i.e. its read until right whereas conventional CD Transport read and then use error correction algorithms. Since mat suppose to imporve ONLY accuracy of the reading (its measurable and shown centuries ago - remember $15 "green pen" - I still use it and hear the difference very clearly) it design to help conventional CD Transports only.
On paper, therefore RUR reading should be unaffected by change in accurace of first read as it reads again and again.
In real life its not so simple - different ripping softwares like Foobar, JRiver, EAC should produce identical results but ...they are not. So, it could be some effect of MAT but in much lessen degree then in conventional CD Transports. As you describe - your Transport does exactly what is suppose to do (withing accuracy of your hearing)
Second question of worsening sound due to the mat - I prefer not to go there as totally subjective matter.
All The Best
Simon