Like Ddarch44's modded Merrill's, the best sounding mat for tables like my Teres is no mat.
Some tables are designed for close coupling of LP to platter. Teres uses a threaded spindle and clamp, which ennables very tight (and adjustable) coupling. If a periphery ring is also used it's sometimes possible to approach the coupling achieved by tables with vacuum hold down. If an LP is flat to begin with I often have to peel it off my platter after clamping, since the right amount of clamping can actually create a vacuum-like seal. The reduction in background noise and improvement in low level detail retrieval is noticeable.
When clamping I use the ever popular "rap-the-deadwax-with-a-knuckle" test to determine optimal clamping pressure. When pressure's just right (usually very tight, on my table), resonances from a rap dissipate rapidly with minimal echo or harmonics. IOW, the thump sounds "dead", not "ringy". This indicates good vinyl/platter coupling that will dissipate stylus/vinyl resonances effectively.
Other tables produce other sonic results of course. Some clearly benefit from a mat. On others there could be tradeoffs that would make a winning strategy unclear.
Mats are largely intended to isolate the LP (and thus the pickup) from various noise sources. They're a relatively inexpensive approach to engineering challenges that can, for a cost, be more effectively addressed by eliminating the noises at their sources.
To benefit from no mat and tight coupling without sonic detriments, a table must have:
1. low or no noise from the bearing
2. low or no noise from the motor
3. low or no noise from whatever system couples motor to platter
4. a platter which effectively dampens or dissipates vibrations emanating from the stylus/vinyl interface
Assuming a table has achieved 1, 2 and 3, achieving #4 becomes an interesting challenge in platter and bearing design. Different tables use different materials and designs, lead is often involved for example, with varying results of course.
Tables which have effectively addressed the above (very challenging) issues rarely achieve additional playback accuracy from a mat. This comes as a great relief to those who've already spent crazy amounts of money on their TT - at least there's no need to spend more on a yet another tweak! ;-)
Some tables are designed for close coupling of LP to platter. Teres uses a threaded spindle and clamp, which ennables very tight (and adjustable) coupling. If a periphery ring is also used it's sometimes possible to approach the coupling achieved by tables with vacuum hold down. If an LP is flat to begin with I often have to peel it off my platter after clamping, since the right amount of clamping can actually create a vacuum-like seal. The reduction in background noise and improvement in low level detail retrieval is noticeable.
When clamping I use the ever popular "rap-the-deadwax-with-a-knuckle" test to determine optimal clamping pressure. When pressure's just right (usually very tight, on my table), resonances from a rap dissipate rapidly with minimal echo or harmonics. IOW, the thump sounds "dead", not "ringy". This indicates good vinyl/platter coupling that will dissipate stylus/vinyl resonances effectively.
Other tables produce other sonic results of course. Some clearly benefit from a mat. On others there could be tradeoffs that would make a winning strategy unclear.
Mats are largely intended to isolate the LP (and thus the pickup) from various noise sources. They're a relatively inexpensive approach to engineering challenges that can, for a cost, be more effectively addressed by eliminating the noises at their sources.
To benefit from no mat and tight coupling without sonic detriments, a table must have:
1. low or no noise from the bearing
2. low or no noise from the motor
3. low or no noise from whatever system couples motor to platter
4. a platter which effectively dampens or dissipates vibrations emanating from the stylus/vinyl interface
Assuming a table has achieved 1, 2 and 3, achieving #4 becomes an interesting challenge in platter and bearing design. Different tables use different materials and designs, lead is often involved for example, with varying results of course.
Tables which have effectively addressed the above (very challenging) issues rarely achieve additional playback accuracy from a mat. This comes as a great relief to those who've already spent crazy amounts of money on their TT - at least there's no need to spend more on a yet another tweak! ;-)