Albert Porters after market panzerholz plinths

Jfrech, Do you recall or can Albert tell us what turntable mat he is using on his Mk3? Surely the factory stock rubber mat can be beaten. The choice of a mat makes a huge difference, once the other elements are optimized.

I like your choice of the word "wetness". If we are on the same wave length, this descriptor indicates that Albert's plinth is probably fully successful. IMO, the stock MK2 has only one major fault, and that is, or could be described as, "dryness" or a faint gray-ish coloration. (I have not heard a Mk3 yet, not even my own, so I don't know to what degree the Mk3 is inherently free of this character.) Raul might fairly say, and maybe I would also say, that the dry, gray coloration is a sign of an inadequate plinth that is adding its character to the sound. Perhaps this sonic character is mitigated BOTH by using "no plinth" AND by adding a well designed plinth. Pure speculation.

Lewm: I would like to add: and the right TT mat.

Raul.

Good point about mats. Perhaps combo of mat and plinth is most important?

Dear Jfrech: I'm not disputing the MK3 quality performance against your Monaco. I asume that your experience/comparison was not in your system with the same tonearm/cartridge.

So: don't you think that your statement about is not only unfair but almost useless? because IMHO you are comparing two totally different set ups, I mean that yours is totally different to the Albert one in almost any audio link. IMHO the only similarity is that both systems reproduce music recordings.

Maybe I'm wrong and you heard it with the same surrounded " environment ".

I heard twice the Monaco ( unfortunately not in my system ) and at least one of them in system I know very well. I like what I heard and I like its build quality too. IMHO the Monaco is a very fine piece of " music " and I think it is one TT that belongs to the top today TT designs along other ones.

regards and enjoy the music,
raul.

Lewm, hi I think Albert is using a finely machined copper mat (it's heavy and rigid not flexible -think of a dinner plate size piece of copper that's machined to tight tolerences). And you're on the right path regarding my use of the term "wetness"

Hi Raul,

No I have not compared it. So as you usually say a direct comparison with zero varibles is best. So that didn't happen. However, I'll stick by my assertation that Albert had a top table vs top tier. If that makes sense.

So I fully agree with you, I love my Grand Prix Monaco and have no intention to sell it anytime soon. It's my main source and careful system matching/setup can make it sing beautifully well. It is a top tier and a good buy. Stop by soon :) and listen !