Platter mat ?

Wow, I own a HW-19 Mk3 and was about to post a similar question. Anyway, I run mine without a mat, though I do won a couple of different mats. I never noticed any sonic difference with or without the mat (I always remembered to adjust VTA) so I ditched it. Aside from sonic benefits/artifacts, does having the mat help protect the "other side" of the LP when it's playing?

I have tried several mats and did not care for any of them. Tweaks, as a general rule, are a real interesting phenomenon. I usually hear differences for sure, but SYNERGY in the system and components is really the key to the best sound I believe.

R.

Wow, this reminds me of the Platter Matter. They were originally blue, then later ones were brown. I bought a brown one but never used it. Can't say how they improve the sound, but know they are slightly tacky so they grab the record, make it flatter and more stable. Some people swore by them - they were quite the rage in the analog world then.

I started out bare-platter on my early (Mk. 2) model TNT, went through a couple of clamps including the one from Black Diamond Racing, then discovered that the Ringmat, sans clamp, sounded better to me. I switched to a graphite Boston Audio Mat 1 since then and like it marginally better than the Ringmat (whether it's worth $195 is another question). Don't think I'll ever go back to a clamp, though. Dave