turntable mats: should I use one?

I thought the sapphire comes with the ACRYLIC SUPER MAT
Is yours a vacuum system or just the clamp. Check with Sota
Alan

If you have an earlier unit (Series 3 or older) they came with a polymer (PVC?) anti-static mat that worked very well but tended to collect dust and wasn't very attractive.

After I had my Sapphire refurbished by Sota with the new Series 5 platter, the acrylic super mat was bonded to it. It is much more attractive, doesn't attract dust and has at least the same amount of resistance to resonance.

No additional mat should be required either way. If you choose to use one anyway, you will have to raise your arm to account for the change in thickness.

Hope this helps & happy listening!

Personally, I like the Boston Mat.....although I've never heard one specifically on a Sota

Yes. Sota confirmed that there is a built in acrylic mat. Still, it feels like something should be soft underneath. Though, for the time being, I will trust Sota.

The idea of a hard acrylic surface is that if the mat or platter is of the same material as a record then in effect you wind up with a thick record which dampens out all vibration. My Basis turntable has an acrylic platter and I use no mat as recommended by basis. Just a clamp to press the record to the platter
Alan