My H-K T-45 turntable has its original mat, which seems very stiff--I
have a hunch it would be brittle if I bent it.

Would it make a significant improvement of I replaced it? If so, which
(reasonably priced) mats do the job? This seems like one of those areas
that is vulnerable to faith-based "audio voodoo," but if I can really
improve the sound for $25, I'd like to know about it. Thanks in advance
for your replies.

"bt" wrote in message
news:bt-B24364.11280805062006@localhost...
My H-K T-45 turntable has its original mat, which seems very stiff--I
have a hunch it would be brittle if I bent it.

Would it make a significant improvement of I replaced it? If so, which
(reasonably priced) mats do the job? This seems like one of those areas
that is vulnerable to faith-based "audio voodoo," but if I can really
improve the sound for $25, I'd like to know about it. Thanks in advance
for your replies.

Personally I've never noticed much of an audible change with TT mats.
I did feel the felt matts loaded with carbon fiber helped a bit more
with static charge generation than my stock mat but the things
never lay flat and I'm not gonna glue it down.

ScottW

In article bt-B24364.11280805062006@localhost,
bt wrote:

My H-K T-45 turntable has its original mat, which seems very stiff--I
have a hunch it would be brittle if I bent it.

Would it make a significant improvement of I replaced it? If so, which
(reasonably priced) mats do the job? This seems like one of those areas
that is vulnerable to faith-based "audio voodoo," but if I can really
improve the sound for $25, I'd like to know about it. Thanks in advance
for your replies.

If your mat is indeed brittle, it seems like it could be doing a poor
job in reducing vibration from the platter. What mat is best for your
set up depends on how the rest of the system deals with vibration, if I
would try several alternatives, were I you. With my systems, I've had
good results with sorbothane mats, like the Audioquest mat.

Only once did I find a mat that made a positive difference....that was a
Marcof Glassmat (felt bonded to glass) that dampened the "ring" in the bass
of my Thorens TD-160 Super.

On the Linn, nothing beat the felt mat, and the rubber ones made for a
noticeable deterioration.

On my duals, the ribbed rubber mats do their job well.

I'd look elsewhere (like a good wall mount) to make an appreciable
difference.

Harry


"bt" wrote in message
news:bt-B24364.11280805062006@localhost...
My H-K T-45 turntable has its original mat, which seems very stiff--I
have a hunch it would be brittle if I bent it.

Would it make a significant improvement of I replaced it? If so, which
(reasonably priced) mats do the job? This seems like one of those areas
that is vulnerable to faith-based "audio voodoo," but if I can really
improve the sound for $25, I'd like to know about it. Thanks in advance
for your replies.

In article , "Harry Lavo" wrote:
Only once did I find a mat that made a positive difference....that was a
Marcof Glassmat (felt bonded to glass) that dampened the "ring" in the bass
of my Thorens TD-160 Super.

On the Linn, nothing beat the felt mat, and the rubber ones made for a
noticeable deterioration.

On my duals, the ribbed rubber mats do their job well.

I'd look elsewhere (like a good wall mount) to make an appreciable
difference.

Your assuming there is a vibration problem. The mat also works in conjunction
with the pickup, in that the pickup generates noise into the record.

greg

Harry


"bt" wrote in message
news:bt-B24364.11280805062006@localhost...
My H-K T-45 turntable has its original mat, which seems very stiff--I
have a hunch it would be brittle if I bent it.

Would it make a significant improvement of I replaced it? If so, which
(reasonably priced) mats do the job? This seems like one of those areas
that is vulnerable to faith-based "audio voodoo," but if I can really
improve the sound for $25, I'd like to know about it. Thanks in advance
for your replies.

In article , (GregS) wrote:
In article , "Harry Lavo"
wrote:
Only once did I find a mat that made a positive difference....that was a
Marcof Glassmat (felt bonded to glass) that dampened the "ring" in the bass
of my Thorens TD-160 Super.

On the Linn, nothing beat the felt mat, and the rubber ones made for a
noticeable deterioration.

On my duals, the ribbed rubber mats do their job well.

I'd look elsewhere (like a good wall mount) to make an appreciable
difference.

Your assuming there is a vibration problem. The mat also works in conjunction
with the pickup, in that the pickup generates noise into the record.


I have done the thumping trick. With the pickmup on the record and no
other turntable motion, tap on the record and listen to the sound.
Does it sound damped? By trying different mats and clamps,
you can adjust for good sound.

greg

Harry


"bt" wrote in message
news:bt-B24364.11280805062006@localhost...
My H-K T-45 turntable has its original mat, which seems very stiff--I
have a hunch it would be brittle if I bent it.

Would it make a significant improvement of I replaced it? If so, which
(reasonably priced) mats do the job? This seems like one of those areas
that is vulnerable to faith-based "audio voodoo," but if I can really
improve the sound for $25, I'd like to know about it. Thanks in advance
for your replies.

"GregS" wrote in message
...
In article , "Harry Lavo"
wrote:
Only once did I find a mat that made a positive difference....that was a
Marcof Glassmat (felt bonded to glass) that dampened the "ring" in the
bass
of my Thorens TD-160 Super.

On the Linn, nothing beat the felt mat, and the rubber ones made for a
noticeable deterioration.

On my duals, the ribbed rubber mats do their job well.

I'd look elsewhere (like a good wall mount) to make an appreciable
difference.

Your assuming there is a vibration problem. The mat also works in
conjunction
with the pickup, in that the pickup generates noise into the record.


Valid point.

But I never had a noise problem to begin with, so did not notice any change
favorable or not. Simply wasn't a factor for me.

"GregS" wrote in message
...
In article , "Harry Lavo"
wrote:
Only once did I find a mat that made a positive difference....that was a
Marcof Glassmat (felt bonded to glass) that dampened the "ring" in the
bass
of my Thorens TD-160 Super.

On the Linn, nothing beat the felt mat, and the rubber ones made for a
noticeable deterioration.

On my duals, the ribbed rubber mats do their job well.

I'd look elsewhere (like a good wall mount) to make an appreciable
difference.

Your assuming there is a vibration problem. The mat also works in
conjunction
with the pickup, in that the pickup generates noise into the record.

greg

Harry


You raise a good point...but wan't a factor for me. See my other post.

For me, the one place it did make a difference was on the Thorens, where it
dampened a ringing platter. It also seemed to improve transparency, but I
think it might have been due to better transient response (less ringing)
rather than any true increase in transparency. With or without the
GlassMat, the Thorens was trounced by the Linn in this regard.