MWR Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 I'm going to purchase one for a TT I just acquired. Pondering about rubber,felt or cork and Is there much difference? TT is direct drive 1970's model Yamaha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam1 Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 HI MWR, I used to use the stock felt mat on my P3-24 but upgraded to the Herbies Audio mat quite a while ago now. I will never look back, it's a really good mat for the price and can highly recommend it. I was particularly impressed with the sonic differences between the two, I thought the Herbies tightened the bass up and it went slightly deeper than the felt, and the highs were a lot more detailed but not as harsh. As to the difference between the different materials you listed, I'm really not sure as I haven't heard the others. Good luck and welcome to the world of vinyl if this is your first TT! Cheers Sam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sligoriverblues Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 There is difference and the best thing you could do would be to find a few people who you can borrow a mat from and try it at home... I could lend you my Boston for a few days if interested. It's a carbon mat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MWR Posted September 4, 2012 Author Share Posted September 4, 2012 (edited) Thanks for the advice and very kind of you to offer the loan of a mat I may take up up on it.. For the time being I think I'll get an El Cheapo one from Audio Trends (they have felt and cork) on my way home so at least I can play something, I have a 1970s-80s collection and haven't played for about 15yrs. I'm just after something to get started and see how it sounds. So maybe at the $25-30.00 range there probably be no real difference. Then once I've exhausted my LP collection I'll probably start buying some more. Can't wait to try it out, I just bought it here last week , it's a Yamaha YP-D71. Martin Edited September 4, 2012 by MWR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A J Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 HI MWR, I used to use the stock felt mat on my P3-24 but upgraded to the Herbies Audio mat quite a while ago now. I will never look back, it's a really good mat for the price and can highly recommend it. I was particularly impressed with the sonic differences between the two, I thought the Herbies tightened the bass up and it went slightly deeper than the felt, and the highs were a lot more detailed but not as harsh. As to the difference between the different materials you listed, I'm really not sure as I haven't heard the others. Good luck and welcome to the world of vinyl if this is your first TT! Cheers Sam I second Sam - once you go Herbies way good mat - you never go back - and they are a joy to use as they look good, and never lift up with the record like felt and cork can do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuyen Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Mats definitely makes a diff mate. I replaced my stock Lenco ribbed rubber mat with an Auditorium 23 mat. Not sure what material it is made of though More stable soundstage/image, deeper/tighter bass, more extended highs, further refined detail throughout. Got a bit of slippage between the mat and metal platter though. So waiting to find out best solution to resolve that! Enjoy your tt mate! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MWR Posted September 4, 2012 Author Share Posted September 4, 2012 (edited) Tuyen, Looks like it's got carbon in it, in the pic it looks quite a firm product. Maybe costs more than my turntable did Edited September 4, 2012 by MWR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhythm Willie Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 A couple of small bits of double sided sticky would solve the "sliding". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MWR Posted September 4, 2012 Author Share Posted September 4, 2012 Or a couple of 6" nails :lol: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuyen Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Only a little more than the herbies mat actually! Cheers for the double side tape idea Willie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MWR Posted September 4, 2012 Author Share Posted September 4, 2012 Thanks for the advice guys much appreciated. I will be experimenting as time goes by and looking forward to the different results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Make sure the mat is the same thickness as your old one, otherwise you will have to make adjustments to suit. I went for a Herbies mat not to long ago as well. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThirdDrawerDown Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 You could make your own. Here's someone's journey. http://www.theanalogdept.com/platter_mats.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MWR Posted September 4, 2012 Author Share Posted September 4, 2012 Well I'm so disappointed with the outcome. I think it must be the poor state of my old LPs as I could hardly hear anything but snap crackle and pop! The best sound was from my very first 1972 album by Argent the rest sounded poor. I may buy a new album to see what it really should sound like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evil c Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Hi Martin, you purchased Yamaha from me. Did a bit of a rush job on wiring the headshell while you waited, maybe a good idea to check connections or fit another wired headshell & see if that helps. Cartridge as far as I knew was ok but would examine with a magnifier to be sure. Good luck with it - let me know if I can help further. Clive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MWR Posted September 4, 2012 Author Share Posted September 4, 2012 Thanks Clive. I think it's my vinyl. The gear I used to play it on was pretty dodgy. I'll get a new album and try it out. I doubt it's the TT etc cheers mate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prana69 Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 Hi Martin WRT your original Q about mats, I would suggest in this order, depending on your budget: 1. Herbies 2. Cork 3. Rubber 4. Felt. I couldn't justify the $$$ for the Herbies or similar, so I spent $30 on a cork mat from the UK. The difference was astonishing. Bass was much tighter, less muddy bottom and overall definition improved. Rubber is OK, felt terrible! David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
proftournesol Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 An Achromat is another option. Many turntables will also benefit from using a record weight or a clamp too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MWR Posted September 5, 2012 Author Share Posted September 5, 2012 Hi Martin WRT your original Q about mats, I would suggest in this order, depending on your budget: 1. Herbies 2. Cork 3. Rubber 4. Felt. I couldn't justify the $$$ for the Herbies or similar, so I spent $30 on a cork mat from the UK. The difference was astonishing. Bass was much tighter, less muddy bottom and overall definition improved. Rubber is OK, felt terrible! David Thanks David, Just bought a Rega felt one for $25.00. I'm now going to purchase a decent vinyl LP from Tivoli HiFi so I can do a test tonight you know **** in **** out ....so it's a decent new album to start with. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prana69 Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 Thanks David, Just bought a Rega felt one for $25.00. I'm now going to purchase a decent vinyl LP from Tivoli HiFi so I can do a test tonight you know **** in **** out ....so it's a decent new album to start with. Martin Well, if it's Rega maybe it has better properties than the felt I have used in the past. I just thought the output sounded really dulled, withheld and distant. On a separate note - I'm guessing you are the "Martin" who contacted me about the Pioneer I had on ebay? So you ended up with a Yamaha. What model? D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregWormald Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 (edited) If your vinyl is old and dirty, then a good wash will help. Try a wash first. There is info here and all over the internet that can get you started for a couple of dollars. If it works you are ahead of the game. If your vinyl is old and abused, nothing will help, not even the best mat. Greg Edited September 5, 2012 by GregWormald Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fodderstomf Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 Im waiting for a cork mat to replace the felt one that came with my current tt Being shipped from the US its been a month .......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MWR Posted September 5, 2012 Author Share Posted September 5, 2012 Well, if it's Rega maybe it has better properties than the felt I have used in the past. I just thought the output sounded really dulled, withheld and distant. On a separate note - I'm guessing you are the "Martin" who contacted me about the Pioneer I had on ebay? So you ended up with a Yamaha. What model? D Yes correct I am. Yamaha YP-D71 from evil c Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MWR Posted September 5, 2012 Author Share Posted September 5, 2012 If your vinyl is old and dirty, then a good wash will help. Try a wash first. There is info here and all over the internet that can get you started for a couple of dollars. If it works you are ahead of the game. If your vinyl is old and abused, nothing will help, not even the best mat. Greg Greg, I'd say it's old and in some cases very abused and I think the better gear is showing up just how bad they are, apart from one album which I hardly played. We're going back to circa 1975 and an old 3 in 1 jobby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evil c Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 "Thanks Clive. I think it's my vinyl. The gear I used to play it on was pretty dodgy. I'll get a new album and try it out. I doubt it's the TT etc cheers mate" That's a shame - can vouch for the benefits of a good wash, many records I had given up on ever playing again have been magically restored to quite reasonable condition using a Knosti Disco Antistat kit. You can always get records from Dixons recycled, Haven't had to return many from scores I have bought over the years I've been going there. Grading of vinyl is pretty accurate Clive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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