Which turntable mat

What is better depends on taste and the actual platter design. Cork is a different but very interesting options to upgrade sound quality. Resonances are damped more effectively than felt, they keep dust away and they have also enough contact to avoid static. Turntable mats can make vinyl sound clearer with greater separation and detail.

Both cork and rubber are known to dampen and absorb unwanted vibration, a composite cork mat works remarkably on turntables, particularly on steel and lightweight turntable platters, due to its highly non-resonant properties. A rubber platter mat accomplishes this by allowing the record to remain isolated from unwanted platter micro-vibration resulting in a deep, full, tone for high fidelity playback of your vinyl music.

Rubber mats are a favorite of Technics, one of the biggest DJ companies in the world. They ship a thick rubber mat with their popular models which should be a pretty good indication of its quality.

In a good rubber turntable mat, very specific detail is accounted for to produce the highest quality playback possible. With a recessed center, a rubber turntable mat allows your records to lay perfectly flat. If placing a record on a hard surface disturbs you, use a rubber mat to fit over your platter for maximum protection. This will save you from having to deal with static that sometimes happens when you use a felt mat. A turntable mat might be what you need to push your vinyl listening to the next level.

When searching for the best turntable mat for vinyl, check this list first! Happy spinning! I have been a vinyl enthusiast for years and a music lover for decades. I'm also the owner and editor of the Devoted to Vinyl website. Be sure to subscribe to my Devoted to Vinyl YouTube channel, and drop me a comment below one of my videos to say hello! Read More About Michael Your email address will not be published.

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Cork turntable mats are also among the most popular turntable mat options available online. Acrylic: Acrylic mats can help brighten highs and tighten lows. S ilicone: The best silicone turntable mats have a transparent sound and provide decoupling from vibrations.

Other Materials : Some audiophiles use brass, plastic, wool or glass materials, or even another record itself as a mat. There are also combination mats available with two materials, usually with a carbon-type layer on the bottom.

The rubber turntable mats that often come with your record player can get the job done, but many of these basic mats also create the most static, while newer and more efficient mats can cut the crackling noises way down. Rubber mats still have their advantages though, especially for DJs, as they can help with toning down unwanted vibrations. Same goes for felt mats that give you the ability to hold the record in place while the platter still spins.

The more devoted, DIY record enthusiasts can even cut out a mat themselves from their material of choice. Note that if you already have an acrylic platter, you may not even need a mat — acrylic platters do a great job of controlling resonance, and adding a mat may mess with the angle of the stylus, and ultimately affect the playback and lifespan of your discs.

Other factors can include humidity, room temperature, dust, and proper covering and storage of your collection when not in use. At just ten ounces, this 3mm, acrylic mat is not just classy looking, it also significantly reduces unwanted noise and static. Resonance is noticeably dampened too, especially on metal platters. This increase in sound quality can also be coupled with reduced skip rates and the music becoming far more integrated with the system, therefore creating a more natural sound.

There are many types of platter mat out there, each using different materials and able to create different sound qualities. Whatever you go for, they do all have their apparent advantages and disadvantages. Like anything, a lot of your choice will, in the end, come down to personal taste. Felt is one of the mainstays of platter mat material. These mats are probably the most aesthetically pleasing, able to feature colourful designs and graphics that can make your turntable more personal.

When the DJ manipulates the record, the slip mat allows the platter underneath to continue rotating, and therefore not damage the turntable. On the downside, felt mats are renowned for attracting static, dust and hair that can affect the sound, and often feel cheap compared to other platter mats.

Arguably, cork gives the biggest sound difference of all platter mats. This mostly inexpensive option is great at creating a smooth contact between the record and the platter, making it extremely easy to separate the record after use.

Resonances between the record player and vinyl should be dampened more effectively than felt and material mats, whilst also absorbing mechanical noise from the record player with greater ease. Many users also swear by an improved sound and separation of detail within the music. They may work better on certain types of platter over others — so there is a bit more trial and error involved.

Rubber platter mats could still be classed as light-weight, but are a little bit firmer, giving that extra grip onto the platter. This extra grip allows the record to remain isolated from any vibrations by making sure the record sits completely flat.

Once again there is no static to worry about and it also does the job of dampening the sound of mechanical parts admirably.

These mats are usually durable and flexible, but slightly on the heavier side compared to other materials. After multiple uses, there is still a chance of rubber flakes attaching to records which you will have to watch out for.

A material used for platter mats that can often be overlooked is leather. They are renowned for being used by lovers of bass tones and creating an unrivalled warm sound.

As well as being static free and heavier in weight, the leather is usually smooth and soft which creates an ideal playing base and easily removable after use. There are even mats with different types of leathers out there; one of the more expensive is Deer Hide, with many arguing it can really improve the acoustics in the music.

Although the above platter mats can be seen as the mainstays, there are, of course, other options. They are heavier than cork mats but have a firmer grip on the platter. Other materials to look out for include acrylic, which is a more dense and expensive material but some swear by its dampening of mechanical sounds and improved warm tones. Others even enjoy using just the bare glass platter, such as the one featured on many of the Rega range of turntables.

As with many things that come with owning a record player, to find your perfect platter mat is a game of trial and error before eventually arriving at a sound that suits you personally. Listen to other peoples advice. Buy, test, or borrow a few different mats from your friends to see if you notice any differences.