Location: Yorks
Posts: 16,643
I'm Nobody.
Location: North Bucks, UK
Posts: 562
I'm Ron.
Have a squint over on www.analogueinnovation.com at their plattermat cost £17.50p includes UK postage. It is a 2mm thick selected rubber bonded to cork, similar to the Blue Horizon base mat. I use one on my Linn LP12 and it is suitable for a Thorens as well (same DNA). I have also used it on a 1210 Mk2. for the money, its a steal
Funny how the use of a Michell record clamp is being accepted here, have been using one for ages and they don't cost a bomb either.
Ron
Please guys - remember the Thorens 160 series is a VERY different sounding animal to any Techie I've yet heard - lighter and somewhat "fey" with it.. Nothing wrong at all with that IMO, but whereas the Techies seem to like being "lightened up" in tonal reproduction, the TD160's and to a lesser extent the 124 and 125 seem to like a heavier solution within reason, otherwise the suspension needs re-setting. the TD160 Super heavy-grade rubber mat worked fine and lifted this humble design to almost audiophool territory at the time. the squidgy "Dumper/Le Mat" worked well on this deck too, although it obliterated an LP12 I seem to recall.
On the Thorens, I'm not sure an Achromat style of product would be my first choice - for this turntable - but the cheap option above is one I'll check out myself as the price is more in keeping and you never know....
My choice for the TD125 is the old TD124 mutli-ribbed mat (and 45 adaptor in situ) with an NAS Spacemat plonked on top, this pairing sounding very good and bringing the R200 about level with most cartridges. Tom sold me a batch of these and wanted beer money for them, but it appears the current ownership want a successful business and the retail on the Spacemat is now £20 or so
Tear down these walls; Cut the ties that held me
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Hi Dave,
I completely agree, and for the reasons you state. The 'twin mat' solution of the Blue Horizon is heavier than the Achromat, and therefore more 'massy', which as you say, I think the Thorens may preferPlease guys - remember the Thorens 160 series is a VERY different sounding animal to any Techie I've yet heard - lighter and somewhat "fey" with it.. Nothing wrong at all with that IMO, but whereas the Techies seem to like being "lightened up" in tonal reproduction, the TD160's and to a lesser extent the 124 and 125 seem to like a heavier solution within reason, otherwise the suspension needs re-setting. the TD160 Super heavy-grade rubber mat worked fine and lifted this humble design to almost audiophool territory at the time. the squidgy "Dumper/Le Mat" worked well on this deck too, although it obliterated an LP12 I seem to recall.
On the Thorens, I'm not sure an Achromat style of product would be my first choice - for this turntable...
It's all about synergy!
Marco.
Main System
Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.
Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.
Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.
CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.
Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new, by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.
Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. LDR Stereo Coffee. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.
Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.
Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.
Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.
Protect your HUMAN RIGHTS and REFUSE ANY *MANDATORY* VACCINE FOR COVID-19!
Also **SAY NO** to unjust 'vaccine passports' or certificates, which are totally incompatible with a FREE society!!!
I happened upon this hideously expensive Audio Technica mat the other day. Looking beyond the silly money, it is made partly of polycarbonate (Lexan), which I reckon is a good material to use, since Voyd and Audio Note employ Lexan platters, and to my ears they sound damned good. So, I wonder how much it would cost to have a polycarbonate mat made? It's difficult stuff to machine, apparently, but might be worth an experiment.
Hi John,
Look out for my thread about this in Strokes of Genius tomorrow!Marco that clamp looks good. How does it compare with your usual weight? I have a Michell clamp but it is for Rega turntables and will not fit on my MN bearing spindle. Would it be worth getting the normal Michell clamp as they are comparatively reasonably priced? It would be used with an Achromat.
Marco.
Main System
Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.
Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.
Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.
CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.
Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new, by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.
Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. LDR Stereo Coffee. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.
Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.
Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.
Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.
Protect your HUMAN RIGHTS and REFUSE ANY *MANDATORY* VACCINE FOR COVID-19!
Also **SAY NO** to unjust 'vaccine passports' or certificates, which are totally incompatible with a FREE society!!!
Audioref Le mat works well with the TD160S with a 3 mm brass split ring fitted into a machined groove on the inside of the platter and up-rated springs. Should be able to a running clearance of around 2.5 mm between the platter base and the top plate with most arms and keep the suspension correctly set and be able to engage 45rpm without the belt slipping off.
(just thought I would drop by the analogue enclave.I’m sure I had a few of these turntable thingies years ago )
Oh arr, if you fit the up-rated springs thorens use nylocks instead of the plain nuts because for some reason the plain nuts seemed to shift about.
Single spur balanced Mains. Self built music server with 3 seperate linear PSU, Intel i5, 16 GB RAM no hard drive (various Linux OS). Benchmark Dac2 HGC, single ended XLR interconnects/Belkin cable. Exposure 21RC Pre, Super 18 Power (recap & modified). Modded World Audio HD83 HP amp. Hand built Monitors with external crossovers , Volt 250 bass & ABR, Scanspeak 13M8621 Mid & Scanspeak D2905/9300 Hi. HD595 & Beyer 880 (600 ohm) cans.
The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.
-Bertrand Russel
John.
Location: Northampton
Posts: 1,373
I'm Mark.
I've just had a quick try of the Blue Horizon mat that Just arrived from Marco. First impressions are 'bloody hell that's good'. There seems to be a bit more space around instruments and the bass feels a little tighter. I'm feeling full of happy emotions. Cheers Marco.
I'm currently playing with the Analogue Innovation cork/rubber mat on my Technics SL-1500.
I've bought a couple of sheets of 300mm x 300mm nitrile rubber of different thicknesses (3mm and 1.5mm) that I've fashioned into mats to use under the Analogue Innovation mat - the 3mm for regular thickness records, the 1.5mm one for thicker ones to keep the VTA something like.
I'm also using a (modern) Michell clamp.
Very promising results so far.
Keith
Analogue: Lenco L75 with 'PTP5' top plate in heavy birch ply plinth/re-wired Rega RB300/SAE 1000e HOMC Cartridge/Trans-Fi Reso-Mat/Moth RCM
Files: Voyage MPD/Custom PC/Supra USB/Beresford ASYNCH-1/Beresford TOSlink cable
CDP: Inca Katana SE
DAC: Beresford Caiman MkII (LiPo Battery powered)
Pre-Amp: Croft Micro 25 Power-Amp: Croft Series 7
Speakers: DIY Frugel-Horn Mk3 ('FH3') + REL Strata subwoofer
Headphones: Beyer Dynamics DT990 Pro (250 ohm)/Schiit Asgard Headphone Amp
Cables - Interconnects: Mark Grant G1000HD Speaker Cables: Van Damme Blue
Mains: Belkin PF30/Mark Grant DSP2.5 & DSP1.0 Rack: Target
Office System: HP Win8 Laptop/JRiver/MF V-Link2/Beresford Bushmaster MkII/Topping TP20 Mk2/Mission 771e
Bedroom System: Raspberry Pi/Raspbrian + MPD/HiFiBerry DAC/Topping TP20 Mk2/Mission 760i or DIY Hybrid Valve-MOSFET Headphone amp + Sennheiser HD595
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