Advice on new platter mat

[Dingdong]

I'm thinking of spending a small chunk of my bonus on a few tweaks to my system. I quite fancy trying a new mat, but I'm in need of a few suggestions.
It's for a Thorens TD160B MKII. Was thinking of something in the £50 area.

[MartinT]

Never tried it on a Thorens, but I can recommend the Funk Firm Achromat as sounding tonally neutral and dynamic compared with other mats. A very good mat indeed on the Technics.

[Dingdong]

Thanks for that. It was one of the mats I had in mind. Is the 5mm one worth the extra over the 3mm one?
Has anyone any opinions of cork mats on a Thorens?

[MartinT]

I have the 5mm which works fine, but watch how much spindle you have left.

[Marco]

Yes that a good point, Martin... It's very important that any clamp or record weight used has enough spindle length to 'grip', in order to do its job properly. It's no use using a clamp or weight otherwise.

That's why when I recently revisited the Achromat, I bought the 3mm version, as otherwise I found that the Bruil record weight was flopping about a bit and not properly sitting on the spindle (remember that on my MN platter, there is also the added thickness of the annealed copper mat), but then all that nonsense went out of the window when I bought this little chap:


http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/263/img0460bc.jpg (http://img818.imageshack.us/i/img0460bc.jpg/)


;)


More on that later elsewhere!

Marco.

[Marco]

Hi Mark,


I'm thinking of spending a small chunk of my bonus on a few tweaks to my system. I quite fancy trying a new mat, but I'm in need of a few suggestions.
It's for a Thorens TD160B MKII. Was thinking of something in the £50 area.

As well as the Achromat, you should also consider the Blue Horizon, details here: http://www.mains-cables-r-us.co.uk/ourshop/prod_1171882-Blue-Horizon-Record-Mat.html

...which I think would work a treat on your Thorens. It's made from a mixture of India rubber, cork and leather.

I'm selling mine, if you're interested (I'd give you a very good deal), as after much consideration, swapping back and forth and comparing, in my system I marginally prefer the Achromat.

It's all very system and T/T dependent, though, but knowing the sonic signatures of both your T/T and the respective mats, I suspect that the BH would work very well indeed on your Thorens. It certainly won't cost you much to find out.

PM me, matey, if you're interested :)

Marco.

[freefallrob]

I like the Achromat to, I picked up a 3mm version 2nd hand off ebay. I use a dense rubber mat 'DISK-SE' under it to kill my ringing platter, the combo works very well and brings the playing surface up a bit (I have tone arm mounting height issues!). BTW I tend to not clamp as a prefer it that way for most LP's.

[MartinT]

http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/263/img0460bc.jpg (http://img818.imageshack.us/i/img0460bc.jpg/)


Oh, my clamp looks different from yours. More on this from me later, too!

http://www.trichordresearch.com/acatalog/michell_clamp.jpg

[Marco]

:eyebrows: ;)

I'll let you go first!

Marco.

[prestonchipfryer]

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.

Regards

John

[Rare Bird]

Oh, my clamp looks different from yours.



It sure is

:lolsign:

[JazzBones]

I'm thinking of spending a small chunk of my bonus on a few tweaks to my system. I quite fancy trying a new mat, but I'm in need of a few suggestions.
It's for a Thorens TD160B MKII. Was thinking of something in the £50 area.

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

[DSJR]

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 :(

[Marco]

Hi Dave,


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...


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 prefer :)

It's all about synergy!

Marco.

[Ammonite Audio]

I happened upon this hideously expensive Audio Technica mat (http://www.audiocubes2.com/category/Vinyl+Accessories/product/Audio-Technica_AT6288_Turntable_Mat.html?osCsid=40572bd7 9c20de5012b285c535166f27) 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.

[Marco]

Hi John,


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.


Look out for my thread about this in Strokes of Genius tomorrow! ;)

Marco.

[Welder]

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.

[Spectral Morn]

I happened upon this hideously expensive Audio Technica mat (http://www.audiocubes2.com/category/Vinyl+Accessories/product/Audio-Technica_AT6288_Turntable_Mat.html?osCsid=40572bd7 9c20de5012b285c535166f27) 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.

Interesting thought/idea.


Regards D S D L

[Dingdong]

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.

[keiths]

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.

[Dingdong]

I'm shall be trying it with a vintage Michell clamp later in the month. Hopefully it will bring further improvements.

[MartinT]

Look out for my thread about this in Strokes of Genius tomorrow! ;)

Still waiting! I'll add my observations of the Michell clamp with Achromat once your thread has been posted :)

[Marco]

I know, I know.... Best laid plans and all that (other stuff has come up). However, I plan to do it today - it'll be short and sweet, though! :)

Marco.

[MCRU]

just buy the blue horizon and stop faffing about