View Full Version : Nagaoka GL-602 Crystal Turntable Mat
http://www.referencefidelitycomponents.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Nagaoka-Crystal-Turntable-Mat-510x434.jpg
Nagaoka crystal turntable mat for improved sound quality from your record turntable. The turntable mat supplied by the record player makers often absorbs a lot of the sound stored in the records groove. It is well known that by using different materials to manufacture the record mat, you can greatly improve the sound experienced by reducing the amount of information being lost in the mat.
Nagaoka has pioneered the use of crystal for record player mats. The manufacturing of these mats has been enabled by the expertise of Nagaoka in the field of grinding hard materials. The Nagaoka Crystal mat has a diameter of 290 mm, 6 mm thick and weighs about 1 KG. The center has been depressed slightly in order to offer space for the slightly thicker part of the record, the label, ensuring full contact between the record and the mat.
The Nagaoka Crystal mat is lighter and harder than aluminum and coated with a special technique. It helps produce a crystal clear sound with excellent separation.
Price: £125
I believe the glass mat that Brinkmann supply with their turntables is also crystal - not easy to work with. This is the first after-market mat of this kind I have seen.
Have either of you tried them?
I haven't tried one yet Grant, but hope to once my stock samples arrive.
Interested to hear your reflections on it compared to say an acrylic
I'll report back once I've given one an outing on both the Gyro and the Garrard.
Have either of you tried them?
No, I tried a standard glass mat years ago but not a crystal glass one. It wouldn't be suitable for my current turntable though because the mass is too high and wouldn't suit the suspension.
I would expect it to sound better than an acrylic mat, but then I'm not a fan of acrylic mats.
Extremely limited stock left since Nagaoka have ceased production and it's only remaining stock left. Just a few dozen as I understand it so this may be your last chance to snaffle an extremely rare TT mat design before stocks run out.
Ordered one today via the super easy to use online store, cheers for the personal email acknowledgment Paul:cool:
cheers
Paul
Will be interested to hear what folk think of this mat, especially those with Techies… :)
Marco.
hifi_dave
08-10-2014, 15:17
I got all excited when I read the OP, expecting to learn that Nagaoka were back in business. In the 80s, we sold loads of their very fine accessories, including the Crystal mats. Tis a great pity that they are no longer made, so anyone wanting to improve a lacklustre turntable, better get one quick before they disappear..:doh:
I got all excited when I read the OP, expecting to learn that Nagaoka were back in business. In the 80s, we sold loads of their very fine accessories, including the Crystal mats. Tis a great pity that they are no longer made, so anyone wanting to improve a lacklustre turntable, better get one quick before they disappear..:doh:
Nagaoka I'm pleased to say David, are very much still in business (they make superb MM cartridges as well as accessories). They have stopped production of the crystal mats due to the silicone rubber used as a mould backing in manufacture perishing, and because the process of making the mats was quite specialist and costly. They have no current plans to make any more or replace the perished moulds, so these are literally the very last ones left in Europe. Once these are gone, there's no more left and they do promise to be exceptional in use. I am expecting my reserved stock in a day or two so will be better able to report back on any improvements with my deck and am sure that Loo (Paul) will let us know what he thinks when he receives his crystal mat.
hifi_dave
08-10-2014, 16:10
Thank goodness for that. Nagaoka made/make some excellent products and it would be a shame if they disappeared.
They're going no-where David ;) An awful lot of cartridge manufacturers would be without cantilevers and stylii if Nagaoka vanished.
Newly arrived stock as of today ;)
The Crystal Mat comes in its own natty case with carry handle and instructions:
http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n577/24pacman/RFC%20Cables/_MG_8868_zpsb61fd3b0.jpg
Unpackaging reveals that the mat is well protected in its own inner polystyrene casing:
http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n577/24pacman/RFC%20Cables/_MG_8869_zpsbaf2f7f8.jpg
The mat from my Garrard was removed for the purposes of the first demo test. The new mat fitted perfectly. The hole is accurately formed and the recessed central label section ensures a snug fit, perfect for the Garrard deck (it should be a perfect fit with most decks). Care must be taken when centering the hole as it is prone to damage if knocked or clumsily handled.
http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n577/24pacman/RFC%20Cables/_MG_8871_zpsa9087d07.jpg
The surface is slightly dimpled and grips the LP well enough without needing a puck or clamp.
http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n577/24pacman/RFC%20Cables/_MG_8872_zpsa24b18ca.jpg
Spinning the first record up after firstly listening with the original mat in place. Cart is a Nagaoka MP-500 with Boron Cantiliver and line contact stylus:
http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n577/24pacman/RFC%20Cables/_MG_8873_zpsac226913.jpg
The arm height didn't need any adjustment, neiter did VTF which stayed as it was:
http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n577/24pacman/RFC%20Cables/_MG_8876_zpsae507762.jpg
After swapping back and forth several times, it was evident almost immediately the effect that the Nagaoka Crystal Mat was having.
I don't know how a mat can affect surface noise but there seemed to be less of it. More importantly, voices and micro-dynamics were definitely cleaner and clearer. I was half afraid that the mat would introduce ringing as with some glass mats used by other manufacturers, but this one has been designed and engineered to do the opposite. The background is quieter, so noise floor has improved; there's no hint of ringing at all, and tbh, there's no need for a list of meaningless superlatives other than to say that it clearly did what it said on the tin when used in one of my set ups.
Improved clarity, improved detail, improved micro-dynamics and as a bonus, it's pretty easy on the eye too! The principle is that energy which is normally wasted by being sunk into the mat (acting as a damper) is instead retained within the cantilever/generator assembly of the cartridge. Unlike glass mats, this mat is not resonant in the all important frequencies that could transfer that resonance back to the cartridge and arm, therefore you can concentrate on getting that vital arm/cartridge set up optimised knowing that once focussed, you'll wring every ounce of detail out of the arm/cart combo. That's the theory anyway and from first impressions, I'd say that Nagaoka got is spot on.
Very, VERY limited stocks remaining so if you'd like to come and audition one here, or order one, better to order sooner rather than later. At £125 it's a low risk buy and well worth it for the potential improvements.
You can order here:
http://www.referencefidelitycomponents.co.uk/shop/vinyl-accessories/
OR contact me by PM to order
hifi_dave
11-10-2014, 08:42
It's definitely one of the best mats I've used and still reasonably priced.
Less than 20 left (manufacturer stock). Expected to be gone within the next month or two.
carruthersesq
16-10-2014, 15:03
would this be too heavy (at 1kg) to use on a Rega RP6?
would this be too heavy (at 1kg) to use on a Rega RP6?
Unsure about that really Steve, but best bet would be to contact Rega or a Rega dealer who I'm sure would have the ready answer. I remember I had a Rega P25 and recall using quite a heavy mat with that with no adverse effects but can't really speak for the RP6.
carruthersesq
16-10-2014, 18:07
Unsure about that really Steve, but best bet would be to contact Rega or a Rega dealer who I'm sure would have the ready answer. I remember I had a Rega P25 and recall using quite a heavy mat with that with no adverse effects but can't really speak for the RP6.
Thanks Paul.
HiFi Dave, I believe you are a Rega dealer, do you have any thoughts?
Cheers Steve.
Only one left in stock. This works well on SL1200s fitted with the ETP platter and may also be suitable with the standard platter. Works extremely well with Garrard turntables and most other idler drives. Suitable for most non-suspended belt drives too (works on my Gyro).
The only decks so far that it doesn't suit are Rega decks with the glass platters. Rega decks seem to have slightly shorter spindles too, so Rega owners may want to look elsewhere.
If I can add a rider to this, as it was my RP3 with a standard sub-platter that the Nagaoka wasn't working with. The RP6 has a thicker platter as standard and a metal sub-platter to match. It may well be that from RP6 upwards in the Rega range the Nagaoka will work fine. The Rega sub-platter spindle-top has a taper to it, at least in RP3 plastic sub-platter form, and that effectively reduces its useful height for locating a record.
It might also be necessary to put a very thin mat below the Nagaoka to separate the glass platter and the crystal platter, I recon, and that ups the height, too. Don't take it as gospel, but my intuitive sense is that glass-on-glass isn't ideal.
Lastly, I have a twin belt pulley on my RP3 as the standard white belt/single pulley arrangement didn't have much grip. The added weight of the Naga might warrant one of those. Not expensive, though.
Hope this helps. Don't be put off! The Nagaoka is a lovely thing!
If I can add a rider to this, as it was my RP3 with a standard sub-platter that the Nagaoka wasn't working with. The RP6 has a thicker platter as standard and a metal sub-platter to match. It may well be that from RP6 upwards in the Rega range the Nagaoka will work fine. The Rega ub-platter spindle-top has a taper to it, at least in RP3 plastic sub-platter form, and that effectively reduces its useful height for locating a record.
It might also be necessary to put a very thin mat below the Nagaoka to separate the glass platter and the crystal platter, I recon, and that ups the height, too. Don't take it as gospel, but my intuitive sense is that glass-on-glass isn't ideal.
Lastly, I have a twin belt pulley on my RP3 as the standard white belt/single pulley arrangement didn't have much grip. The added weight of the Naga might warrant one of those. Not expensive, though.
Hope this helps. Don't be put off! The Nagaoka is a lovely thing!
Thanks for your clarification Richard.
This works well on SL1200s fitted with the ETP platter...
Indeed it does, Paul. “Works well” is a slight underestimation, though.
Superbly well, I would suggest is rather more appropriate. Indeed, it is unquestionably the most sonically effective T/T mat I’ve ever used, and works like a dream in conjunction with Mark (YNWaN’s) ‘magnetic’ record clamp, and as you say, the MN ETP platter :)
Look out for my forthcoming review of the Nagaoka crystal mat soon. All I will say for now is this: Techy users, if you haven’t bought one of these (now discontinued) mats for your SL-1200/1210s, then you’ve just missed out big time!
Marco.
P.S The transaction I carried out with Paul was dealt with in the most efficient and professional manner possible - textbook stuff! As such, I would thoroughly recommend the services of RFC to all members of AoS.
The transaction I carried out with Paul was dealt with in the most efficient and professional manner possible - textbook stuff! As such, I would thoroughly recommend the services of RFC to all members of AoS.
Hear, hear. Paul is extremely diligent and decent. I've been dealing with him for years. Never the slightest glitch and his customer service is outstanding. When he learned the Nagaoka didn't work on my RP3 (see above) he refunded me even before I'd returned it!
Indeed. Shows that some OMBs can get it right! ;)
Here’s to Paul. Top man :clap:
Marco.
Thanks for the comments chaps, appreciated.
I am now out of current stock BUT will consider importing the last few remaining ones if 3 or more people are interested. You really do have to be quick as all stocks will likely be gone in a matter of weeks (if not sooner). If interested, please register your interest on this thread and I'll wait until 3 people have registered an interest, then I'll secure the last remaining ones.
Have you had any feedback on its use on a suspended deck yet as I was a little worried it would be too heavy
Have you had any feedback on its use on a suspended deck yet as I was a little worried it would be too heavy
It would depend on the suspended deck Grant. Some may bottom out with 1 kilo on them and others may not. Easy to find the answer to that one. More importantly, it will change the resonance point of the suspension so that also needs to be considered. Finally, it requires a check to see that there is adequate spindle height left, as when the standard mat is replaced, the net increase in mat thickness is around 3mm for many decks, perhaps 4mm for some.
As usual, Paul has accurately summarised the issues. Adding a kilo to a suspended deck will lower the resonant frequency of the suspension; this isn't necessarily a bad thing but it is worth noting. It will also alter the relative loading of the individual suspension springs and again this may be an issue on some decks (but not necessarily so).
Indeed it does, Paul. “Works well” is a slight underestimation, though.
Superbly well, I would suggest is rather more appropriate. Indeed, it is unquestionably the most sonically effective T/T mat I’ve ever used, and works like a dream in conjunction with Mark (YNWaN’s) ‘magnetic’ record clamp, and as you say, the MN ETP platter :)
Look out for my forthcoming review of the Nagaoka crystal mat soon. All I will say for now is this: Techy users, if you haven’t bought one of these (now discontinued) mats for your SL-1200/1210s, then you’ve just missed out big time!
Marco.
P.S The transaction I carried out with Paul was dealt with in the most efficient and professional manner possible - textbook stuff! As such, I would thoroughly recommend the services of RFC to all members of AoS.
Absolutely, Paul RFC was an absolute pleasure to deal with service like it used to be :cool:
looking forward to reading the review Marco
cheers
Paul
jamington2004
06-11-2014, 21:39
Hi Paul your inbox is full :)
Hi Paul your inbox is full :)
Cleared
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