The mat thing takes into account 4 factors if ever. Not taking into account it's effective thickness that which is to compensate for non VTA adjustable tonearms.
The first one being the dampening factor that can be more or less relevant into regard of the turntable drive system and/or to the cartridge sensibility to magnetism.
This should affect playback as is the density of the mat. The denser it is the better the coupling of it's surface to the record flip-side. That which is preferred by most.
Then you have the static build-up and exchanger that most are logically struggling against. There the surface material of the mat can have a drastic impact.
Finally you have one's use with their records. For instance I play mainly 45's and need a soft enough surface to drop and pick up my singles while the platter is spinning...
So you can either purchase the expensive thing made of undisclosed NASA material or test with cheap bits of cork and soft leather first if it works for you or not.
- Cart Denon DL-102 in bakelite Ortofon SPU 'G' type headshell
- TA SME 3009 'Improved' converted in heavy mass with detachable headshell
- TT Thorens TD160 'E' totally tweaked driven by an 'Eagle & RoadRunner' PSU & tachometer combo
- Matts top to bottom: leather, cork, felt & 12" vinyl
- Pre-amp 'Modulis' Isem
- Amp 'Exampli' Etalon 2x40W
- Speakers 12" Leak 'Sandwich' first generation creatively recapped