Best mat choices for high mass metal turntables?


I've recently changed analog sources from a VPI Scout to an Acoustic Signature Final Tool. I'm curious if other owners of similar high mass, metal turntables have preferred their tables with mats or with bare platters? I've researched this forum and the Vinyl Asylum, but most responses to mat questions have centered around acrylic platters and tables of lesser mass. I notice that another similar design turntable, Acoustic Signature, supplies a laminate mat of suede/acrylic. Any owners of those tables care to comment? The mat supplied with my table was the ubiquitous thin felt variety which sounds horrible to my ears. Sucks the life out of the highs and muffles the bass. I'm running the Final Tool with a Garrott Optim FGS moving magnet cartridge. I find the sound I'm getting now to be a serious upgrade from the VPI Scout. However, the Scout does have a slightly more fulsome and fleshed out lower frequency range which I quite like. I'd like a mat that at least preserves the current tonal balance, if not lending a smidgen more emphasis on the bass. This preference makes me question the suitability of the Boston Audio mat considering other reports. At this point, Herbies Way Excellent mat or maybe a leather laminate mat seem to be the most likely candidates from what I've read. Ideas?
photon46

Showing 2 responses by 2002ss335

When I looked at your setup it seems that you have a butcher block under the table. I found that my Samba was too dead sounding doing that, so I put hardwood floor samples under the feet.

This livened things up considerably and the butcher block helps keep vibrations from reaching the table. It is a cheap tweak that you might want to try before buying any mats.

There is a discussion of mats for AS tables in the link about 12 responses down.

There is no reason the Final Tool should give up anything to the Scout, I bought the Samba instead of the Scout two years ago and keep missing getting a Final Tool when they appear.

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1218091473&openfrom&10&4#10

Regards,
Todd
"I've got the Tool sited on a 3 1/2" thick 16"x21" maple plinth with small brass cupped discs between the very sharp cones of the turntable and the plinth."

That is the way I had mine and now I have the hardwood under the discs.

Regards,
Todd