Replacing cork platter mat with acrylic mat

Cork is better for absorbing vibration. Sell or give away the acrylic mat.

I am liking my Stein music mat. Made in Japan of some sort of paper fibers and resins...not cheap, I paid $250 , probably selling at higher prices now. Using it on an acrylic platter. It is stuck onto the platter with 4 glue dots, to keep it perfectly flat. I’m using a hide in the sound leather/suede mat on another turntable with a metal platter. I think the leather mat sounds great, plus zero static. About $30 bucks plus shipping from hideinthesound. On my Technics 1200,  I'm using a KabUSA glass platter mat with a thin technics rubber mat on top. 

Is there a small difference in the thickness of the mat? It only takes a small difference in thickness to impact the setup.

Could be. I haven't measured. Can slight VTA difference really make such big change?

OP,

I’m not sure. But my audio guy (who is the only one to adjust my LInn LP12) was explaining what one and two playing card thickness would do to change the sound. I am constantly amazed at what precision is involved in making a turntable and cartridge sound great. I am fortunate enough to own a fantastic one. One that I only use and absolutely never touch or make any adjustment to. I am a klutz… and very impatient.

If a highly  reviewed accessory doesn’t do what others say it does… I look for a possible cause… which is, of course, what you are doing. There are some really knowledgeable folks here that 

I am with ghdprentince on this. Does not take much to change the frequency response. If one is thinner, take a record you hate and put it underneath the mat. See if they sound closer.