TT mats

@lewm I guess each *system* to its own then. It's not a taste issue. It can't be. I know when the leading edge of a snare strike sounds correct verses a muted facsimile of one. Or the subtle ambient chatter of an audience muted to the point of being inaudible by a damped mat. To answer your question about my source, it is an AudioGrail Garrard 401 in a slate plinth on maple with a modified 12" Jelco and paratrace tipped Decca SuperGold. Tube amps. I've another 401 in a ply plinth. Same deal. 

@lewm Nope, the graphite wasn't good. The music died. Sucked away by the void of eternal damping. It sounded different from other sources -CD, DVD, PC and car. All different rigs but similar sound. The Mat just robbed the music of soul. It was a gift and I couldn't live with it so I sent it back. 

My experience is limited to a number of 401s with aluminum platters.
1. Boston Mat 2: energy suck, "cleaned" up the sound by removing microdetails including spatial cues, air and life.
2. Std. rubber mat: adds lushness and musicality. Smears mids and highs. Adds bass bloom.
3. 10" vinyl record: removes smearing and coloration (possibly due to the store and release of damping). Increase in detail, speed, air, transparency. Improved bass definition. Possibility of a little added brightness. This is what I use.
4. Cork, paper, felt, leather DIY mats: Meh. Not worth the effort.