Turntable Mat question

I'm surprised uberwaltz. The washer that comes with the Mitchell clamp is very thick compared to the other systems I have used. I'm sure it compresses some and I have not use one myself as my turntables are already accommodated. Keep an eye on your 200 gm records. I bet if you look closely right around the spindle hole you will see a few little cracks show up. It does not effect playback at all and I doubt it will ever effect playback over a person's lifetime. So it is a mute issue but, it does happen. The system is also way better than not doing anything and I think better than the periphery ring which is a PIA to use and puts a lot more weight on the bearing which can't be good for it. In the case of the Clearaudio with the magnetic bearing you have to use the ring every play or the bearing will not sag as much changing the VTA and with a pivoted arm the azimuth even though it will not change the wear rate of the bearing.  

As I said mine came with TWO felt washers, not sure if that is common?
The one I use is half the thickness of the other.

I did try the thicker one but even on a thin flexible record it just did not feel right so back in the drawer that went never to see the Sun again!

Possibly Mitchell realised their original standard washer was maybe too thick for some of the 180 and 200g reissues? Feedback to them from customers possibly?

That would be my best guess.

I have only ever used the thinner one and I truly do not lock it down very hard.

I’ve now had a concept realised! From a slate plinth for my Garrard 401 I had the maker produce a 7.5 mm slate platter mat. Sent one to Noel Keywood to review he kept it! Probably the single best improvement I’ve ever experienced! 

Hey Uber,

I had the Mitchell clamp with the Kenwood KD-500 and the Platter Pad. I put a thin quarter sized washer under the record and cut out a Mitchell clamp sized in diameter piece of 2 mm thick plastic from a larger piece of Tupperware bottom that was flat, so the plastic was a little thicker. I traced the Mitchell clamp onto the Tupperware. I then found a smaller round object that was about I" less in diameter than the clamp and traced the outside of it so it fit perfectly inside the other circle. Both of these circles were then cut out carefully. I then glued the piece of round plastic to the Mitchell clamp and now had a very respectable version of the Sota clamp on the cheap. It clamped every record in my collection. You had to push the clamp down with one hand pretty securely while tightening the knob with the other hand.

It even looked fine, too. Never had the plastic fall off in over 15 years of ownership. It was not a PITA to do on each record and worked great.

Bob

@fatboyriding No issues with the weight of the slate platter. You sure it's not 'drying out' the music? 

I don't use clamps, i use record weight on top of the CU-180 copper mat or SAEC SS-300 alloy mat,  and let me vote for Micro Seiki again, because it's just a pure beauty - ST-10 Disc Stabilizer. 

I agree with Chakster 100%.  The Micro CU-180 is the best I've used.  I have tried numerous: leather, cork, felt, graphite, thick rubber, etc. and the CU-180 was clearly the best from the first.  They are expensive and difficult to find, but worth it for sure.  Make sure it's flat.  I have a Technics SP10 and the fit is lovely!

Ok. I ordered the Hudson Valley acrylic mat and the Herbie’s Way Excellent II mat. The Hudson mat has the small depression to the label. But it extends all the way to the record edge and doesn’t allow for the extra thickness of the lead in edge. Plus to me, others will differ, there is not much science to this “mat”. It’s a sheet of acrylic.
As for the Herbie’s Way Excellent II mat. It is made of a very nice silicone that adheres to my VPI platter. It has the central depression for the record label and it does not extend all the way to the record edge thereby accommodating for the thicker record lead in edge. To me, there is more though behind this mat with more isolation and accommodation for your record to keep it flat. Together with my VPI signature clamp and Wayne’s outer ring, I know my vinyl is flat and isolated with the Herbie’s mat underneath. This one is a keeper. 
The Hudson acrylic mat is being returned to Amazon tomorrow. 

@snafu011

I agree with Chakster 100%. The Micro CU-180 is the best I’ve used. I have tried numerous: leather, cork, felt, graphite, thick rubber, etc. and the CU-180 was clearly the best from the first. They are expensive and difficult to find, but worth it for sure. Make sure it’s flat. I have a Technics SP10 and the fit is lovely!

Absolutely. There is also CU-500 (2.7kg) which is thicker and heavier than CU-180 (1.8kg). Not every turntable can drive 2.7kg Micro Seiki CU-500, but Technics SP-10mkII can do that easily (what a powerfull motor). For Technics owners i would highly recommend Micro CU-500 which i've been using myself with my SP-10mkII for a long time.

Hi rocky1313,
with your turntables Herbie's, funkfirm mat would be ok.

@kingbarbuda  Give Herbie's Grungebuster Mat a try is you want to take your sound to an even higher level than the WayExcellent.  My Grungebuster Mat makes my vinyl sing quite beautifully on my VPI Scout acrylic platter table.

I use a leather mat, (split cowhide) on my Linn. Sounds better than the original felt, better than cork. Drops the noise floor - really. And eliminates static.