Does a turntable mat make any difference?

Sota’s mat is also the same durometer and mechanical impedance as vinyl and 1/4" thick. I do not think they sell them separately.

@mijostyn SOTA used a platter pad designed by a friend of mine- he sold rights to the formula to them. They never sold them separately but Warren did- and that is what I have on my tt at home.

Yes. I’m considering 2 mats:

• 0.65 Stein Music Pi Carbon Signature Record Mat
• 0.4 Mat Chakra here

Well I went from Felt (came with the ATLP120), to Cork, to rubber then settled on Arcrylic for about 4 years, then got my Mofi Studiodeck that does not recommend a platter mat.  The cork mat was horrible due to sticking to the LP when changing albums.

I play a lot of records. I have several mats of different thickness that I use as a quick, if not perfect VTA adjustment. I suppose had I selected wealth instead of handsome, I might have a copper mat, or some other unobtanium that caught the light just right... I have a couple felt and a couple cork at each of the systems that have more demanding cartridges. My "intake" turntable, where I audition my new to me records, after cleaning, is a U-turn Orbit Theory with a m2 Blue and an ultra thin generic felt mat, and I couldn't tell you why there's a mat at all.

I use the funk firm mat. It sounds great to me. Some of the things I like about it is I do not have to turn off the motor to change or flip the record. Also it does not leave any lint on the record. I have friends who use the Herbie on the Rega. I believe is you use what you like. If you do use a thicker mat then you were before make sure to check the VTf so you are not overl loading the cartridge. As I said before. One of the things you are hearing is the change in the cartridge weight. This might be a good thing if you do not have adjustable VTA. It lets you fudge the VTA by going to a different thickness mat. Someone said above that extensive turn tables do not recommend using record mats which is true. But Acoustic Signature makes six figure turntables and come with mats as do many other very high end turntables.