Vintage DD turntables. Are we living dangerously?

I don't know what it is Aigenga.......but the Cu180 improves both frequency extremes in a consistently audible manner :^)

There are possibly several things going on with a copper mat. My Final Audio has a 4.5kg copper mat - the copper mat in conjunction with the 15kg aluminium platter provides bi-metallic damping, tapping the platter with and without the mat demonstrates the effectiveness, and is also a calculated energy path for the stylus/record by the designer to provide a mechanical ground. All other mats I have tried are significantly inferior on this particular tt.

Audpulse, thanks for the rey to Audio Fidelity - they could be just the right guys to rewire the arm on the L07D I just acquired from Lewm!

Couldn't find much info on the delrin mat on their website, I will have to look around for similar mats. On my Micro I use a similar product which I got from Germany here: http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Plattentellerauflage-aus-PLEXIGLAS-5mm-stark-D-293mm-/370183497535?pt=Plattenspieler&hash=item5630a7e73f#ht_3509wt_905

This an acrylic based compound that works best on the SX8000, noting that this stainless steel platter, does not require damping, unlike the Micro RX5000 which rings like a bell. I suspect I get better results from my SAEC and Cu-180 metal mats on my other tables because they are acting as damping controls. I have experimented with a cork / rice paper /cork sandwich and that works quite well too. All of these seem to give a more lively outcome than rubber. I have not experimented with leather mats, but am intrigued on that front.

One thing is clear, on all my DD tables, the SAEC SS-300 or Cu-180 are the winners. The worst ever mat I tried BTW was the Kenwood/Trio ceramic mat - it completely destroyed the timing of anything played on it - ughh!

This whole topic of record mats can be a different thread, I have never cracked it .......

the ebay link did not translate, search for acryteller as the seller. An outfit in Germany that sells a whole bunch of platters, mats, weights etc.

Radicalsteve,
You can get custom delrin mats here:
www.appliedfidelity.com/

Regards,