A Guide To Turntable Mats
Do record players need mats?
Turntable mats
A turntable without a platter is like a bumpy car without shock absorbers. It can
What is a Slipmat Versus a Platter Mat Versus a Felt Mat?
Slipmat, Platter Mat and Felt Mat are all essentially turntable mat
What does a turntable mat do?
Reduces unwanted resonances and vibrations.
A turntable mat can be thought of as a soft "carpet" that separates the record from the turntable. This "carpet" effectively absorbs the subtle vibrations that occur when the turntable spins, which, if left untreated, would be transmitted directly to the record and affect the purity of the sound. With the turntable mat, these vibrations are "digested" and the sound becomes clearer and more transparent.
The material of the turntable mat can subtly influence the tonal character of your music. Different materials can either enhance the depth and richness of the low frequencies or brighten up the high frequencies, adding a unique touch to your listening experience. Experimenting with various mats can be a rewarding journey of discovery, allowing you to tailor the sound to your personal preferences.
Increased turntable to record friction
The platter mat increases the friction between the record and the turntable, acting like a seatbelt for the record. This ensures that the record doesn't slip when spinning at high speeds and that the needle tracks every tiny groove on the record.
A high-quality turntable
Reduces static and minimizes noise
Some turntable mat materials also have the function of dissipating static electricity. As we all know, static electricity is the "enemy number one" of vinyl records, which attracts dust and interferes with the normal operation of the needle. A good platter mat with a vinyl inner sleeve covered with rice paper will help dissipate static electricity, keep the surface clean, and reduce noise.
As the turntable spins at high revolutions per minute, it generates minute vibrations that can potentially interfere with the purity and stability of the audio. The turntable mat acts as a buffer, effectively absorbing these vibrations to ensure a smoother, more consistent rotation for the record, ultimately minimizing distracting noises and enhancing sound clarity.
Protects your records
Turntable mats also act as a cushion to protect your records. There is inevitably friction between the record and the turntable.The soft, cushiony surface
The matching vinyl inner sleeves and vinyl outer sleeves provide all-around protection, ensuring that your vinyl collection stays intact for years to come.
Types of Turntable Mats
Turntable platter material has its own advantages and disadvantages, different materials turntable platter, in shock absorption, noise reduction, improve the sound and other aspects of the performance of different, choose the right material for their own equipment and preferences is particularly important.
Next, we briefly introduced some common turntable platter material and its characteristics of the introduction, if you want to know more about the different materials of the turntable, you can read our What is the best material for a turntable platter? I believe it can help you understand the turntable platter material more clearly.
Felt turntable mat
This is the most common type of turntable mat, inexpensive, soft, and effective at absorbing vibration. However, it easily attracts dust and static, can deform over time, and has minimal effect on sound quality.
Features:
- Warm and comfortable listening companion, soft tone
- Ideal for those who prefer a warmer sound
Rubber turntable mat
Rubber turntable mats are flexible and absorb vibration effectively, with a high density that provides better low-frequency response. However, it can have a rubbery odor and can age and harden with prolonged use, slightly attenuating high frequencies.
Features:
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Strong bass performance
- Suitable for bass enthusiasts
Leather turntable mat
Leather turntable mats have a soft texture and provide a warm tone with good durability. More expensive, prone to fingerprints and require regular maintenance.
Features:
-
Rich midrange, warm sound
- Ideal for vocal music lovers
Silicone turntable mat
Silicone turntable mat are flexible, durable, not easily deformed, and can effectively absorb vibration. The price is relatively high.
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Balanced sound
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Suitable for all music styles
Acrylic turntable mat
Acrylic slipmats are hard, transparent and give a clear sound. However, the vibration absorption ability is weak and the price is high.
Features:
-
Clear high frequencies
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Ideal for users who prefer high resolution
Hybrid turntable mat
Features:
-
Balanced sound
- Meets diverse listening needs
What kind of turntable mat should l get?
There are several other key factors that should not be overlooked when selecting a turntable mat, including the thickness of the mat, the material it is made of, and how it fits the size of the turntable platter. Together, they determine the effectiveness and suitability of the mat.
Materials
The material of a turntable platter directly affects how well it improves the sound. For example, those who like music with a lot of low frequencies (such as rock and electronic music) may need a platter with good low frequency response. Turntable platter performance varies in terms of vibration absorption, noise reduction and sound enhancement.
If you have a favorite music style and tonal requirements. Music with strong low frequencies (e.g. rock, electronic, etc.) is more sensitive to platter vibration, so a more stable, vibration-damping platter is needed to ensure that sound quality is not compromised. Music that favors warm vocals or full mid-range frequencies (e.g. jazz, pop) will benefit from a mat that enhances these qualities. Depending on the specific purpose of the turntable and the environment in which it will be used, we can find the most appropriate record bearing mats made of felt, rubber, leather, silicone, acrylic and composite materials.
Generally speaking, for users looking for high sound quality performance, it is more important to choose materials with good vibration isolation and durability. At the same time, users also need to pay attention to keeping the bearing surfaces clean and dry to avoid the accumulation of dust or moisture that can affect the playback effect.
Thicknesses
Density
If the mat is too thick, the needle will be pushed down, which will slow down the speed of the record and may even cause an auto-stop problem. A pad that is too thick increases the resistance between the stylus and the record, which increases the force required to turn the record, which affects the speed and stability of the turntable. Thin mats do not provide enough support and vibration damping, and the needle will sink, causing the record to spin faster. The right thickness ensures that the platter is neither too bumpy nor too stiff during spinning, minimizing vibration interference with the phono head's pickup and reducing floor noise for optimal rotation and user experience.
Turntable platter size compatibility
The first step is to ensure a physical fit; the center hole of the record mat must be able to fit snugly over the center shaft of the turntable, while at the same time its outer diameter must be large enough to provide stable support for the edge of the record. Common record sizes include 7-inch (used primarily for singles), 10-inch (less common), and 12-inch (most common, used for LPs). When purchasing a record mat, make sure that the record will sit smoothly on the turntable and rotate correctly. In addition, the material and weight of the mat will affect its compatibility with the turntable. A record mat that is too heavy or too light can affect the spin stability of your records.
Other factors
Maintaining and Cleaning the Turntable Mat
In order to keep the turntables mat clean and prolong their life, we need to check their wear and tear regularly, replace them in time when problems are found, and choose the appropriate cleaning method according to the different materials. Rubber turntable mats should be cleaned with warm soapy water and dried thoroughly, felt turntable mats should be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner or soft brush, leather mats should be wiped with a dry cloth or leather cleaner, and cork turntable mats should be treated with a dry cloth or soft brush.
Choosing the appropriate cleaning method for the record mat material, avoiding the use of harsh chemical cleaners, and keeping the record playing area clean and dry to prevent mold growth and material deterioration are important steps in maintaining the record mat. Proper cleaning of vinyl turntables can effectively prolong their life and ensure the quality of vinyl playback. We can also start by keeping the playing area clean and using a dust cover to protect our turntables from dust.