Turntable Mats

slunken · 11-07-2011, 03:49 PM

I have a Technics SL-QD35 that has one of those rubber mats with the sensor slots, right?

Today I got another turntable mat in the mail and at first I was going to use it but a few things came up. I've already done a bunch of googling and think I've found my "answer" but thought it might be a neat discussion because some of your are vinylphiles as well.

So - because my rubber mat is slotted it needs to stay on the turntable at all times. I can't switch it for the felt one because of the record size sensors. The felt mat has to be placed on top of the rubber one to stay flat.

So - if I do that I have to crank the tonearm heighth up higher and adjust the skating force. AFAIK (in my one hour of research/poking around on the machine) my model does not have a tonearm weight/balance adjustment (just height and anti-skating).

So - I decided against using the new mat because I didn't like the height in which I had to crank up the tonearm. The angle just looked kind of "wrong".

Also - aren't the rubber mats supposed to be infinitely better than the felt ones?

rottenugly · 12-05-2011, 01:25 PM

I use my felt turntable mat...Sometimes I use my rubber one.

Skradgee · 12-11-2011, 11:33 PM

The felt ones are sort of kind of mostly only for DJing and turntableism. 'slipmats'

The rubber ones don't slip. If you're listening just as an audiophile, stick with the rubber ones if you've got them. I don't...they weren't with my turntables when I got them, but I'm not going to replace them. I have plenty of records that I just listen to and don't DJ with, but...meh.

1337 · 12-12-2011, 09:39 AM

word slunk, you should only be using rubber mats if you're not dj'ing.

Good choice of turntable too, btw

PkPhuoko · 12-20-2011, 03:07 PM

wax paper would be your solution

slunken · 12-20-2011, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PkPhuoko

wax paper would be your solution

u talkin to me?

@ everyone - i never thought that other slippier-surfaced mats would be more specific for dj'ing, though it makes total sense. good lookin' out.

PkPhuoko · 12-20-2011, 06:11 PM

yeah..... if you want the backqueueing ability of a felt mat, without using a felt mat, you can use wax paper on top of the rubber mats and achieve the same results without fucking up the elevation issues

Felt mats are there to backqueue without creating friction against your platters motor.

In situations like yours if you're wanting to keep the rubber mats and have the ability to backqueue you can use wax paper and still not effect the elevation and won't create friction.

slunken · 12-20-2011, 08:44 PM

that's wild. makes sense. thanks for the tip.

Mooney · 12-20-2011, 10:37 PM

my record player doesn't have any sort of mat. just a platter made of some sort of plastic.

slunken · 12-20-2011, 10:41 PM

then get a mat!

Mooney · 12-20-2011, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slunken

then get a mat!

i dunno. i don't think mine needs one. the cheaper version of mine had some sort of mat on top of the platter, but i paid a shitload for mine because it looked cooler without it.

PkPhuoko · 12-21-2011, 12:12 PM

ask yourself this question

"Will I be touching the actual record while it is in motion?"

if the answer is

NO: you will not be creating any situations which will damage your record or your direct drive motor

if the answer is

YES: You may want slipmats or at the very least rubber mats with wax paper. This will prevent friction on your record and on your direct drive motor. This $5 investment will help your vinyl last longer and your turntable last longer.

slunken · 12-21-2011, 05:48 PM

even if you're not doing DJ things i imagine letting the platters sit on the plastic isn't the best option anyway. it's brittle and rough (at least my other suitcase model is like this) and would like something softer anyway.

mats will effect the sound and something softer will give you greater warmth and bass responses. i threw my felt one on the suitcase model (which i exclusively listen to old mono 45's on) and it really reduced the high-end tinnyness that is so prevalent on those old discs.

slunken · 12-21-2011, 05:49 PM

i mean it's not a night and day difference but on discs i've played hundreds of times i can notice a difference in the peak limits. if i'm ripping to wav (which i do on this deck) it helps out. final product sounds less hollow.

11-07-2011, 03:49 PM	#1
slunken Virgo Posts: 39,745	Turntable Mats I have a Technics SL-QD35 that has one of those rubber mats with the sensor slots, right? Today I got another turntable mat in the mail and at first I was going to use it but a few things came up. I've already done a bunch of googling and think I've found my "answer" but thought it might be a neat discussion because some of your are vinylphiles as well. So - because my rubber mat is slotted it needs to stay on the turntable at all times. I can't switch it for the felt one because of the record size sensors. The felt mat has to be placed on top of the rubber one to stay flat. So - if I do that I have to crank the tonearm heighth up higher and adjust the skating force. AFAIK (in my one hour of research/poking around on the machine) my model does not have a tonearm weight/balance adjustment (just height and anti-skating). So - I decided against using the new mat because I didn't like the height in which I had to crank up the tonearm. The angle just looked kind of "wrong". Also - aren't the rubber mats supposed to be infinitely better than the felt ones?

12-20-2011, 10:37 PM	#9
Mooney Socialphobic Location: halifax Posts: 14,821	my record player doesn't have any sort of mat. just a platter made of some sort of plastic. __________________

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12-05-2011, 01:25 PM	#2
rottenugly Banned Location: its a gas Posts: 2,688	I use my felt turntable mat...Sometimes I use my rubber one.

12-11-2011, 11:33 PM	#3
Skradgee Boardcaster Location: reporting live Posts: 3,720	The felt ones are sort of kind of mostly only for DJing and turntableism. 'slipmats' The rubber ones don't slip. If you're listening just as an audiophile, stick with the rubber ones if you've got them. I don't...they weren't with my turntables when I got them, but I'm not going to replace them. I have plenty of records that I just listen to and don't DJ with, but...meh.

12-12-2011, 09:39 AM	#4
1337 Gives no fucks Posts: 198	word slunk, you should only be using rubber mats if you're not dj'ing. Good choice of turntable too, btw

12-20-2011, 03:07 PM	#5
PkPhuoko Minion of Satan Posts: 6,309	wax paper would be your solution

12-20-2011, 06:11 PM	#7
PkPhuoko Minion of Satan Posts: 6,309	yeah..... if you want the backqueueing ability of a felt mat, without using a felt mat, you can use wax paper on top of the rubber mats and achieve the same results without fucking up the elevation issues Felt mats are there to backqueue without creating friction against your platters motor. In situations like yours if you're wanting to keep the rubber mats and have the ability to backqueue you can use wax paper and still not effect the elevation and won't create friction.

12-20-2011, 08:44 PM	#8
slunken Virgo Posts: 39,745	that's wild. makes sense. thanks for the tip.

12-20-2011, 10:41 PM	#10
slunken Virgo Posts: 39,745	then get a mat!

12-21-2011, 12:12 PM	#12
PkPhuoko Minion of Satan Posts: 6,309	ask yourself this question "Will I be touching the actual record while it is in motion?" if the answer is NO: you will not be creating any situations which will damage your record or your direct drive motor if the answer is YES: You may want slipmats or at the very least rubber mats with wax paper. This will prevent friction on your record and on your direct drive motor. This $5 investment will help your vinyl last longer and your turntable last longer.

12-21-2011, 05:48 PM	#13
slunken Virgo Posts: 39,745	even if you're not doing DJ things i imagine letting the platters sit on the plastic isn't the best option anyway. it's brittle and rough (at least my other suitcase model is like this) and would like something softer anyway. mats will effect the sound and something softer will give you greater warmth and bass responses. i threw my felt one on the suitcase model (which i exclusively listen to old mono 45's on) and it really reduced the high-end tinnyness that is so prevalent on those old discs.

12-21-2011, 05:49 PM	#14
slunken Virgo Posts: 39,745	i mean it's not a night and day difference but on discs i've played hundreds of times i can notice a difference in the peak limits. if i'm ripping to wav (which i do on this deck) it helps out. final product sounds less hollow.