[Dan Driscoll]

Dan,  

I think you are right about damping some vibrations.  It can't be the motor since it is physically separated from the table.  I think it has to be between the record and the acrylic platter.

I'm not too familiar with the Basis 1400, is the motor on the same platform as the plinth? If it is, then some motor vibration will be coupled to the platform, which will in turn couple it into the plinth. How big the vibration would be and whether or not it would be audible is certainly debatable.

If the motor is on another platform this would not apply.

Even with the clamp most records don't sit perfectly flat and there must be some shaking going on without a mat.  I wonder why Basis does not come with a mat.

I suspect they assume that most owners would prefer to supply their own mat to suit their tastes, plus it cuts down on costs. Check the manual, you may find that they reccomend a mat, but don't specify a particular brand or type.

I am going to experiment with the rubber mat that comes with MMf-5 on the Basis and see how it compares with AQ sorbothane mat.  I will get the weight ...

I'll be very interested in reading the results of this experiment and I bet some of the other readers will be, also.

[woodsyi]

I have toiled over the weekend to do a compare/contrast between Sorbothane and "normal" rubber (stock MMF5) mats on different TT setups.  Since the measuring equipment was just my ears, I cannot claim to be very "objective".  I did try to set up a methodical approach to the comparisons in order to come up with some sort of a "scientific" data from which to draw a "rational" conclusion.  

Systems:

Oracle Delphi MK3/SME4/Koetsu Rosewood Signature
Basis 1400/Incognito Rega 250 with Michell counterweight/Benz Micro Glider 2L
MMF5 with stock arm and packaged Goldring Cartridge.

All of them were tested with the same equipment including phono stage.  The only exception is that MC stepup transformer in EAR 834P was used for the MC's and not on the MM Goldring cartridge.   Also MMF mat would not fit the Oracle platter -- thus Oracle's own mat was used.  

LP's used for comparison:
Loretta Lynn singing songs from Coal Miners Daughter
Muddy Waters in Folk Singer
Sonny Rollins in Collosus
Holst's Planets

OOPS,

I gotta get back to work.  I will post the results later.

[Dan Driscoll]

OOPS,

I gotta get back to work. I will post the results later.

 

Tease!

 

[woodsyi]

Dan,

We some times have to actually work when we are at work!  

Getting back to the review, I am truly amazed at the difference a mat makes.  One of you who is poopooing the 1k mat upgrade may want to audition it.

Basis TT

Sorbothane mat:  Really brings out the bass and puts meat on the mid range.  I do not hear loss of detail in the treble, but it is weaker in strength than mids and bass.  Overall, it presents music that you want to listen on.

MMF5 mat:  Even presentation.  Well balanced but thinner all across the tonal spectrum.  Overall, you can leave the chair if something comes along.

Oracle Isolater mat:  Well balanced presentation.  Details and bass are good and voices are neutral.  Definitely want to stay in you seat to hear the rest of the LP

MMF 5 TT

I just want to say I am comparing the mats and not the systems.  This setup with Project arm and Goldring cartridge definitely is a step or two below the Basis setup in musicality.

MMF mat:  This is the entry level sound.  Pretty good detail but not much bass and depth.  Just for this review I went up to my bedroom where I "tolerate" my wife's college system consisting of Sony receiver, Technia TT with generic cartridge and Bose speakers.   She insists on having them there because it was her first major purchase on her own and is proud of them. What am I to say excep to say, "they are lovely, honey?"  I mean they are just for "mood" music, you know.   Anyway, MMF5 blows this set up out of the water.  So, those of you looking for a good beginning set up, there is a big gain at this level from your college (at least for me) consumer level TT.

Sorbothane mat:  It adds little more bite to the bass but not really balanced.  Probably not worth the expense for this "upgrade".

Oracle Isolator mat:  This is a highly unlikely combination.  The overall sound is balanced for the setup but there is not a whole lot of difference.  It's definetly not worth the cost of this "upgrade".

Oracle TT

Oracle mat:  This is my best system -- detailed, balanced, punchy and nuanced.  This beats stock Sony XA777es SACD presentation.  This is also the set up that frequently gets me in trouble because I find myself saying, "I will be right there," alot when my wife calls for the upteenth time!

Sorbothane mat:  It is pretty close in overall sound but loses some details.  Still good but not worth the PITA in peeling off the record after playing.  

MMF mat:  Don't do it.  Loses all detail.  

Not to be a tease, but I gotta go back to work again.  Post some of your conclusions.  I will post my conclusion later.  Remember I only had my two ears to depend on.

Ciao!

[woodsyi]

Ok,

I am back after a full day of work.  

How does Sorbothane mat compare with other mats?  This is the question that I tried to answer with my comparison tests.  At the Basis 1400 level (Class C+?)  it has a positive effect on the set up -- not perfect but makes it more musical.  At MMF5 level (entry audiophile) it improves the overall sound a little but bulk of the improvement, I suspect, lie beyond the TT's resolution.  At the Oracle Delph MkIII level (Class B), it does not add to the system.


I would definitely have used this with my Basis table had it not ripped while I was changing it back and forth for the upteenth time during the  test.  The biggest draw back of this mat is its stickiness to the platter.  It got really old pulling the mat off the glass, acryllic and metal platters over and over again.   I would not do another test like this with Sorbothane mat  -- I am sure it would rip again.  It's meant to be placed on and stay put.  

Now that I know the rest of my system works better with a "good" mat on the Basis 1400,  I will stick with the now 2-piece Sorbothane on my Basis 1400 for a while, but I am thinking of getting a Speed mat from Extremephono.   Has anybody used this mat with an acrylic platter that is not suspended?

[mmakshak]

I have an Oracle soft mat on an Ariston rd 110(throw away those Ariston mats!).  I use it with a clamp.  I think that might be the best way to go.  I used a cheap(Eon?), which broke.  I now have something similiar to the pig(with a record label covering device and a screw-down).  Beware of record weights in some cases.  This is based on the Oracle guy, in previous posts saying that the Audioquest and Oracle mats were close.