Cork mat or acrylic platter, what say ye?

hrd2imgn
hrd2imgn Southwest Burbs of Chicago Posts: 4,941
in Musicians and Gearheads
Cork slipmat or acrylic platter, any reason one over the other other than price?
«1

Comments

  • tempo_n_groove
    tempo_n_groove Posts: 42,243
    I use the acrylic.  

    https://uturnaudio.com/blogs/uturn/choosing-a-turntable-platter-mdf-or-acrylic
  • earthquakes making waves
    earthquakes making waves Posts: 296
    acrylic if you have the option, but if you need (I do as I use a vintage Pioneer TT that I love) a slipmat go BUCKSKIN all the way. they sound incredible, very low static or noise, and nobody knows about them so they are super affordable. cork is way overrated imo
  • PJ_Soul
    PJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 51,029
    Mine's rubber, and I like that very much. Keeps the record stuck solidly on the platter, and you can clean it with dish detergent in the sink
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • lolobugg
    lolobugg BLUE RDGE MTNS Posts: 8,195
    edited June 2017

    damn you guys for getting me looking at mats again. :lol:

    need to check the specs of my TT to see if it can take an acrylic platter.

    this is my table: 

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yamaha-Direct-Drive-Auto-Return-YP-D6-Turntable-w-Stanton-EEE-Cartridge/152560232026?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid=222007&algo=SIC.MBE&ao=2&asc=41451&meid=8f34b98f45664e7583695e6a45dd3765&pid=100005&rk=1&rkt=6&sd=282395544852


    what ya guys think? currently using the hybrid cork mat from bags unlimited(I think that's where I got it).

    Post edited by lolobugg on

    livefootsteps.org/user/?usr=446

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  • earthquakes making waves
    earthquakes making waves Posts: 296
    I'm telling you for the money this is the one:

    https://www.amazon.com/Premium-Leather-Deer-Hide-Turntable/dp/B00JDWHDSS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1497039875&sr=8-3&keywords=skin+slipmat

    Yes you can spend more and acrylic is the best, but these sound awesome if you need a shipmate.
  • lolobugg
    lolobugg BLUE RDGE MTNS Posts: 8,195
    thanks. looks really nice. do your records stick to it when you lift them off?

    livefootsteps.org/user/?usr=446

    1995- New Orleans, LA  : New Orleans, LA

    1996- Charleston, SC

    1998- Atlanta, GA: Birmingham, AL: Greenville, SC: Knoxville, TN

    2000- Atlanta, GA: New Orleans, LA: Memphis, TN: Nashville, TN

    2003- Raleigh, NC: Charlotte, NC: Atlanta, GA

    2004- Asheville, NC (hometown show)

    2006- Cincinnati, OH

    2008- Columbia, SC

    2009- Chicago, IL x 2 / Ed Vedder- Atlanta, GA x 2

    2010- Bristow, VA

    2011- Alpine Valley, WI (PJ20) x 2 / Ed Vedder- Chicago, IL

    2012- Atlanta, GA

    2013- Charlotte, NC

    2014- Cincinnati, OH

    2015- New York, NY

    2016- Greenville, SC: Hampton, VA:: Columbia, SC: Raleigh, NC : Lexington, KY: Philly, PA 2: (Wrigley) Chicago, IL x 2 (holy shit): Temple of the Dog- Philly, PA

    2017- ED VED- Louisville, KY

    2018- Chicago, IL x2, Boston, MA x2

    2020- Nashville, TN 

    2022- Smashville 

    2023- Austin, TX x2

    2024- Baltimore

  • earthquakes making waves
    earthquakes making waves Posts: 296
    Not usually, I have a super "static filled" house (maybe I drag my feet too much) and usually never sticks, when I have problems with that in the winter time if at all it only sticks when I'm dumb enough not to ground myself before touching the record and mat. Just touch the ground on your phono preamp and discharge all your electrons, that trick also helps keep dust and static cling off your records too:)
  • dudeman
    dudeman Posts: 3,227
    Something to keep in mind when choosing a new platter or mat is the vertical tracking angle of your stylus. If you go with a thicker mat or just add one on top of your old one, you change the angle that the stylus contacts the groove. This may result in distortion, damage to the cantilever or damage to your records.

    Some turntables have adjustments for VTA and some don't. Also, conical stylii should have fewer issues with this but often offer less fidelity than elliptical or Shibata stylii. 

    Just some food for thought as you're deciding. 
    If hope can grow from dirt like me, it can be done. - EV
  • dudeman
    dudeman Posts: 3,227
    I've experimented with cork, felt and neoprene on my turntable but ended up going back to the stock rubber mat every time. 
    If hope can grow from dirt like me, it can be done. - EV
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,844
    Black felt here.  Why?  "Cause that's what the Pro-Ject came with.  Is there a good reason to change it?
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • MedozK
    MedozK Tennessee Posts: 9,212
    edited June 2017

    This is the cork mat I use.
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,844
    Ordered a Pro-Ject Cork It cork mat to go with my Por-Ject Carbon Debut.  Looks like it should be a very good upgrade.
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • tempo_n_groove
    tempo_n_groove Posts: 42,243
    brianlux said:
    Ordered a Pro-Ject Cork It cork mat to go with my Por-Ject Carbon Debut.  Looks like it should be a very good upgrade.
    I have the acryllic @brianlux and I notice a difference for the better.

  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,844
    tempo_n_groove said:
    brianlux said:
    Ordered a Pro-Ject Cork It cork mat to go with my Por-Ject Carbon Debut.  Looks like it should be a very good upgrade.
    I have the acryllic @brianlux and I notice a difference for the better.

    Nice!  I'm sure the cork will be a step up at least.  I hope it makes a diff anyway!
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • dudeman
    dudeman Posts: 3,227
    Out of curiosity, what kind of differences are you noticing with different types of mats? 
    If hope can grow from dirt like me, it can be done. - EV
  • tempo_n_groove
    tempo_n_groove Posts: 42,243
    dudeman said:
    Out of curiosity, what kind of differences are you noticing with different types of mats? 
    Less "pop".
  • dudeman
    dudeman Posts: 3,227
    Do you mean the popping and clicking you would hear from static or dust on a record? 
    If hope can grow from dirt like me, it can be done. - EV
  • tempo_n_groove
    tempo_n_groove Posts: 42,243
    dudeman said:
    Do you mean the popping and clicking you would hear from static or dust on a record? 
    Less static and noise, yes.
  • brianlux
    brianlux Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 43,844
    tempo_n_groove said:
    dudeman said:
    Do you mean the popping and clicking you would hear from static or dust on a record? 
    Less static and noise, yes.
    I'm noticing that with my new cork slipmat as well.  And less dust clinging to the vinyl.
    "It's a sad and beautiful world"
    -Roberto Benigni

  • cp3iverson
    cp3iverson Posts: 8,702
    Cork didnt do much for me on my ProJect Carbon. Never invested in acrylic. 

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