Ringmat developments turntable mat

[flaxton]

I have one of these mats I would like to try on my p6 turntable. It is 2.40 Mm thick. The felt mat on the p6 is 3mm. Will the difference in thickness affect the cartridge alignment. Thanks.

 

[uzzy]

It will probably not affect the alignment enough to register but will affect the VTA .. the change in sound you get may be the change in the VTA and may also be affected by the mat .. but to assess the total difference you will need to use the same VTA on both mats.
Rega unfortuntately changed from a single point fixing to three bolts - this means that the newer arms cannot be fitted with the excellent Origin LIve and Michell VTA adjusters.

 

[savvypaul]

I'm a fan of the Ringmat, and have used it on several different turntables over the past 25 years.

When I had a P6, however, I marginally preferred a Funk Firm Achromat (which comes in 3mm, iirc). Both were a definite improvement on the felt.

YMMV

 

[Minicoupeman]

Mats do make a difference. I have tried lots. The Ring mat was good and as previously stated will affect the VTA which will have an effect on the SQ. Now whether what you hear is a result of the Ringmat or the VTA? Only you can decide. Do let us know.

 

[Lurch]

The 0.6mm shouldn't make to much difference, as that's probably the same as the differential between a 70s regular record and a modern 180g. I don't think many people fiddle with vta when swapping between different record thicknesses unless they're really anal about the process.

 

[flaxton]

Thank you all very much.

 

[DomT]

Just to add that another Funkfirm fan here. I have tried others including the Ringmat but the Funk one seems more natural to me. I would have thought that the Ringmat wouldn’t be the best choice for the Rega and that it might be ‘too hot’ sounding (but works well with Notts Analogue for that reason.) But these days you can try at home for 14 days and if you don’t like it then send it back.

 

[flaxton]

Is the Funk Firm an improvement as Roy Gandy says the felt mat is best.

 

[DomT]

Is the Funk Firm an improvement as Roy Gandy says the felt mat is best.

A manufacturer defending their own product; whatever next?

 

[Nifkin]

I got a lovely purple suede mat from a company in Canada (see my avatar image): it's slightly thinner than the original felt mat but only had a positive affect on the SQ without the need for any adjustment and is gloriously static free.

 

[flaxton]

Just to add that another Funkfirm fan here. I have tried others including the Ringmat but the Funk one seems more natural to me. I would have thought that the Ringmat wouldn’t be the best choice for the Rega and that it might be ‘too hot’ sounding (but works well with Notts Analogue for that reason.) But these days you can try at home for 14 days and if you don’t like it then send it back.

I have a Hudson acrylic mat. Not sure if it is an improvement on the felt mat though.

 

[uzzy]

I have a Hudson acrylic mat. Not sure if it is an improvement on the felt mat though.

There is no best - everyone needs to try different mats and let their ears choose which they like best. Different turntables respond differently to different mats so it is vital to try it on your own to decide.

 

[Ergot]

I’ve tried countless different mats, hands down the best, which I use on each trntable is the Hexmat Eclipse

 

[flaxton]

I’ve tried countless different mats, hands down the best, which I use on each trntable is the Hexmat Eclipse

That is very expensive.

 

[chezi]

I liked what the Ringmat did on my LP12 but after the opportunity to try a Funk Achromat the Ringmat was retired. Still lying around somewhere , might give it a try on my Systemdek.

chz

 

[DomT]

There is no best - everyone needs to try different mats and let their ears choose which they like best. Different turntables respond differently to different mats so it is vital to try it on your own to decide.

This has been my experience. I owned a funk mat and Tenuto mat and used them on my custom Lenco. They were very different. On my Luxman PD171 I didn’t notice the same degree of difference and so I sold the Tenuto to a Wammer although both the funk and tenuto were an improvement over the stock rubber mat. As Uzzy says experiment on your turntable and see what works. These are typically a mail order item so returns are easy.