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Ordered a mat for my VPI Traveler on Thursday with standard shipping. It arrived today (Monday) and was very well packed. Well executed product. Now to find a circular shelf so I can repurpose the stock mat. :>)
Follow Ups:
Guess JFGI is in order here...
Dman
Analog Junkie
I've had Herbie's Way Excellent Mat on my LP12 for years. Like probably six or eight years and maybe more. Tried everything from stock felt to cork to shelf-liner to some kind of sorbathane POS. Well probably not sorbathane, but it sure used to stick the LPs like sorbathane would. Always seemed to me like the Linn story about the felt having uniform dampening blah blah blah, was a bit of bull and decided to see if there was something better out there. Well, definitely different in every case from the felt, but it wasn't until I tried the WEM that I found one that was better in every way than the stock felt mat. It does not stick to records, it very effectively kills any ringing in the platter, and high-frequency stuff comes through with greater clarity and more of a sense of ease. I wouldn't be without it.
Can you flip records without stopping the platter?
Dave
Although I much prefer to stop the platter - is much safer that way. Admittedly, it is much easier to do with the felt mat and with much less chance of a mishap, but yes, you can do it. With the felt if you don't get it off just right, no big deal as it just slides against the felt, but if you don't get it perfect with the WEM you run the risk of friction with the WEM grabbing the record and that can be a very bad thing.
.., although with my SP-25 TT, I prefer to stop the platter before changing sides.
The mat is not slick but it's also not really tacky, so if you lift up on the record the instant that you touch the edges you might not have any problems.
It is certainly now on my "upgrade bucketlist" (along with a better speed/motor controller and armboard) ! Thanks for your insight!
Dman
Analog Junkie
the tonearm dampers on my LP12/Ittok and couldn't be happier. YMMV
By denying scientific principles, one may maintain any paradox.
Galileo Galilei
Edits: 08/26/14
Whose carbon-fiber arm base is that? I have the stock MDF(?) one from the 80's, and while I am under the impression that it may have warped, I noticed that that back of yours doesn't sit level to the plinth (or is it the angle of the photo?).
I know what the (sonic) issues surrounding this, but am very curious about your armboard (Sonics, make, cost, etc).
Dman
Analog Junkie
by the person who may have been the best at that at the time and maybe all time, we focused more on getting the bounce right and less on the cosmetic aspects of the setup so the armboard isn't level with the plinth, which is a custom-made(by me)heavier, taller, thicker, denser wood (Australian Lacewood)than the standard plinth. I think it and the CF subchassis and armboard (thanks AndyR, Asylum inmate and general good guy)make the LP12 a more neutral table than any stock LP12, of the same vintage, that I've heard.
By denying scientific principles, one may maintain any paradox.
Galileo Galilei
I was taught the same thing by my "Linn-Professor"- get the bounce right and all else should fall into place.
I know my armboard IS warped though. Besides, MDF, or whatever Linn calls this stuff, isn't the best armboard material anyway.
As I mentioned to another respondant- it is now on my "upgrade bucket list" along with a better motor PSU and a new mat (probably a Herbie's).
BTW, I don't know if you've seen pics of my FrankenLinn DIY table around here, but it actually follows a similar construction idea- the plinth (oak) is a good full inch or so higher than the stock Linn and is thicker as well (very dense and dead to the knock), and has all the appropriate bracing built and put in place, ala Linn. I'm not using a CF chassis (yet)- I have a pre Cirkus one from the late 80's that my Linn dealer/buddy gave me when I inquired (I think he thought I couldn't build something as good. Ha!). I may swap out the bearing at some point, but that is not a priority at the moment (and the cost of course! YIKES)...
Thanks for your thoughts on things!
Dman
Analog Junkie
Risabet's armboard is not, in fact, a Cetech one (as RichardP suggested) but was supplied by me - oh, 10 or 12 years? ago.
At that time, the Cetech guy had closed down in England but hadn't yet re-appeared in New Zealand; having just installed my Cetech I thought it would be a shame if other people couldn't experience the product - so I found a hi-tech boat-builder and set about supplying them (which involved some R&D, so 3 of them were wasted! :-(( ). Then Cetech came alive again and I realised that I couldn't compete - given he was making them himself, while I was paying said boat-builder to do it.
Like RichardP, I thought the CF-composite subchassis plus armboard was a tremendous step up from the stock Linn, pressed steel subchassis and MDF armboard - the improvement IMO mainly coming from the rigid connection between armboard and subchassis, which allowed more low level detail to come through.
I still have a couple in a box in my shed, if anyone is interested.
Regards,
Andy
Been very busy at work (though not so busy to ignore AA). Kind of sucks that we can't use a personal email account here (but considering its Avionics...)!
Dman
Analog Junkie
nt
Dman
Analog Junkie
Looks like a Cetech to me, but I could be wrong. Back when I owned my LP-12, I thought the Cetech was a very nice improvement over the stock MDF arm board and its associated tiny wood screws.
What results/differences did you hear?
My stock armboard is actually bolted on with M6 25mm bolts and nuts (with the appropriate screw holes enlarged on the sub chassis). So I don't think stability really an issue. The board itself just seems really, really cheap in the first place.
I can't believe this the best that Linn had to offer in the 80's? Really???
Dman
Analog Junkie
the stock and the CF subchassis and armboard are giant. See my review from when I installed it.
By denying scientific principles, one may maintain any paradox.
Galileo Galilei
Like Opus, I thoroughly enjoy mine on my TD 150. Almost 8 yrs now. I've also used it on DD and idler tables with good results. Not as much when I tried it on my Michell Gyro SE--but that platter is designed to work optimally with no mat at all.
Unless Steve has changed his Herbie's site, you'll find many positive comments from Sondek users there. It is very different from felt but it also carries a no questions asked warranty ;)
"Never look at the trombones...it only encourages them." Richard Wagner
What sonic benefits/differences do you notice?
Dman
Analog Junkie
Depends on what one compares it to. I ran through a large handful of mats, each with its charms, but the shortest answer is that I found the Herbie's to maximize harmonic complexity and transients to a degree that the others did not.
"Never look at the trombones...it only encourages them." Richard Wagner
Well, until recently I've sorta subscribed to the "Flat-Earth-Linnies" society and stuck with the felt mat (and variations therein).
Now, I'm feeling that the possibilities (and the fact that my table is a DIY Linn Clone) of this FrankenLinn haven't been fully exploited.
Thanks for your thoughts on the Herbie's Mat. It is now officially on my "upgrade bucket list" along with a better motor/speed control (thanks to John Ellison here!) and armboard. Ah, all those toys!!!
Dman
Analog Junkie
Hey you're welcome. Wool felt is nice on my Thorens, too.
Regarding the Herbies and felt...you can return the Herbies with no questions asked if it turns out you like the felt better ;)
"Never look at the trombones...it only encourages them." Richard Wagner
The Herbie's evens out the spectral balance and creates a more realistic tonal balance IME.
By denying scientific principles, one may maintain any paradox.
Galileo Galilei
About as "Linn-like" as you're likely to find.
Opus 33 1/3
I suppose if it didn't work on my Linn, I could switch to a Thorens!
Dave
Opus 33 1/3
His tube dampers are great too.
Herbies mat on restored Thorens TD-150
Opus 33 1/3
Edits: 08/26/14
also in the custom preamp I have. Use in Excellent mat on my RP3 and am very pleased. Plus, he is a great guy to deal with!
I use them on all my small signal tubes but can't hear a difference. Chicken Soup.
The Mat, though, that's audible.
Ask me about the Yamaha Silent Brass
n/t
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