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Model: | Herbie's Way Excellent Turntable Mat |
Category: | Accessory |
Suggested Retail Price: | $44.95 |
Description: | Turntable Mat |
Manufacturer URL: | Herbie's Audio Lab |
Model Picture: | View |
Review by mt10425 (A) on June 10, 2004 at 05:50:33 IP Address: 66.109.153.108 | Add Your Review for the Herbie's Way Excellent Turntable Mat |
I stumbled across this mat accidently just cruising the Audiogon classifieds. I've been trying to get a more balanced sound from my Linn Sondek LP 12/Grado Gold setup. The felt mat emphasizes the mid/lower midrange frequencies and rolls off the high frequencies. any complex musical passages are smeared. so I purchased a Ringmat 330 MkII XLR. This mat added some upper midrange detail but also some sibilance to many vocals. The lower frequencies also thinned out. So, I was wondering if it could be the associated equipment; cartridge, cables, etc. I began my research into the Herbie's Excellent Mat.I called Audio Connection in NY, where I first saw the ad on Audiogon, and talked with some rude moron. Undeterred, I called Steve at Herbie's in Texas and talked to him about his mat. After a very pleasant conversation, I ordered a mat, which arrived in two days.
Let me first state that I had minimal expectations considering what the Ringmat did/didn't do for $80 and Herbie's was only $45. Herbie's mat is different than anything I'd seen or felt before. The instructions are simple. A reference album for me is Paul Simon's Graceland which has many dynamic swings and is a very percussively complex album. I was "shocked" at what I heard. I heard every consenant that was sung, especially "f" and "t" at the end of words, no sibilance on "s" and no extra sizzle on cymbals. The first song on the lp has Kettle drums (I think) which had always sounded just like an undistinguished drum boom. Not any more. I could hear every inflection in vocals and instruments along the whole bandwidth. Bass was a bit deeper but more defined and imaging became more focused. The balance of the music without any frequency emphasis was simply amazing. I know, this sounds too good to be true and generally when I read reviews like this one, I take them with a grain of salt. So, for me to even write this ...well, the mat just impressed the hell out of me.
Lastly, the thing that impressed me the most was that the noise floor lowered so much that between songs (on used albums) it became so quiet that I kept looking at the turntable to see if it was the last song on the side! This mat should come automatically with any Linn turntable.
Product Weakness: | none so far. |
Product Strengths: | Clarity, definition, balance |
Associated Equipment for this Review: | |
Amplifier: | Parasound HCA 1000 |
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): | Parasound HP 850 |
Sources (CDP/Turntable): | Linn LP12 |
Speakers: | NSM model 15 |
Cables/Interconnects: | Vampire wire AI-II |
Music Used (Genre/Selections): | Randy Newman, Cold Blood, Mel Torme |
Type of Audition/Review: | Product Owner |
Follow Ups:
Thanks for the nice review - it made me purchase the mat ! I have had my eye on Herbie's Mat for a while now, having positive experience with his CD Mat. Your review finally made me satisfy my curiosity. I can broadly endorse what you wrote. I had a RingMat 330 XLR on my Thorens.I did a number of A/B/A tests with the last track on Side 1 of Ben Webster/Joe Zawinul's "Soulmates". I found that the Ringmat displayed some brittleness around the treble which I did not experience with Herbie's mat. The midrange was less muddy (to be fair to the Ringmat, this sounds worse than it is) than with the Ringmat. I found I could more clearly discern the piano lines. They, and the bass, had more foundation, the tone was 'rounder' and it sounded like they were brought forward in the mix somewhat. I understand your comment about balance - there was an evenness to the sound of the band that I found more pleasant to listen to with Herbie's mat. The Ringmat accentuated the tenor and cornet to the slight detriment of the piano, bass and drums. Herbie's mat put it all nicely into place again.
The differences were not earth shattering in my system. But they became more clear upon repeated switching and listening. The Ringmat lifts the LP 3mm from the platter and Herbie's mat 1.95mm. So there is a small VTA difference which I did not adjust for. I also find Herbie's mat aesthetically more pleasing to the eye. It covers the entire platter, which the Ringmat does not.
In the beginning I thought I could not lift the record off the platter whilst it remained turning - which from a convenience point of view I like doing - but with a quick lift it appeared that Herbie's mat did allow for it after all.
Overall I found the differences worthwhile and certainly worth the money.
Jw
I just ordered a Excellent Turntable Mat for my Linn on June 9 and it should arrive today. Also ordered a grungemaster CD mat (I realize that admitting that I listen to CD's on this forum may get me banned for life :) ). I noticed an improvement with Herbie's Halo's - better definition imaging and "air" - when I installed them on the 6922's in my pre-amp. Well written review, I hope I have the same experience.
"Completely non-sticky, records lift right off the top of the mat, while the underlying foam sticks firmly to the platter."The above comes from the manufacturers website. Can you confirm that there is no stickiness between the record and the mat. Also, about the mat sticking firmly to the platter - does it really stick, or is it slip proof/resistant? I don't want anything sticky on my records nor my platter.
Nice review, BTW. I need a new mat and this one seems to be coming up as a good one. Price is comfy too, considering what else is out there.
marc g. - audiophile by day, music lover by night
As far as non-sticky goes, the mat adheres to the platter and does not move and the mat leave no residue whatsoever on any records. It gives me the impression of vacuum platters in how the record adheres to the mat. There is no need for any record clamp. It's a bit difficult to explain. The record just sort of peels off the mat and gives the impression of a type of suction. Also, if you stop the TT and remove the LP, all the ststic that was sucked out of the album while it was playing gets sucked off the mat when the Lp is removed. It's highly unusual but very effective. Let me know if there are other questions. Good luck and enjoy.
Just to be certain.....I understand the records don't stick to the mat or no residue is left on them. What about the platter itself?
Obviously no flipping the record while leaving the platter spinning with this mat!!! I don't do that often anyway, so no biggie. Thanks again and enjoy!
marc g. - audiophile by day, music lover by night
Mt10425,As the other person on this site that reviewed this mat, I definitely agree with you about the stickiness description. No residue but it somehow firmly hold the LP in place. I tend to use a clamp myself since I already have one. I bought mine because of the static issue. My stock felt mat was a pain unlike the Herbie's mat which has been a joy to use. Great review.
I don't have a Linn and I don't even need a mat, but it was nice to read a sensibly worded, balanced review from a natural skeptic who was able to articulate why he ended up liking a product. Especially a product that doesn't cost $thousands. Also good that you were able to include comparisons with some competing products.I use Herbie's tube dampers on all my phono stage and preamp tubes. They are beneficial, though at a subtler level than what a TT mat would do.
__________
"Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger." - JRRT
I agree with every word: I, too, use the Herbie's with an LP12 after trying the Linn felt, and both flavors of NoFelt mat. The NoFelts, expecially the donut shaped mat, are excellent, but the Herbie's does everything a degree better. Unequivocally recommended.
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