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I’ve gone back and re-tested the following mats I have at my disposal:
Marigo Signature
Herbie’s Black Hole
Millennium carbon fiber
For different reasons, I really don’t like what any of them do in my system. I initially thought I did, but further auditioning has revealed weaknesses in each.
Are there any CD mats I’m not thinking of that are worth auditioning? I would definitely need a money-back guarantee. TIA.
Follow Ups:
Hi,
You will not get a money back guarantee and finding the Mat means looking in seedy charity shops, but it sure worked sweet when I was still using CD...
Le CD-Flop - une grande innovation française
My personal CD-Flot was also fitted with a sliver of Peter Belt's special rainbow foil, which I imagined or heard to make a positive difference (and which hence I was not required to buy some foil for each and every of my CD's).
YMMV and remember, all sales are final, no refund, no quibbling.
Ciao T
Herbies Original grungebuster Black CD Mat
(not the black hole this is full size)
Obtain a roll of standard black electrician's tape. Cut three strips, each 1 3/8 inches long and attach them in radial spoke pattern 120 degrees apart on label side of the CD.
Edits: 02/10/10
...I think the Marigo is my favorite, over the Millennium, but won't work in my player.
I actually did try the Blacklight a long time ago. Honestly, I forget if it did anything.
I remember mine did something, meaning it improved the sound, especially when I used a small black light to "charge" it. Now if I could only remember where I put it!
Seems to give a subtly smoother and more musical sound. Works with my Esoteric VRDS mechanism, too (X-03SE)
I certainly have not tried all the mats, but I have a DIY carbon fiber mat to which I have attached a Herbies Black hole. The carbon provides a black background behind the disc and the black hole helps stabilize the disc and provides damping. I cannot say there is any great difference, but it sounds musical with my top-loading Lector player. I am not as familiar with what works for front loaders.
Your DIY project sounds interesting. Unfortunately it also sounds well beyond my VERY limited technical abilities. :(
Carbon fiber mats tend to be very slippery. The Oppo drawer accelerates quickly and they may slide on the cd. Slide the mat as far toward the Oppo as you can before closing. The FIM with the painted side down slides very little.
.
FIM has one that cost US$128. My friends told me it is good, so I just ordered one.
Close is the Millennium mat.
When I had a recording that was very open with lot's of air. The Millennium carbon fiber mat took that away on some recordings. On some recordings I liked to use the mat and on others, I did not.
what did the FIM do that the Millennium didn't?
Both mats are made of carbon fiber, but the FIM has one painted surface. First carbon fiber in contact with the cd disc on both. The FIM is clearly louder at the same volume level and has stronger bass extending further down. Second with the FIM painted face in contact with the disc, the differences grow more striking. First the sound stage is wider and deeper. You fell more involved in it and you hear more of the recording locations ambience. The bass is even deeper and more defined.
I should say that I am partially responsible for the FIM mat. I took the Millennium mat to the 2008 RMAF to demonstrate to John Tucker of Exemplar that using it while ripping discs to a harddrive that using a mat on the disc improved the speed in ripping and the sound. John bought one at the show and demonstrated it to Winston. Winston already knew of the benefits of AVM. The rest is history although there were many failed prototypes.
Thanks for the comparison, Norm. That was very helpful. I’ll post my thoughts once I have a chance to play with the FIM. That’s interesting about your involvement in the development of the mat. I’m really anxious to hear it. Should be here on Monday.
deeper bass and stronger dynamics. The FIM is, of course, carefully painted with a very thin coat of AVM which has been greatly thinned. I still have both here, so I will try to refresh my observations.
NT
One side is black carbon for enhanced dynamics and definition, the other side is teal resonance control coated for enhanced harmonics and detail.
Edits: 02/11/10
I went ahead and ordered one. Hopefully it'll do better than the others I've tried. If not, I can always return it. Elusive Disc gives a 30-day money back. Thanks for providing the link. :)
I'm on my 2nd marigo mat. The first would never lay flat (early generation) and so I upgraded to the latest version. But I never paid any attention to what it does to the music or gave it any thought. I just always used it.
My Photos
Have you gone back and tried no mat?
Yes, and in each case, I preferred the sound with no mat. But I'm always on the hunt for one that might work for me.
....about each mat? The Marigo (for me) brings out more musical information together with subtle details I don't hear without it.
Hi all ! I just put two cd's in the tray at the same time ....a little cheaper and easier than most .
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