|
Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: Boston Audio Design Mat 1 Accessory by dvb Welcome Licorice Pizza (LP) lovers! Setup guides and Vinyl FAQ. |
For Sale Ads |
207.6.161.136
Model: Mat 1 Category: Accessory Suggested Retail Price: $195.00 Description: Turntable Mat Manufacturer URL: Boston Audio Design Manufacturer URL: Boston Audio Design
Review by dvb ( A ) on October 07, 2003 at 20:38:36
IP Address: 207.6.161.136Add Your Review
for the Mat 1
To get to the point, this mat is a “must have†upgrade for any Nottingham Analogue turntable that does not already have a graphite mat.My Boston Audio Design Mat 1 replaces an Extreme Phono None-Felt mat (http://www.extremephono.com/Mat.htm). The None-Felt was, in turn, an improvement over the foam mat that came with the Spacedeck, but the Mat 1 is a substantial jump over the None-Felt. In fairness, the None-Felt is only $32.00, and the Mat 1 is $195.00, so the None-Felt is not embarrassed by the comparison. Moreover, the None-Felt is mainly pitched at the Linn Sondek – it may have more synergies with that platter.
The Mat 1 and the None-Felt even share one design feature – both are designed not to touch the spindle. In the case of the “donut†None-Felt, the clearance from the spindle is a few centimeters; for the Mat 1, it is just a millimeter or so. I presume the intent in both is to prevent bearing vibration transferring to the stylus.
A very pleasant feature of the Mat 1 is its heft, impressively machined from a billet of solid graphite. I’m not sure what it weighs, but sits nicely on the platter, and doesn’t move with the record – whereas the None-Felt was always coming away with the record, and had to be repositioned on the platter. I have not yet measured it with a micrometer, but it is not unduly thick – my guess is about 3mm, as with most mats. I have not yet heard the need to adjust the VTA.
But, on to the music. The additional information getting through was immediately evident on the “Girl from Ipanema†cut on the Getz/Gilberto LP. I find this a great cut for imaging, but the Mat 1 brought it to new levels. Astrud Gilberto takes on a palpable presence as the speaker disappears. I heard Stan’s intake of breath during his solos as I had not heard previously.
On the Analogue Productions pressing of “Waltz for Debbieâ€, there is a new detail, shimmer and brilliance to the percussion, and a new authority to Scott Lafaro’s bass. And, yeah, you can hear a bit more of those meatballs at the Vanguard chatting in the background.
You get the picture. I won’t belabor it. Considering the substantial cost of Nottingham’s own heavy platter and graphite upgrades, this is a very cost effective upgrade – go for it!
Product Weakness: None yet to my ears. Product Strengths: Synergy with Nottingham Analogue Spacedeck
Lets lots of information through -- musical detail and imaging
Associated Equipment for this Review: Amplifier: Bryston B60 (amp portion only) Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): "Little Wonder" passive; Wrightsound WPP100C phono pre Sources (CDP/Turntable): Spacedeck OL/incognito/RB250 DV20XH Speakers: PSB Stratus Silver Cables/Interconnects: Bogdan Silver Spirit Reference Music Used (Genre/Selections): Jazz, classical Room Size (LxWxH): blah x blah x blah Room Comments/Treatments: blah blah blah Time Period/Length of Audition: Just tonight! Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Topic - REVIEW: Boston Audio Design Mat 1 Accessory - dvb 20:38:36 10/7/03 ( 9)
- Boston Audio Design Mat 1 Accessory - Dave Pogue 05:10:21 10/8/03 ( 7)
- Use a clamp - dvb 17:41:37 10/8/03 ( 4)
- Slander! Libel! You'll be hearing from my lawyers . . . . - Donald Sutherland 05:08:47 10/9/03 ( 1)
- I was kinda thinking I should have looked that up - dvb 06:36:24 10/9/03 ( 0)
- Re: Use a clamp, or not - Dave Pogue 18:27:53 10/8/03 ( 1)
- Sorry, didn't mean to sound so prescriptive! - dvb 20:34:39 10/8/03 ( 0)
Re: Boston Audio Design Mat 1 Accessory - dvb 12:50:04 10/8/03 ( 1)
- The somewhat similar Mystic Mat is packaged with a Michell clamp - Tyoder 05:13:04 10/9/03 ( 0)
Agreed. Works great on my NA Horizon. (nt) - Langdell 20:44:22 10/7/03 ( 0)