Digital Drive: REVIEW: Ringmat Developments Statmat MkII Accessory by Deaf Ear

Model:	Statmat MkII
Category:	Accessory
Suggested Retail Price:	$40
Description:	Electrostatic control system in the form of a mat
Manufacturer URL:	Ringmat Developments
Model Picture:	View

Review by Deaf Ear on November 22, 2001 at 16:53:40
IP Address: 63.27.120.115

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for the Statmat MkII

I'm not prone to writing reviews and I'm not at all comfortable espousing the sort of rhetoric that's usually associated with advertising hyperbole, fraudsters or the deluded (hey, I'm Scottish -- we don't gush!). Therefore, it comes as a enormous surprise for me to stand up and say to you: in my system, Ringmat's Statmat borders on theâ€¦errâ€¦wellâ€¦miraculousâ€¦! (pause for uncomfortable squirming).
So what is it? In their own words:
Ringmat Developments is proud to announce [â€¦] the biggest advance in CD reproduction since compact discs were introduced in 1983. The STATMAT electrostatic control system is designed to enhance the reproduction quality of CD recorded music. STATMAT eliminates the problem of low-level voltage surges by evening out the electrostatic charges that build up during play.
[â€¦]Statmat is made of conductive polypropylene film, coated with specially formulated conductive inks. The size and shape of a standard compact disc, STATMAT is simply placed on the CD in the tray. Unlike competitive products, no treatment of the disc itself is necessary. Moreover, its lightweight material ensures that the transport mechanism does not suffer from any additional weight.
[â€¦]CDs revolve at high speed in a dry, closed environment with relatively high temperatures. This causes a build-up of electrostatic fields that can distort the phase of the signal from the CD to the speakers. Such phase anomalies result in a degradation of the sound quality. STATMAT addresses this problem by evening out the low-voltage 'hot spots', ensuring that the reproduction is as true as possible to the original recording. STATMAT is coated with a unique pattern of specially formulated conductive inks which level out the electrostatic fields around the CD, ensuring that the signal recreated by the digital circuitry is phase-correct before it is sent to the speakers. Therefore, as the signal suffers no phase distortion, the resultant sound is more vibrant, with an improved sense of timing and rhythm, clearer intonation and enhanced imaging.
Does that sound like crap to you, too? Go to their website, it's all there and more.
I'd used the Marigo Crossbow CD mat in the past and thought it took a leap of faith to discern even the slightest of differences -- certainly not worth the $80 asking price. So when I found a store on the internet selling overstocked Statmats for a measly $22 including shipping, my interest peaked enough for me to buy one: I'd only be out a few bucks if things didn't work out. A couple of days later a package arrived with a pathetically flimsy little plastic disk inside; if there had been the slightest breeze in the room I'd never have seen the thing again. "Mugged again!", I thought, as I tried to rub the word "sucker" from my forehead. With little enthusiasm I floated it over a CD and fired up. Did it work? Lordy! Did it ever!
It's about this time in a review where the reviewer starts speaking in audio-tongues about soundstages, imaging, dynamics etc, but the truth is, EVERYTHING improved! And not subtly either! This is exactly the type of verbal effluence that I would not trust in anyone else's writings, but that is precisely why I am writing this review. In my system the Statmat has effected a sound improvement akin to a major component upgradeâ€¦I would have happily spent a lot of money to achieve what the Statmat has done for $22?!! Sound incredible? Nobody could have been more incredulous than me as fluid, liquid sound swam around my room. Instruments, voices existed in space with increased texture and palpability. Things sounded much more effortless.
I should be noted that I am a CD tweaker. I degrease my disks, bevel and blacken the edges, then apply Auric Illuminator. Every one of these steps improves the sound to my ears. Statmat's benefits are baldly evident even after these rigors.
"Right Lad!", I hear you say "Just what d'you mean by everything improved?!" Well, let's look at Ringmat's assertions for the Statmat. Their claims first, my observations after:
â€¢ Cleaner, crisper sound? Check!
â€¢ Greater resolution and separation? Check!
â€¢ Wider, deeper soundstage? Double Check!
â€¢ Enhanced power and dynamics? A little.
â€¢ Improved sense of timing and rhythm? Can't say I noticed.
â€¢ Clearer intonation and voice inflections? Check!
â€¢ Clearer ambience of recording venue? Check!
â€¢ Simply more natural, more musical? Simply True!
Now, it's well understood in audio circles that one man's euphony is another man's distortion, so I'll leave the final analysis of the overall improvement to my wife, who -- after just a few moments of listening to the Statmat -- observed: "everything sounds so much lovelier than before". She's Mexicanâ€¦they gush all the time.

Product Weakness: It's a flimsy miracle. You have to keep it pressed in a book overnight to flatten it (no, really!)
Product Strengths: It's a miracle I tell you!

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Pass Labs Aleph 3
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Conrad-Johnson PV10AL
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Cambridge Audio DiscMagic; Perpetual Technologies P-1A & P-3A w/Modwright level II mods; Monolithic P3 power supply
Speakers:	Merlin IIs
Cables/Interconnects:	Harmonic Technology Cyberlink Platinum AES/EBU; HT TruthLinks; Analysis Plus Oval 9s
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Acoustic jazz (lots of ECM stuff); Trance/techno; Richard Thompson!
Room Size (LxWxH):	25 x 13 x 8
Time Period/Length of Audition:	One astonishing week
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	It's a flimsy miracle. You have to keep it pressed in a book overnight to flatten it (no, really!)
Product Strengths:	It's a miracle I tell you!