News

There's still a great deal of news to post from both the Munich High End and T.H.E. Show Newport Beach and that will be coming shortly. Meanwhile, are you ready for a mat test?

Using the same track from Mike Valentine's Chasing the Dragon audiophile demo record (an excerpt of Vivaldi's "Concerto For Two Mandolins") recorded utilizing a "Decca Tree" microphone array, I recorded to 44.1k/16bit WAVE files 8 (count them) mats, on the recently reviewed Zorin Audio turntable and tonearm. The cartridge was a Lyra Titan i feeding a Swan Song Audio Cygnet MC phono preamplifier, the review of which is almost finished.

The mats were: 1) the stock carbon fiber one supplied with the Zorin 2) a Boston Audio Graphite mat 3) "The Simple Mat" made from synthetic cork 4) a now discontinued one of what feels like ultra-thin 1/16th of an inch cork from a fellow who shall remain nameless and whose mat was nameless so I'll call it the Brooklyn mat 5) the Hideinthesound suede mat 6) the Hideinthesound split mat with suede on one side and a smooth hide on the other side, 7) The Music Hall cork mat 8) the Moo mat made of cow hair and hide.

Once these files are posted, you can download them, listen to decide if you can or cannot hear differences and if so, which one you prefer. You can only vote for one, so in the comments section say why and add others if you think they too sounded better than the others.

Or, maintain your sanity and don't bother listening. I will post my thoughts on the various mats while the voting occurs. And the record will be reviewed soon too.