Improving Felt Mat contact with Platter

Posted by: Tarquin Maynard - Portly on 01 April 2004

Muchachos

In response to various PMs on my comments elsewger, I thought it would be a good idea fully to outline the method.

First, the platter surface should be as clean and free from grease as possible. As I said, one of the easiest ways to achieve this is by the application of saliva - which is acidic enough to remove grease, but not acidic enough to danage the surface. Licking the platter all over is the first step.

The second step is to smooth the appropriate surface of the wool / felt mat - again, a very mild damping is the ideal way to do this. Ironing can be done, but this can crisp the surface of the mat. Saliva is also the ideal solution here for the same reasons outlined above. Lick the felt mat, and while still damp apply to the platter.

The fact that the metal is clean, and the mat is damp will improve adhesion, means that the contact area is increased and an album better supported. Overall sound improves mildy, but bass response does seem to be tighter.

Regards

Mike

Spending money I don't have on things I don't need.
Posted on: 01 April 2004 by Dev B
Mike,

I don't know if you are aware that Linn supply a different felt mat if you have static problems, I don't know what the part number is but a call to their helpline will solve it. One of my friends reports a small but useful uplift in sound quality also, but he uses a Linn system Wink

regards

Dev
Posted on: 01 April 2004 by seagull
Mike demonstrated this on my sistem when he was round on Saturday. He waited until The Riders had departed then made the suggestion that he try it out. He told us about the improvements it had made to his own high spec LP12. I must admit I was sceptical at first, but hey if it worked then its a free upgrade so I let him try.

We played Forty Licks by the Stones before and afterwards. The bass was indeed smoother, the guitar licks somehow more fluid.

We followed this up with that Classic Alberto's song Gobbin' on Life, pure punk parody mayhem brought to life.

After this the music just flowed.

It would appear though that this is only a temporary fix and lasts approximately 24 hours. I played some records on the Sunday but because the mat had dried out again the slight harshness had re-appeared as the record is no longer in such close contact with the mat.
Posted on: 01 April 2004 by Tarquin Maynard - Portly
We are aware of the date, thank you
Roll Eyes

Regards

Mike

Spending money I don't have on things I don't need.
Posted on: 01 April 2004 by domfjbrown
quote:
Originally posted by seagull:
We followed this up with that Classic Alberto's song Gobbin' on Life, pure punk parody mayhem brought to life.


EXCELLENT!!!!!! (see my below autosig!) I love "Snuffin' in a babylon" as well - let's smash up de furniture make it nice in here then we can go 'ave a smoke

__________________________
Don't wanna be cremated or buried in a grave
Just dump me in a plastic bag and leave me on the pavement
A tribute to your modern world, your great society
I'm just another victim of your highrise fantasy!
Posted on: 01 April 2004 by domfjbrown
quote:
Originally posted by funky:
GUYS IT´S APRIL 1 !


Saturday wasn't April 1 though Wink

__________________________
Don't wanna be cremated or buried in a grave
Just dump me in a plastic bag and leave me on the pavement
A tribute to your modern world, your great society
I'm just another victim of your highrise fantasy!
Posted on: 01 April 2004 by j8hn
Interesting post. Notice that on their site Linn sell, for the very same purpose you escribe, 5cc vials [complete with applicator] of Likk, Ivor Tiefbaun's very own saliva. Limited supply of course.

Many of you will remember the green sandpaper Linn sold in the past and discontinued due to its non-recyleability. As a replacement Linn discovered that a cat's tongue offers a similar and in fact superior abrasive surface. Special fully biodegradeable Linn cats - Katt, from the pedigree breed Scottish Fold, are trained to effect a 75kHz lick frequency. House-training and hence system compatibility could be questionable.
Posted on: 01 April 2004 by Geoff P
I personally use "Frankenstein" degaussing thread.

You sew a spiral of this into the felt mat and bring the lead out's to a special purpose potential meter supplied with mains power. With the aid of this whenever you put a record on you can set the "potential" of the felt mat to the same as the record and cancel any tendency to produce static.

regards
GEOFF
Posted on: 01 April 2004 by Midun
Actually, world famous SpeVak Corp. now sells a bottle of audiophile grade saliva collected from the drool of Tibetan yaks,expressly for this purpose. It comes in a handy spray bottle or with a sponge applicator tip.