Ringmat works?!

[Les Adams]

When the salesman in my regular store suggested that I should try a Ringmat 330 MKII XLR on my Garrard 401 I was, to say the least, sceptical. In fact it was only because of his offer to let me take one home and try it on a sale or return basis that I entertained the idea. After all, what possible difference could a piece of paper with a few rings of cork on it make? I normally use the original rubber Garrard mat and a clamp. I have previously tried a felt mat but it made no appreciable difference.

So, with all my predjudices and the thought that I would NEVER pay £50 for a piece of paper, it set off home to experiment, convinced that I would be retuning it to the shop the next day with the money still in the bank!

Armed with a handfull of familar vinyl, I sat and listened intensely, first without the Ringmat,then with it. To be honest I really didn't want it to work, but the damn thing actually does make a difference..and not just a small one! I didn't even have to listen that hard,it was just an obvious improvement that was apparent straight away. I could not believe my ears, litterally. So I did the tests again. I even gota friend round to listen and to test me blind by alternating mats without me looking and I made notes. We did 20 comparisons in all and I got it right 18 times out of 20! This was enough to convince me that I had to have one.

The bass is deeper and more defined as is midange detail and clarity. Soundstage is also more focussed.

The trouble is, now that I have the mat itself, I am wondering how much difference the rest of the "Ringmat system" would make. They do "spacers" and all kinds of things... I could end up paying almost £200 for bits of plastic & paper!

So help me out here guys. Does anybody here have the whole shooting match and how much difference do the extra bits make over the standard 330 mat?