BEYOND RINGMAT...
FURTHER UPGRADES FOR YOUR
TURNTABLE
Enthusiastic purchasers of Ringmats frequently phone
me and ask, “What should I do next to improve the music from my
LPs?”
They have usually heard about the Ringmat Support
System, and have perhaps read some of the reviews, but this involves
several different components and they are not sure where to start.
The purchase of the full Ringmat Support System, excluding the
Ringmat itself (if they already have one), may seem a lot of money
to buy “in one go”, but in terms of performance for money it is far
better spent this way before any upgrade to the cartridge or tonearm.
If, instead, they were to buy the System in stages
(it is modular), what should they buy first?
I would recommend the latest LP Statmat
configuration, called “LP Blue and Statcap”. Whereas the standard
LP Statmat is a single layer of our patented conductive film, the LP
Blue comprises two Statmat films, one each side of a polyester
substrate, and in addition there is a third Statmat film called a
Statcap. These three antistatic films work together at 90º to each
other. The configuration is very much more powerful that way,
eliminating all those “clicks” and “pops” caused by static and
preventing the record mat from being “stuck” to the underside of the
disc when it is lifted at the end of play. There is also a further
benefit in using the latest LP Statmat configuration in that
unwanted electronic fields arising from playing LP records, which
cause phase distortions to the signal, are largely eliminated. The
full extent of this problem is not appreciated without doing A/B
comparisons with and without the Statmat devices.
Next, because it is so relatively inexpensive, I
would recommend the Ringcap, which is now in MkII form. This
unique but simple device absorbs vibrations that radiate from the
centre of the record whilst it is being played. It rests on top of
the LP, occupying an area smaller than the record label. Very
light in weight, it comprises a single ring underneath an absorbent,
low resonance disc, like a very small, upside down Ringmat.
The rest of the Ringmat Support System comprises the
Ringmat Spacers, the instruction manual and, when the full System is
purchased, the booklet ‘How to Set Up and Fine Tune a Turntable’.
Although originally conceived as a means by which the record’s
cutting angle can be replicated on playback, the design of the
Ringmat Spacers has evolved to provide massive improvements in
analogue sound reproduction in their own right. This is in addition
to fine tuning the stylus rake angle and maintaining the correct VTA.
In summary, the Ringmat Spacers improve LP sound
reproduction by overcoming the following engineering and alignment
shortcomings inherent with all turntable designs, irrespective of
price:-
1. LPs
of different thickness. Differences in vinyl thickness have always
existed, but the advent of an increasing number of 180g audiophile
pressings makes the current problem far greater.
2. Different
angles at which records are cut.
3. The
adoption of platter diameters smaller than that which is ideal from
an engineering aspect.
4. The
unequal mass of record and platter, which needs to be graduated.
5. Unwanted
resonances, which feed up through the turntable and are inherent in
all platters. These will otherwise deflect stylus tracking and
compress dynamics.
6. The
“ringing” of some platter materials, which needs to be damped.
If the ability to adjust height is not critical (such
as instances where the stylus tip is spherical), then the MRA
version of the Ringmat Support System can be purchased – this
version has only two Spacers instead of the eight in the full
System. In this situation, the reasons for having the Spacers
listed in 1. and 2. above are not important and the advantages of
having them for reasons 3. to 6. can be acquired at a much reduced
cost. The MRA version does not include the booklet ‘How to Set Up
and Fine Tune a Turntable’, which is then available separately.
Of course, the improvements brought about by the LP
Statmat and Ringcap will be far more noticeable once the Ringmat
Spacers are in use. I often find when talking through the Ringmat
Support System with customers that they appreciate the benefit of
using the full Support System (or the MRA version) straight away and
opt to buy it in one go.
An additional, but very important, stage beyond
Ringmat is the support of the turntable itself, using Ringmat Feet,
Statfeet, Ringmat Domes and, in due course, an anti-resonance
platform for turntables. Then there are the other Ringmat
accessories for improving the rest of the hi-fi system, including
the full range of isolation, decoupling and anti-resonance products
and platforms plus interconnect, tonearm and speaker cables.
For further help and advice, contact Ringmat
Developments.
© Copyright May 2003
John Rogers
Ringmat Developments
You may also like to read:
-
Incorporating Ringmat &
Statmat Products into your System -
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Back to Decoupling Products -
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