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RINGMAT
 RINGMAT
is a new method of record support and the first that has been
properly designed for the generation of an accurate, low distortion
signal. It's unique design enables 12" records to be supported
so that the main vibrational modes of record movement - caused by
the input of stylus energy - give the minimum possible error signal.
This allows for improved tracking and, as a result, a reduction in
stylus and record wear.
With RINGMAT, there is a reduction of
background noise with a cleaner, crisper and yet more delicate
sound, together with a wider and deeper soundstage; there is an
enhanced sense of power, with greater weight and authority in the
bass.
Available in three thicknesses,
RINGMAT is a direct replacement for most felt and rubber mats on
leading turntables, as well as most bare platters, including those
made of acrylic and glass. Remember the Ringmat was designed for the
acrylic platter of the DNM ROTA turnatble.
Click
here to read 'The Story of Ringmat'.
The five Ringmat models are as
follows:
-
RINGMAT
200 about 1.8mm thick
-
RINGMAT
250 about 2.4mm thick
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RINGMAT
330 MK II XLR about 3mm thick
-
Anniversary
Ringmat 330
about 3mm thick
-
Anniversary GOLD SPOT Ringmat
about 2.9mm thick - NEW -
CLICK HERE
Except
in the case of those few turntables which normally have an
extremely thin rubber or felt mat and have no
tonearm height adjustment, it is recommended that the
Anniversary 330 or 330 MkII XLR should be chosen.
Accordingly, Linn, Roksan, Rega and similar turntables
should use one of the 330 Ringmats. If in doubt
consult your local hi-fi dealer, supplier or Ringmat Developments as
to which thickness you require for your turntable.
ANNIVERSARY
RINGMAT 330
Picture: Anniversary Ringmat 330
Celebrating 10
years of RINGMAT design, this is the first new RINGMAT to be
introduced since 1996. Based on the immensely successful 330 MkII
XLR, the ANNIVERSARY RINGMAT has the anti-resonance cut-outs to be
found in RINGMAT Spacers and new concepts for the operation of the
rings.
With the other
RINGMATS, the rubber-based adhesive used included a polyester
carrier, which acted as an interface between the cork rings and
the special paper substrate. With the ANNIVERSARY, the acrylic
adhesive used does not involve a carrier and a more direct contact
is made between the cork rings and the substrate. This not only
creates a more immediate sense of presence in the sound, with far
more detail retrieved, but also provides a much stronger bond
between the rings and the paper.
The
anti-resonance cut-outs improve the dynamics, the amount of
information retrieved and help create a much larger, wider sound
stage. This is particularly impressive when the ANNIVERSARY
RINGMAT is used as part of the RINGMAT SUPPORT SYSTEM.
In this instance, we suggest the cut-outs in the ANNIVERSARY
RINGMAT are aligned with the direction of the cut-outs in the
Spacers, with the LP STATMAT and RINGCAP also following the
pattern. Because the individual components are of a different
size, the cut-outs do not directly overlay each other, but the
general layout and direction, based on the position of the
Spacers, will be clear.
SET UP
The overall
thickness of the ANNIVERSARY RINGMAT is similar to other 330 MkII
models and therefore the advice given in respect of the cartridge
and tonearm alignment when using them should continue to be
followed with the ANNIVERSARY. For those users who have not
previously used a RINGMAT, the instructions given with the 330
MkII and MkII XLR models are reprinted below.
USING YOUR RINGMAT
For many record
lovers, it may be sufficient to just replace an existing felt or
rubber mat with a RINGMAT. The notes that follow are therefore
written for those who wish to go further in extracting maximum
pleasure from their records and to explain what is happening, and
then what is required, if it is felt that the sound could still be
improved upon.
YOUR TURNTABLE
PLATTER
The ANNIVERSARY
RINGMAT, in common with the 330 MkII and MkII XLR, has an extra
ring on the underside about 2¼ inches (58mm) from the centre of
the spindle. As it is important that this extra ring rests
securely on the platter, gently press the RINGMAT down onto the
platter by applying slight pressure on top of the RINGMAT
immediately above the small underside ring. Only the three
underside rings of the RINGMAT should rest on the platter, so do
not press the RINGMAT down so hard that any part of the paper
substrate (disc) itself is pushed down onto the platter.
In the case of
those turntables having a split platter, such as certain of those
from Linn, Roksan, AR, Thorens, etc., the inner platter or hub is
usually slightly lower than the outer platter, often by 0.15mm or
0.3mm. So long as the inner underside ring still rests securely on
the surface of the inner platter, even though it is very slightly
lower than the outer platter, this should give an excellent
result. However, should the difference between the inner and outer
platters exceed 0.5mm, it will be best to build up the inner
platter so that its surface is not more than, say, 0.3mm lower
than the surface of the outer platter.
For Roksan
Xerxes and Garrard turntables, Ringmat Developments have
developed
special platter inserts for significantly improving sound quality
when using the ANNIVERSARY RINGMAT and other 330 MkII models with
these turntables. For more information on this matter, or to
order a platter insert, contact Ringmat Developments.
CARTRIDGE &
TONEARM ALIGNMENT
In the RINGMAT
instructions it states: "If there is height adjustment to the
tonearm, make such adjustments as are necessary to ensure that the
tonearm and cartridge are aligned to the surface of the record as
is appropriate for the design of the cartridge." Most
instructions for aligning the tonearm and cartridge suggest that
these should lie parallel to the surface of the record. Following
the pioneering work of Russ Andrews and others, further research
has shown that the 'parallel' concept (virtually an industry
standard) is not usually the best approach for most cartridges.
The aforementioned
research has confirmed that a far more accurate signal, with much
less distortion, can usually be obtained by having the tonearm
sloping slightly down towards the back (i.e. towards the pivot).
It was also found that when the stylus pressure of the cartridge
was set at a point that was more suitable to the room conditions
(see following paragraph) the pivot end of the tonearm needed to
be between 2mm and 2.5mm lower than the headshell end. The reason
for the range of 0.5mm is that the optimum setting varies from
cartridge to cartridge (the foregoing seems to be good for most
cartridges, typically with a nominal tracking angle of 20° - 23° )
and also from record to record, according to the thickness of the
vinyl and the angle at which the record was cut; indeed, the
actual variation to achieve an optimum stylus rake angle for any
record is around 1mm or more, but the suggested range is typical
of many records.
Where the
tonearm is aligned as suggested above, then in rooms of an average
temperature and humidity, stylus pressure should be set half way
between the mid-point and the bottom of the recommended range for
the cartridge - for very warm rooms, stylus pressure should be
lowered towards the bottom of the range; for cooler rooms, it
should be increased towards the mid-point. Further background
information is available from Ringmat Developments.
A suggested way to
align the tonearm for an ANNIVERSARY RINGMAT and other 330 models
(which raises the record about 3mm above the platter), is to place
a flat sheet of card or plastic with a thickness of around 0.75mm*
on the bare platter and place a record on top. Then, by measuring
the distance between the surface of the record and (1) the front
and (2) the back of the headshell (e.g. to the underside edge of
the headshell in each case), adjust the height of the tonearm so
that the distances, (1) and (2), are the same. Then remove the
sheet of card or plastic and replace with the RINGMAT. Initially,
set stylus pressure according to room conditions (see previous
paragraph) and fine tune by listening to one or two records in the
normal way - reducing pressure if the sound is heavy, thick and
slow, or increasing pressure if the sound is rather thin with a
hard edge, the bass over-dynamic and lacking in extension, and the
sound generally too fast or 'mechanical sounding', lacking
emotion.
* A plastic
shim of 0.75mm is available, if
required, from Ringmat Developments.
RINGMAT SPACERS
and RINGMAT SUPPORT SYSTEM
Picture: Ringmat Spacer - Mat Stud Engaged
Now that RINGMAT
Spacers are available, either separately or as part of the RINGMAT
SUPPORT SYSTEM, this will not only make many of the aforementioned
procedures much easier, but it will also be possible to establish,
quickly and easily, an accurate setting for the LPs in a
collection. It should be appreciated that, in a well optimised
system, an error of as little as 0.1mm in the height of a record
on the platter will degrade reproduction considerably. It is, in
fact, the dominant parameter affecting sound quality and that is
why so much emphasis has been placed on it in these notes.
RINGMAT Spacers also provide an improved interface between the low
mass of a RINGMAT and the very much higher mass of the platter,
generating a significant improvement in the dynamics of music and
other sounds on playback, as well as enabling the user to achieve
a more accurate stylus rake angle.
NEW RINGMAT ANNIVERSARY GOLDSPOT
RINGMAT EXCHANGE
You may also like to read:
-
Beyond Ringmat -
-
Incorporating Ringmat &
Statmat Products into your System -
-
Back to Decoupling Products -
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