SPACER Picture: Full Set of Ringmat Spacers 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. Ringmat Spacers comprise: A Spacer Mat, which is a 0.75mm thick latex disc with a stud on the outer edge to enable the other Spacers to lock in and not move round whilst records are being played.  It is placed on the bare platter and other Spacers are positioned on top.  The nature of the latex used in the Platter Mat is such that it adheres to the platter, preventing slippage, and also effectively dampens any ringing of the platter below.   Some users have placed the Ringmat directly on top of the Spacer Mat , without the other Spacers, and report that they have achieved an excellent result. A range of coloured plastic Spacers, each a different thickness, which lock into the Spacer Mat.  By using them in various combinations, the standard set of 8 of these discs enable the user to adjust the height of the record above the platter in steps of 25 microns.  A standard set of 8 Spacers, as supplied with the full Ringmat Support System, would comprise: 2 Green 0.075mm thick 1 Blue 0.100mm thick 2 Slate 0.125mm thick 1 Clear 0.250mm thick 2 Yellow 0.500mm thick With any combination of Spacers, at least one base Spacer (Yellow or Clear) is placed on the Spacer Mat first.  All the others are placed on top in descending order of thickness.  It is very important that a Spacer is not placed on top of one that is thinner. All the Spacers, including the Spacer Mat, have the proprietary anti-resonance cut-outs found in so many of the Ringmat and Statmat products. Picture: Ringmat Spacer Mats Purpose and Performance Summary Ringmat Spacers improve LP sound reproduction by overcoming the following engineering and alignment shortcomings inherent with all turntable designs, irrespective of price:- 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. Different angles at which records are cut. The adoption of platter diameters smaller than that which is ideal from an engineering aspect. The unequal mass of record and platter, which needs to be graduated. Unwanted resonances, which feed up through the turntable and are inherent in all platters.  These will otherwise deflect stylus tracking and compress dynamics. 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 Spacers used with the MRA version of the Ringmat Support System should be considered.  This version has only a Spacer Mat and two Spacers (1 Clear and 1 Slate) instead of the Spacer Mat and the standard eight Spacers of the full System.  In such situations, the reasons for having the Spacers listed in 1. and 2. above are not so 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. - Back to Spacers -

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