ANOTHER series of mat/clamp comparisons.
- Thread starter spiritofmusic
- Start date
Initial impressions were a little worse than the Stack duo. Yes, there was somewhat more resolution, but tone didn't feel as fleshed out.
The dreaded leading edge excitement which gives the impression of potentially more going on, but is actually a hyped, over-busy presentation which eventually leads to long-term listener fatigue and realization that the perception of increased musical information is fake.
Interestingly, this sound seems closest tonally to my stock Reso-mat, maybe no surprise because the principle of elevating the LP on domes is similar between the two mats.
So, upon listening further, mindful of this illusion of enhanced leading edge misleading as resolution/excitement/dynamics, instead of it really being an affectation, archetype or coloration, I made a big effort to genuinely listen out for proper extra detail, the effects on tone colour and density, musical flow.
What I found as I listened more was that the Hexmat Absolute duo wasn't faking things. It was providing a very different presentation to the Stack duo in terms of somewhat more resolution, maybe a little drier than the Stack, but equally musical in its own way.
I'm definitely aware from the Hexmat of more going on re low level detail, bass articulation, musical lines in the background, but the Stack has the edge on treble extension and sweetness, and somewhat more fleshed out mids.
But these differences, even though easily perceivable, aren't groundbreaking, they just speak to different ways of presenting music.
And I would say both equally musical.
So much so that I can't call either a winner.
Yes, the Hexmat duo maybe eeks out a little more detail and resolution, the Stack duo favours a more solid, colourful tone pallette.
But this could easily be the other way round on a different TT.
And the fascinating results here mean that while the whole idea of me finding the ultimate mat/weight was the aim, I'm likely to keep both the Hexmat/clamp and Stack/stabiliser, and return the DädMät/Clämp.
And with the Spec yet to come, I'm really curious to see if this will be very different from these two, will split the difference between these two, how it might work with the Stack stabiliser.
And hopefully my friend's fascinating mat/puck as another data point, as my wife says, this all stops me causing trouble outside the house, lol.
The dreaded leading edge excitement which gives the impression of potentially more going on, but is actually a hyped, over-busy presentation which eventually leads to long-term listener fatigue and realization that the perception of increased musical information is fake.
Interestingly, this sound seems closest tonally to my stock Reso-mat, maybe no surprise because the principle of elevating the LP on domes is similar between the two mats.
So, upon listening further, mindful of this illusion of enhanced leading edge misleading as resolution/excitement/dynamics, instead of it really being an affectation, archetype or coloration, I made a big effort to genuinely listen out for proper extra detail, the effects on tone colour and density, musical flow.
What I found as I listened more was that the Hexmat Absolute duo wasn't faking things. It was providing a very different presentation to the Stack duo in terms of somewhat more resolution, maybe a little drier than the Stack, but equally musical in its own way.
I'm definitely aware from the Hexmat of more going on re low level detail, bass articulation, musical lines in the background, but the Stack has the edge on treble extension and sweetness, and somewhat more fleshed out mids.
But these differences, even though easily perceivable, aren't groundbreaking, they just speak to different ways of presenting music.
And I would say both equally musical.
So much so that I can't call either a winner.
Yes, the Hexmat duo maybe eeks out a little more detail and resolution, the Stack duo favours a more solid, colourful tone pallette.
But this could easily be the other way round on a different TT.
And the fascinating results here mean that while the whole idea of me finding the ultimate mat/weight was the aim, I'm likely to keep both the Hexmat/clamp and Stack/stabiliser, and return the DädMät/Clämp.
And with the Spec yet to come, I'm really curious to see if this will be very different from these two, will split the difference between these two, how it might work with the Stack stabiliser.
And hopefully my friend's fascinating mat/puck as another data point, as my wife says, this all stops me causing trouble outside the house, lol.
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A few albums in today, and I'm veering back to preferring the Stack mat/puck over the Hexmat mat/clamp, but there's very little in it, just some subjective variance in presentation, relative strengths, and likely a whole dose of YMMV (primarily whether your TT is on the lighter/more detailed side, or denser side of the spectrum, let's call this a Bergmann/Clearaudio versus Garrard 301 dichotomy... please, owners of these TTs, don't all attack me at once, just proposing the kind of variance that most vinylphiles would recognize).
Despite picking up on definite differences (Hexmat more detailed, faster, but somewhat drier & more skeletal tonally; Stack more extended into the treble, more crystalline, more fleshed out and colorful tonally), these differences actually converge rather than diverge the more you listen to them individually and in comparison.
Neither is slam dunk better, nor can one say which LPs would demonstrate the benefits of one mat over another.
More likely that the Garrard 301 sound already very dense and propulsive, could match better with the Hexmat, the Bergmann Clearaudio sound, already (perhaps) more nimble and less fleshed out in the mids, could match better with the Stack.
But I wouldn't push this theory much more than that.
For my tastes, where a certain grainy tone has been hard to fully eliminate despite massive efforts on new bearing, plinth/footers and motor/speed controller/LPSU, heroic Stacore isolation, a better engineered arm and tonally superior armwire, improved stylus type and overkill LPSU to my Straingauge cart system, trying to ameliorate if not eliminate this graininess in tone has been the main preoccupation in getting to a final place with my system.
The Acoustic Revive mat/Origin Live puck almost got me there, but it's shortcomings on softening dynamics and thickening the midbass now fully apparent hearing these new mats/weights.
Spec mat yet to arrive, but the Stack mat above all, and the Hexmat very close alongside, are answering final Qs in my setup.
Despite picking up on definite differences (Hexmat more detailed, faster, but somewhat drier & more skeletal tonally; Stack more extended into the treble, more crystalline, more fleshed out and colorful tonally), these differences actually converge rather than diverge the more you listen to them individually and in comparison.
Neither is slam dunk better, nor can one say which LPs would demonstrate the benefits of one mat over another.
More likely that the Garrard 301 sound already very dense and propulsive, could match better with the Hexmat, the Bergmann Clearaudio sound, already (perhaps) more nimble and less fleshed out in the mids, could match better with the Stack.
But I wouldn't push this theory much more than that.
For my tastes, where a certain grainy tone has been hard to fully eliminate despite massive efforts on new bearing, plinth/footers and motor/speed controller/LPSU, heroic Stacore isolation, a better engineered arm and tonally superior armwire, improved stylus type and overkill LPSU to my Straingauge cart system, trying to ameliorate if not eliminate this graininess in tone has been the main preoccupation in getting to a final place with my system.
The Acoustic Revive mat/Origin Live puck almost got me there, but it's shortcomings on softening dynamics and thickening the midbass now fully apparent hearing these new mats/weights.
Spec mat yet to arrive, but the Stack mat above all, and the Hexmat very close alongside, are answering final Qs in my setup.
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Seems to be made for minimum vinyl contact and minimum damping?what do you call this Absolute?
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First, it's not me calling it the Absolute, it's the designer.
Re minimal contact, yes it's certainly a left field or counter intuitive take.
Resembles my stock Reso-mat, but better materials I think, and way better engineered.
As to how can it be a good idea, I'm happy to rely on my ears, and it's consistently over a few days now been the resolution king in my system, over Stack, Acoustic Revive and Reso mats.
A large dose of serendipity today.
This is the first time in audio, certainly comparing things, that despite somewhat different presentations, I've struggled to declare an outright winner re the Stack Serene mat/stabiliser versus Hexmat Absolute mat/clamp.
Even though I've never run multiple arms and carts, I can certainly see why the different flavours available with multiple carts would appeal enough not to rank a favourite.
So, the Stack Serene mat/stabilizer, the tone king.
The Hexmat Absolute mat/clamp, the detail and speed king.
Both similar enough to each other and superlative in what they do, to love both of them.
But different enough, to certainly create a mental quandary re inability to choose a winner.
So I've taken the path of least resistance, and will use both of them over a long period, see if one becomes the de facto choice.
--
So, to that dose of serendipity. I thought I'd add my currently unused Teac Washi paper mat as a sub mat under the Hexmat. It *absolutely* doesn't work under the Stack Serene mat.
And what an interesting outcome. All the advantages of the Hexmat in terms of detail and speed are retained, but a healthy dose of tone density and richness is gained, taking it well into Stack Serene mat territory.
Right now, my opinion is swinging behind the Washi/Hexmat combination.
Either there's a constrained layer advantage going on, or the Washi sub mat is interrupting reflections from the metal platter, or the Washi is allowing the Hexmat a greater grip and thus continuity...
...or, or, I've been listening for too long and need a nice lie down...lol.
Photos up next...
This is the first time in audio, certainly comparing things, that despite somewhat different presentations, I've struggled to declare an outright winner re the Stack Serene mat/stabiliser versus Hexmat Absolute mat/clamp.
Even though I've never run multiple arms and carts, I can certainly see why the different flavours available with multiple carts would appeal enough not to rank a favourite.
So, the Stack Serene mat/stabilizer, the tone king.
The Hexmat Absolute mat/clamp, the detail and speed king.
Both similar enough to each other and superlative in what they do, to love both of them.
But different enough, to certainly create a mental quandary re inability to choose a winner.
So I've taken the path of least resistance, and will use both of them over a long period, see if one becomes the de facto choice.
--
So, to that dose of serendipity. I thought I'd add my currently unused Teac Washi paper mat as a sub mat under the Hexmat. It *absolutely* doesn't work under the Stack Serene mat.
And what an interesting outcome. All the advantages of the Hexmat in terms of detail and speed are retained, but a healthy dose of tone density and richness is gained, taking it well into Stack Serene mat territory.
Right now, my opinion is swinging behind the Washi/Hexmat combination.
Either there's a constrained layer advantage going on, or the Washi sub mat is interrupting reflections from the metal platter, or the Washi is allowing the Hexmat a greater grip and thus continuity...
...or, or, I've been listening for too long and need a nice lie down...lol.
Photos up next...
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So, final chapter of platter mat comparos commences as the Spec AP-UD1 arrives.
I'm somewhat at the extreme of my VTF adjust on my tonearm to accommodate it's 1.6mm thickness (versus 7mm of Hexmat Absolute).
My findings with the Spec going against the general positive consensus on forums, I'm finding it's somewhat coloured, not what I was expecting at all.
Almost every track I listened to had some aspect of playback that drew attention to itself.
My biggest criticism is one I was not expecting, somewhat muted dynamics, putting it more in the box that my Acoustic Revive RTS-30 mat fits in.
And that lack of dynamics informed every aspect of its presentation.
Shown up reverting to the Hexmat Absolute and the Stack Serene mats.
Also, some colouration in the mids that really speaks of a lack of transparency and neutrality.
Not what I was expecting at all.
I'm somewhat at the extreme of my VTF adjust on my tonearm to accommodate it's 1.6mm thickness (versus 7mm of Hexmat Absolute).
My findings with the Spec going against the general positive consensus on forums, I'm finding it's somewhat coloured, not what I was expecting at all.
Almost every track I listened to had some aspect of playback that drew attention to itself.
My biggest criticism is one I was not expecting, somewhat muted dynamics, putting it more in the box that my Acoustic Revive RTS-30 mat fits in.
And that lack of dynamics informed every aspect of its presentation.
Shown up reverting to the Hexmat Absolute and the Stack Serene mats.
Also, some colouration in the mids that really speaks of a lack of transparency and neutrality.
Not what I was expecting at all.
Interesting, direct opposite of my experience. Just goes to show every system reacts differently.
It may be that I'm comparing it mainly to a very fast and open Hexmat Absolute.
But yes, YMMV applies as much as ever.
They invariably are too heavy for my TT.
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