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RINGMAT FOR ROKSAN
Analogue-minded readers will
have noticed another plug
for the paper-and-cork
Ringmat in JMH's March issue
review of the Ghibaldani
Domus turntable. I've also
been a Ringmat believer for
some time now, using one on
a Roksan Xerxes.
Now, the Roksan platter is
one of the few in which the
centre area is recessed to
give clearance for the label
section of the record: this
is always slightly thicker
than the rest of the disc.
So other, flat, turntable
platters tend to contact
only the label area, unless
a lot of clamping pressure
is applied. I'm sure that
Linn, if asked, would come
up with a convincing
explanation of why its own
flat platter was best, but
the Roksan recess always
seemed logical enough to me.
Roksan's felt mat son of
sags into the centre,
leaving the grooved parts in
contact. With the Ringmat,
the record is supported only
by a series of concentric
cork rings, the innermost of
which is at well outside the
edge of the label; so the
platter centre would not
seem to matter. However, on
a Roksan, the inner ring is
not ideally supported
because of the centre void.
So Ringmat Developments has
launched a special edition
(or rather addition) which
literally fills the gap.
This consists of two discs
of spongy black material
125mm in diameter and with a
combined thickness of 4mm.
At the risk of admitting a
dereliction of duty, I
confess that I haven't
really worked out whether
the it's significant which
way up the discs go (their
two surfaces are different)
but I'm certain that the
things work. The benefits of
the Ringmat really come to
fruition, with a further
degree of tactile realism, a
greater firmness and
accessibility to the sound.
It all just goes to show
that there really is more in
the grooves to be dug out
and, no matter how futile it
may seem in this digital
age, that we can still go on
enhancing our enjoyment of
those old vinyl treasures.
If you're a Roksan owner,
ring Ringmat. The number is
+44 (0) 1729 823 873. |