I posted a similar thread elsewhere, and got surprisingly few "hits." That's a bit disappointing, especially since this product is so good, that it deserves to be adknowledged.
I've posted here (and elsewhere) how thoroughly delighted I've been with the Dual CS-5000 turntable I "won" on ebay several months back. Now, I've gone the "esoteric" route, and actually spent close to $100 for a simple turntable mat! Most might think me nuts (my wife certainly did!), and I'd have to say that it wasn't that long ago that I too thought spending that kind of money for an inert item such as a turntable mat was a bit much.
The "Achromat" turntable mat was purchased through The Needle Doctor for $80. It was a customer return, marked down from the normal retail price of $100. Claims I'd read for it were a bit on the far-fetched side (at least, so I thought at first), but as $80 wouldn't kill me, I took the plunge and ordered it.
the Achromat isn't a soft, flexible rubber-based mat. Rather, it's hard and made of a material its manufacturer (Funk) claims "has the same characteristics of the record." It doesn't feel heavy enogh to be made of vinyl, so your guess is as good as mine as to what the "mystery material" may be. Most of the promotional, one-piece pink (that's right - pink!) piece of literature that comes with the mat doesn't provide much real insight as to how the mat actually works. The following attempts to explain it, but seems more like science fiction than fact: "Achromat's construction of long microscopic tunnels means the energy dissipates as molecular heat, never returning." OK. If that makes sense to you...
All criticisms aside, I have to say quite categorically that the Acrhromat works, and works very well too. Everything sounds better, but perhaps the singular most effective word to describe its improvements is, "alive." Playing the same record on the standard turntable mat, after having listened to that record sitting atop the Acromat sounds as if I've dropped a curtain across the front of my speakers.
I'm retired, and have also been ill for the past few days, so I've had ample time to just listen to as many different records as I wanted to, and to compare whatever differences there may have been "with" and "without" the Achromat. It didn't matter whatsoever which type of music I used: evertything sounds better with it. A symphony orchestra has better definition, sweeter sounding strings, and a definitely increased depth of soundstage; popular music jumps out as if something had been holding it back, and subtle instrumentation, obscured before, is now vividly clear.
I realize this sounds an awful lot like "audiophile-speak," and perhaps it is, but it's very genuine and heartfelt. I can't recommend the Achromat strongly enough.
The only caveat would be that the system itself would have to be of very high quality in the first place. I doubt that a 70's vintage system, one for example with a Pioneer SX-747, Dual 1229/Shure V/15III and two large Advents, would benefit much from the Achromat, but if you've entered the realm of audiophilia, this is an absolute "must-have."
I'm delighted with the performance of the Achromat (can you tell!), and I hope this thread has been useful.![soundt/thumbup.gif](http://soundt.18.<a href="http://www.forumer.com">forumer</a>.com/html/emoticons/soundt/thumbup.gif)
I've posted here (and elsewhere) how thoroughly delighted I've been with the Dual CS-5000 turntable I "won" on ebay several months back. Now, I've gone the "esoteric" route, and actually spent close to $100 for a simple turntable mat! Most might think me nuts (my wife certainly did!), and I'd have to say that it wasn't that long ago that I too thought spending that kind of money for an inert item such as a turntable mat was a bit much.
The "Achromat" turntable mat was purchased through The Needle Doctor for $80. It was a customer return, marked down from the normal retail price of $100. Claims I'd read for it were a bit on the far-fetched side (at least, so I thought at first), but as $80 wouldn't kill me, I took the plunge and ordered it.
the Achromat isn't a soft, flexible rubber-based mat. Rather, it's hard and made of a material its manufacturer (Funk) claims "has the same characteristics of the record." It doesn't feel heavy enogh to be made of vinyl, so your guess is as good as mine as to what the "mystery material" may be. Most of the promotional, one-piece pink (that's right - pink!) piece of literature that comes with the mat doesn't provide much real insight as to how the mat actually works. The following attempts to explain it, but seems more like science fiction than fact: "Achromat's construction of long microscopic tunnels means the energy dissipates as molecular heat, never returning." OK. If that makes sense to you...
All criticisms aside, I have to say quite categorically that the Acrhromat works, and works very well too. Everything sounds better, but perhaps the singular most effective word to describe its improvements is, "alive." Playing the same record on the standard turntable mat, after having listened to that record sitting atop the Acromat sounds as if I've dropped a curtain across the front of my speakers.
I'm retired, and have also been ill for the past few days, so I've had ample time to just listen to as many different records as I wanted to, and to compare whatever differences there may have been "with" and "without" the Achromat. It didn't matter whatsoever which type of music I used: evertything sounds better with it. A symphony orchestra has better definition, sweeter sounding strings, and a definitely increased depth of soundstage; popular music jumps out as if something had been holding it back, and subtle instrumentation, obscured before, is now vividly clear.
I realize this sounds an awful lot like "audiophile-speak," and perhaps it is, but it's very genuine and heartfelt. I can't recommend the Achromat strongly enough.
The only caveat would be that the system itself would have to be of very high quality in the first place. I doubt that a 70's vintage system, one for example with a Pioneer SX-747, Dual 1229/Shure V/15III and two large Advents, would benefit much from the Achromat, but if you've entered the realm of audiophilia, this is an absolute "must-have."
I'm delighted with the performance of the Achromat (can you tell!), and I hope this thread has been useful.
![smile.gif](http://soundt.18.<a href="http://www.forumer.com">forumer</a>.com/html/emoticons/smile.gif)