Yeah, the Ringmat puts cork to good use!

You forgot Sorbothane and Dynamat Extreme!!

Then again, if you define "tweaks" as things which you do to retail components in your system to make them sound better ... why not extend this concept to DIY in general?

My ICs come from Allen Wright's "Super Cable Cook Book" (but slightly "tweaked", of course!!). My speaker cables are Jon Risch's cross-connected-coax ... but again, made better than his standard recipe (at the cost of a HUGE amount of work! ).

Both of these I would put up against most retail cables.

My amps and preamp are AKSA kits - again, they trounce many kilobuck retail amps (go visit at www.aksaonline.com). My speakers are venerable Maagie IIIAs - but I bet Jim W would wet himself if he heard them ... I have improved them so much!

Regards,

Andy

Quote:
Yeah, the Ringmat puts cork to good use!

I bought a Ringmat about 8 years ago for my Rega Planar 3. The cork rings came off within three weeks. I tried to glue them back on, never could get it right. Worst $70 I ever spent, could have bought a lot of records with that. I'm not so sure if it improved the sound that much, didn't really have it that long to test it out.

I have had my ringmat for years and some of my friends have them and haven't had any problems. Sucks to hear you had a bad experience.

Anyone try the ringmat systems?

The Ringmat has been around my place for a while. I have tried it with several tables and liked it with one, which had a phenolic platter. The Glass plattered models I have prefered the felt mats on. I have a new table yet again, also with a glass platter and a felt mat, which I have yet to slap the trusty old Ringmat on yet. Maybe I'll give it a spin tonight.
In general, the Ringmat had improved the bass definition and tunefulness of the phenolic plattered table (A Revolver Rebel) but made no real improvements on the glass plattered subjects (Rega Planar 2 and P3). In fact, The Ringmat made the Rega decks sound too forward, where the felt was a convincingly neutral match. My latest player is the new Rega P5, so I'll see how that goes since the Ringmat is still safely tucked in my record collection.
-Bill

I did buy my Ringmat when I read a review in Stereophile, I think it was in Sam's space. It must have been a lot longer than the 8 years that I said in my 1st post. I was just getting into the High End at the time and put all my faith in the "audio experts". I was very upset when I did not hear a big improvement in the sound and then all the cork rings fell off. I did buy it mail order, did not try it out before I bought it, tried to save a few bucks and did not ask my local dealer about it. Hell, he would have charged me full price.
Stereophile did report some time after the 1st review that there was a problem with the rings falling off and it might not be the best thing glass platers. A lot of good that did me after I bought the thing.

DaveyGuy