Platters

Jim Hannon -- Tue, 04/11/2006 - 00:49

Has anyone done extensive sonic comparisons of different platter materials?

For example, is a "sandwich" preferable to all acrylic?
What about loading the platter with lead inserts, etc.?

What seems to be the most musical platter material(s)?

Thanks!
Jim

wgarcia -- Wed, 06/14/2006 - 11:53

I haven't done extensive "research" on this one, but in my experince acrylic platters do have a sound. Now, this depends on a lot of other factors (including thickness and weight) but in general I've found acrylic to have a slightly lighter and whitish sound v. "sandwich" and filled platters I've heard, such as those from Red Point, which tend to be more authoritative and less identifiable.

Jonathan Valin -- Thu, 06/15/2006 - 09:53

Without question platters have a sound, and in my experience mass has a lot to do with that sound, no matter what material is being used in the platter itself. The best 'tables I've heard--and I've heard some very good ones--not only have massive platters made from lead or from dense metal/acrylic composites; they are also massively constructed.

wgarcia -- Fri, 06/16/2006 - 16:54

I agree with JV that all platters have a sound and that mass also makes a lot of difference (IMO high mass is a good thing). Even the same platter with a different top-skin, as we've witnessed with different mats over the years, will sound different. For instance, the Red Point Model B is finished with a white Teflon and the Model D with Black Teflon. Designer Peter Clark says the Black stuff sounds better. Obviously, though, other factors of a design will affect the way any given platter material is going to sound.

Jim Hannon -- Fri, 06/16/2006 - 18:40

Have you tried the platter with lead inserts?
Sounds like a great idea.

wgarcia -- Thu, 06/29/2006 - 17:27

The Red Point models I've heard have lead shot as well as damping oil filled platters. They work.