turntable platter impedance matching

zeliboba01 · 23rd August 2006, 07:49 AM

On the Sota turntable website they describe their design philosophy by saying it is important for the platter to be the same impedance as the record. This creates more questions than gives answers. I have seen pictures of the lathes that cut the vinyl and the table that the record is secured to during the cutting process looks like it is metal, I am guessing an aluminum alloy. Would it not be more correct to be playing a record on the same type of metal as it was being cut on? My theory is by doing this it would give the most sonic simularities to the master tapes from which the record is being cut from. Linn and Thorens use some type of aluminum alloy platter which consists of zinc, magnesium and aluminum. Maybe by using these combination of metals it gives the platter some impedance matching but I do not know for sure. All I know is I have never heard of complaints of Linn and Thorens turntables because of the impedances not matching the platter and record. Are impedances that do not match the platter and record more of an issue for MM or MC cartridges? I used to be an aerospace machinist and I operated lathes that cut metal but do not know how a audio lathe that cuts vinyl works but am sure there are simularities.

sreten · 23rd August 2006, 09:53 AM

Hi,

Its simply a design philosophy, which means its an opinion.

IMO after some experiments the best mats have an impedance
between that of the platter and that of the record, I use a hard
rubber mat with a glass platter.

(edit : the Disk SE2.2 (1kg - 2.2lb) is carefully profiled to match
the profile of a record, e.g. the higher run-in groove is not
contacted, neither is the centre section of the record)

I've tried felt and a homemade acrylic mat, they have signatures.

Also related to this are clamping or centre weight issues.
Checkout Lux vacuum platters for the extreme approach.
Hard bare surfaces need to be maintained scrupulously clean
and simply work poorly if the record is not in intimate contact,
theorectically a large lump of vinyl provides the best matching.

For a decent (but not full on serious) turntable, for ease of use,
cost, convenience and lively signature, felt is near ubiquitous.

/sreten.

reverber · 23rd August 2006, 06:55 PM

Ah, but you are assuming that a record is cut to vinyl!
It is actually cut to laquer, which has been applied to, IIRC, an *aluminum* plate.

Cody

23rd August 2006, 07:49 AM	#1
zeliboba01 diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2006	turntable platter impedance matching On the Sota turntable website they describe their design philosophy by saying it is important for the platter to be the same impedance as the record. This creates more questions than gives answers. I have seen pictures of the lathes that cut the vinyl and the table that the record is secured to during the cutting process looks like it is metal, I am guessing an aluminum alloy. Would it not be more correct to be playing a record on the same type of metal as it was being cut on? My theory is by doing this it would give the most sonic simularities to the master tapes from which the record is being cut from. Linn and Thorens use some type of aluminum alloy platter which consists of zinc, magnesium and aluminum. Maybe by using these combination of metals it gives the platter some impedance matching but I do not know for sure. All I know is I have never heard of complaints of Linn and Thorens turntables because of the impedances not matching the platter and record. Are impedances that do not match the platter and record more of an issue for MM or MC cartridges? I used to be an aerospace machinist and I operated lathes that cut metal but do not know how a audio lathe that cuts vinyl works but am sure there are simularities.

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23rd August 2006, 09:53 AM	#2
sreten diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brighton UK	Hi, Its simply a design philosophy, which means its an opinion. IMO after some experiments the best mats have an impedance between that of the platter and that of the record, I use a hard rubber mat with a glass platter. (edit : the Disk SE2.2 (1kg - 2.2lb) is carefully profiled to match the profile of a record, e.g. the higher run-in groove is not contacted, neither is the centre section of the record) I've tried felt and a homemade acrylic mat, they have signatures. Also related to this are clamping or centre weight issues. Checkout Lux vacuum platters for the extreme approach. Hard bare surfaces need to be maintained scrupulously clean and simply work poorly if the record is not in intimate contact, theorectically a large lump of vinyl provides the best matching. For a decent (but not full on serious) turntable, for ease of use, cost, convenience and lively signature, felt is near ubiquitous. /sreten.

23rd August 2006, 06:55 PM	#3
reverber diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Lawrence, Kansas, USA	Ah, but you are assuming that a record is cut to vinyl! It is actually cut to laquer, which has been applied to, IIRC, an aluminum plate. Cody

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