I posted this a few minutes ago on a Facebook Vinyl enthusiast group I'm a part of. Read for your own benefit.
I read an article RT'd by the Analog Apartment twitter recently about DIY platter mats:
http://audio.innerurban.com/innerurban/audio/labels/Cork%20Spotmat.html
Anyways, I needed a new mat for this turntable I bought at a garage sale which I planned to use at my office. I used the rubber mat from my home unit to sharpie a template onto a cork tile, and then cut it out with a utility knife. When I tested it on my turntable...
Oh
My
God
The difference between my stock rubber mat was more than just night and day, I put a record on (God Help The Girl) and, I'm not exaggerating, I nearly cried, it was so beautiful. There wasn't a inkling of hiss. The few pops I have on this mint condition first issue were almost completely muted, and all the while, the high-range stayed in tact, while bringing out sounds from the mid-range I didn't even know were there. I made this upgrade for a measly $5 and two minutes of my time, and I still have three more cork tiles leftover to turn other record players into sonic GOLD.
So please, do yourself a favor, get some corkboard and cut out a new platter mat. The difference you'll experience is beyond amazing.
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