The Article
Collaro & Its Cloth platter mats
22nd April 2020
Retro-style mats for your turntable, made from wool
Designed by Collaro as an upgrade for a standard platter mat, the Precision cloth turntable mat is made from 100% wool woven cloth with, “…felt-like smooth facings, produced as a result of the finishing process,” said the company.
I don’t yet know how thick the mat is but VTA adjustments are talked about on the company website so I assume that there is some thickness there.
Each mat comes packaged in a presentation protective sleeve.
Hand made in limited quantities, you should allow around 10 working days for delivery.
The Tempest
The Tempest is a different replacement mat, developed from the Precision model. It’s a heavy pure woollen cloth turntable mat, surface-treated to provide a, “…soft felt-like support to the record, whilst adding a heightened degree of isolation from mechanical noise…”
The mat was developed to work with turntables manufactured by Collaro (4T200), Garrard (301, 401, 501 and the 4HF) Goldring/Lenco (GL75 L78) and Thorens (TD124).
The company recommends that this mat is used with a medium-mass non-ferrous record weight or clamp. If your turntable has a lip around the platter, the mat may, “…overlap it with no adverse effects provided a weight or clamp is used.”
Collaro supplies its own Mercury “record weight” (£99).
Again, allow around 10 working days for delivery.
Prices are £99 for each mat.
Contact collaroaudio.co.uk
Hi Paul, I’ve recently installed some foam panels to absorb unwanted reflections and they’ve work wonders. I’m now looking for other cost effective improvements to my set up (audio lab 6000a, rega p3 elysius, b&w 606). Reading your, and other, reviews it seems like a new mat and perhaps isolation feet would be good next steps for maximum impact for a ¬£50-100 spend. Could you give me your thoughts and any suggestions on this? Many thanks and great work on the website, I’ve learnt so much!
Thank Tom!
Not sure if you’ve seen this guide on modding your turntable? : https://theaudiophileman.com/modding-turntable-pro-ject-rpm-3/
Also this guide on low cost room damping? : https://theaudiophileman.com/damping/