It is difficult to image a turntable mat "breaking in", but I seemed to enjoy the music more the second day. From the very first, there was vastly improved focus over the standard felt mat that comes with the Linn. And there was even more focus than was achieved with the Boston Audio Design Mat 1. The background was quieter, the bass deeper and tighter, and the soundscape was more clearly defined and larger than with the Mat 1.
The difference is kind of like walking along the rim of the Canyon de Chelly in Arizona. The Mat 1 holds back and stays a little further away from the edge, allowing you to fully enjoy the splendid vistas as you walk along. The Isoplatmat, on the other hand, ventures closer to the edge where you are wise to pay attention to every footstep, lest you experience a thousand foot freefall into the canyon. The advantage of being this close to the edge is that you can see more of the canyon floor or deeper into the grooves, if you will. Of course the fall from your listening chair is not as severe, but the Isoplatmat reveals every note of the music, forcing you to pay close attention.
To read the full review follow the link below
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0706/sds_isoplatmat.htm
Sound Dead Steel support several universities with free issue material for students to test on noise & vibration courses.
Any UK based university which is researching Noise & Vibration is welcome to contact SDS regarding material for students to experiment with.
Please see thesis from Richard Johnson BEng(Hons) Mechanical Engineering of Newcastle University.
