5 of the Best Turntable Platter Mat Options For Your Money

With turntables exploding in popularity recently, so have their accessories. A large portion of that interest is in turntable platter mats, leading to various mats to choose from. A turntable platter mat can help boost your turntable’s sound without any compromises.

These turntable mats are thin objects that are placed on top of the platter to dampen resonance. They also reduce overall vibrations. That could help make any music sound much better when you’re playing vinyl.

Quick Pick: I recommend the Tamwell Turntable Mat because of its label recess, good value, bonus anti static cloth, and non-slip grooves!

Before you splurge on this item, there is a lot you should know before you buy. So, today we are going to cover the best turntable platter mat options.

The 5 Top Picks

If you’re considering buying platter mats, then you should aim for the best. But how do you know which ones are best?

As music enthusiasts tend to be helpful, there have been quite a few recommendations. Many people will base their choice on personal preference, but you should consider a few notable brands. There are a few turntable mats that come much better recommended than others.

1. Tamwell Turntable Mat – Best Overall

Versatility is something that most DJs will want with their turntable. That also extends to everything they use with it. This could mean that you’ll want a platter mat that can be used with almost anything. That is the case with this Tamwell mat. It’s designed to work with almost any turntable.

However, that isn’t the only area where it shines. Instead, it offers a significant amount of sound absorption that gives it an advantage. Alongside this is the rubber silicone material, which is naturally slip-resistant. This resistance is enhanced through the use of grooves that have been cut into the mat.

That should prevent any slipping from occurring at all. There’s also an antistatic mat included with this, which could be a good thing. The fact that it needs this cloth should be a negative sign. Without the fabric, this could generate much more static than you might imagine.

While you can work this around, it’s not something that you might want to put up with.

Pros:

• It can be used on almost any turntable.
• It is made from silicone rubber to prevent slipping. This is enhanced through grooves.
• Antistatic cloth is included with the mat.
• It offers good vibration absorption capabilities.

Cons:

• Without cloth, the static can get quite irritating.

2. Hudson Hi-Fi Store Turntable Mat – Best Budget

You might be looking for an affordable platter mat that offers a few notable benefits. These can often be quite difficult to find. While there’s an extensive number of low-cost mats, many of these are also low-quality. This Hudson Hi-Fi Store option is much better than you would expect.

Despite the mat being budget-friendly, it boasts several prominent advantages. For example, there’s a significant amount of vibration absorption that cuts static. That should help make sure that the sound is quite clear.

Since this is a rubber silicone mat, there’s a large amount of slip resistance. So you don’t have to worry about any ‘fluttering’ sounds when playing a record. The material also makes it scratch-resistant. This is also a versatile option, and you can use it with the most well-known turntable brands.

There is somewhat of a smell to worry about, though. While this isn’t noticeable at the start, it can become more pronounced over time. That could make you want to replace it much faster than you would elsewhere. Oddly, this doesn’t seem to be the case with every one of these Hudson Hi-Fi Store options.

That is an unfortunate issue to have. That’s because the mat can be working perfectly on your turntable outside of the smell. This is more of an annoyance than anything else.

Pros:

• It can be used with all turntables.
• They are designed to be as slip- and scratch-resistant as possible.
• Much more affordable than many of its competitors.
• It offers a large amount of vibration absorption while minimizing static.

Cons:

• Has been known to develop a smell.

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3. CoRkErY Recessed Turntable Mat – Best Runner-Up

There are quite a few cork platter mats on the market. That’s because the material can offer quite a few benefits. That doesn’t mean that all these options are high-quality. Instead, many of them can suffer from a range of issues. This choice from the Hudson Hi-Fi Store, though, is one of the better ones to choose. That’s because there doesn’t seem to be many negatives.

There is also a string of positives, such as the label recess, which makes sure that records don’t slip off. Alongside this is the natural benefit of no static, which is typical of most cork platter mats. This is also one of the more versatile choices; you should be able to use it on most turntables.

Lastly, it has an appealing look, so it should be nice resting on your turntable when it’s not in use. However, the mat also happens to be the same size as many records. That could make taking the records off a little tricky. While this isn’t going to be difficult, it can be more annoying than it would be on its competitors.

Pros:

• Has a record label recess to ensure that there’s no slippage.
• The material helps to prevent any static.
• It has a more appealing look than many other mats.
• It can be used on almost any turntable.

Cons:

• It’s the same size as the records, so removing them might be tricky.

4. Feir Store Turntable Mat

When it comes to affordable platter mats, options can be very hit or miss. You typically get what you pay for. That doesn’t mean that all of the low-cost choices are bad. Instead, this Feir Store platter mat is one of the few that stands out among its competitors.

That’s mainly because it offers many more benefits than you’d initially think. For example, it’s made from silicone rubber, making it slip and scratch-resistant. The slip resistance is further improved by grooves and a record label recess to make slipping next to impossible.

Alongside this is the fact that it should work with the majority of turntables. That should make it one of the more inexpensive and versatile platter mats on offer. There is a slight drawback to this. In some cases, there can be a 2mm difference in the mat’s diameter.

That means that it’s not entirely circular, which could be an issue. That could cause the edge to deflect. While this might not happen a lot, it can happen much more than you would want. That could mean that it may not be the best choice to go with unless you’re mainly budget-oriented.

Pros:

• Designed to work with the most well-known turntable brands.
• It has a record label recess and grooves to prevent slips.
• Silicone rubber adds more slip-resistant while also making it scratch-resistant.
• More affordable than many of its competitors.

Cons:

• Not entirely circular so that the edge may deflect the spindle.

5. Ywhomal Silicone Turntable Mat – Best Alternative

With Ywhomal being so widely known, it’s easy to see why its products are popular. Mainly, it’s because the company uses its expertise to ensure that its products are high quality. The quality is on show with this option, which has quite a few benefits. The largest of these is its vibration absorption qualities.

While the material primarily drives that, the 3mm thickness also plays a role. Though this has been designed to work on most LP vinyl record players, the consistency might make it difficult on some other players.

Like many other Ywhomal products, this also includes non-slip grooves and a label recess. That should make sure that there isn’t any slippage, which the thickness ensures. The center hole might be slightly too wide for some turntables. That could lead to a bit of movement.

That shouldn’t cause many issues, though, but it is worth being on the lookout for in the long term.

Pros:

• Designed to be used on all LP vinyl record players.
• It has a label recess and non-slip grooves to prevent slipping.
• The thickness should add vibration absorption while contributing to non-slip.

Cons:

• The center hole may be a little too wide for some turntables.

What To Consider When Buying A Platter Mat

There are quite a few things that you’ll want to consider when buying a new turntable mat. One of the most notable of these is the material. It can have a significant impact on performance. Some materials offer better vibration absorption, while others are better at minimizing static.

Next, you’ll need to look at the thickness of the platter mat. While this mightn’t seem important, it can have implications on a few things. Perhaps the most prominent is whether it will fit on your turntable or not. The main reason for this is if the turntable arm is adjustable. If not, then a very thick mat might be too big to work on it.

The thickness will also have an impact on vibration absorption—with thicker mats absorbing more shock. You’ll also need to consider the platter mat’s grip, which many people fail to consider. However, this can have large implications for the sound quality of your record.

That’s because many mats have been known to slip around when a record is being played. That leads to somewhat of a fluttering sound, which will be unappealing. There have been some cases where a slipping mat has ended up forcing a record off the turntable. This is something you’ll want to avoid.

The best way of doing so is by getting a mat with a lot of grips. While different products will be better than others, the best material for grip is rubber. The cost will inevitably be a factor in which mat you choose to buy. Thankfully, the majority of turntable mats are pretty affordable. But some options can cost several hundred dollars.

While this can occasionally be a sign of quality, it doesn’t have to be. Price shouldn’t be the first thing that you look at. Instead, look at the other features first, then make your decision. If the mat is worth the price, then it’s worth the price. Therefore, price should be one of the last things you consider.

One of the more minor areas that you could look at is the design of the mat. When a turntable isn’t being used, the mat will be quite visible. That means that it will affect the aesthetics of your turntable. As such, you might want to consider going with a mat that looks appealing.

Wrapping Up: Which Platter Mat To Buy

The Tamwell Turntable Mat for Audiophiles and DJs is undoubtedly the best turntable platter mat. While it can be more expensive than its counterparts, it boasts many more benefits. The difference in sound quality alone sets it apart from a large number of its competitors.

Coupled with its durability, you’ll get a high-quality and durable turntable mat. However, a budget can often be an issue for many people. That’s especially true for your first turntable. As a result, you might not want to spend too much money at the start.

While you might be tempted to go as cheap as possible, you should avoid doing so. Instead, it would be best if you went for the Hudson Hi-Fi Turntable Platter Mat. This is an affordable turntable mat that offers quite a few benefits. It also doesn’t have as many of the drawbacks you’d assume it would have from the price.

That should make it one of the better mats for anybody starting their turntable career.