Post by MartinT on Dec 17, 2015 17:02:08 GMT
A few years ago I posted a comparison of all the CD Mats I have in my possession. It was interesting to prove to myself that not only are the effects of mats perceptible but that they have different aural characteristics. I settled on the Marigo 3-D Stabilizer Series 2, the less expensive of the two I own. I have used it for all CD/SACD/DVD-A playback ever since then. Rather than go through them all again (I also have AT674 and John Blue mats), I thought I'd concentrate on only the two Marigos and listen again to the pricy one. Much has changed in my system, including the modified Ayre C5xe MP player.
Marigo Audio 3-D Stabilizer Series 2 Mat
This discontinued mat features a green (top) surface and black underside with triangular cutouts. From Marigo's website:
Marigo Audio Ultima High Definition Signature Mat
This translucent mat is thinner than the 3-D and features only two triangular cutouts and a thick reddish line. It's directional, with the line to be set perpendicular to the text on the disc. From Marigo's website:
In both cases, I placed the mat carefully over the disc (the Ultima being set with the direction of the label, as instructed), closed the drawer and listened for nice concentric loading on the hub. If it sounded off-centre, I rapidly opened/closed the drawer to re-centre it. I repeated this for disc after disc, listening to the effects. I cannot perform any tests on my Blu-ray player as it has a very slim drawer prone to jamming and losing the mat inside the machine. There are only so many times you want to take the lid off a machine to rescue the mat!
The most dramatic improvements, common to both discs in the Ayre, is in the bringing out of spatial cues, air and depth. These mats just make CDs sound less digital and more natural, removing some harshness and filling in the missing acoustics of the recording venue. The 'shape' of instruments are more believably realistic with leading and training edges sounding spot on. In the manner of all good upgrades, the music becomes less 'obvious' and more musical, less harsh and more enjoyable.
What's even more interesting is that my preference has now switched, very marginally favouring the Ultima over the 3-D. It's hard to put my finger on why but the performance is slightly more vivid and real.
I'm going to do much more listening and will spend some time using the Ultima mat to try to get to grips with exactly what it's doing. More on that in some days' time.
Marigo website.
Marigo Audio 3-D Stabilizer Series 2 Mat
This discontinued mat features a green (top) surface and black underside with triangular cutouts. From Marigo's website:
It utilizes a revolutionary and proprietary gold surface on top of anti-static black coating and optically absorbent green. This synergistically creates a new level of performance for both audio and video digital replay. With the MARIGO AUDIO SIGNATURE 3-D v2 MAT in a CD transport or a DVD player, you will see and hear a dramatic improvement. Inner detail, resolution, and ambient information is enhanced tremendously in audio replay. The harmonic structure of instruments and human voice are revealed to be strikingly more lifelike.
Marigo Audio Ultima High Definition Signature Mat
This translucent mat is thinner than the 3-D and features only two triangular cutouts and a thick reddish line. It's directional, with the line to be set perpendicular to the text on the disc. From Marigo's website:
Three years in development, a powerful and proprietary new composite material has been crafted by Marigo Audio Lab using an embedded carbon nano-tube structure which dramatically reduces levels of disc vibration. The Ultima Signature Mat incorporates unique hand laid-up polarizing filaments creating tremendously rapid vibrational energy decay and a new ultra-thin metallic coating which dissipates static build-up in real-time while the disc is spinning. For maximum fidelity, a subtle but audible further sonic enhancement is achieved by orienting the Evolution Signature Mat in relation to the direction of the label on the disc being played.
In both cases, I placed the mat carefully over the disc (the Ultima being set with the direction of the label, as instructed), closed the drawer and listened for nice concentric loading on the hub. If it sounded off-centre, I rapidly opened/closed the drawer to re-centre it. I repeated this for disc after disc, listening to the effects. I cannot perform any tests on my Blu-ray player as it has a very slim drawer prone to jamming and losing the mat inside the machine. There are only so many times you want to take the lid off a machine to rescue the mat!
The most dramatic improvements, common to both discs in the Ayre, is in the bringing out of spatial cues, air and depth. These mats just make CDs sound less digital and more natural, removing some harshness and filling in the missing acoustics of the recording venue. The 'shape' of instruments are more believably realistic with leading and training edges sounding spot on. In the manner of all good upgrades, the music becomes less 'obvious' and more musical, less harsh and more enjoyable.
What's even more interesting is that my preference has now switched, very marginally favouring the Ultima over the 3-D. It's hard to put my finger on why but the performance is slightly more vivid and real.
I'm going to do much more listening and will spend some time using the Ultima mat to try to get to grips with exactly what it's doing. More on that in some days' time.
Marigo website.
