Oyaide MJ-12 record mat

I can't say I've ever been very impressed with any of the multitude of aftermarket recordplayer mats... they always seem to take away more than they give. So when I was loaned an Oyaide MJ-12 to try ...a £230 mat... albeit a beautifully machined piece of alloy, I just wasn't expecting anything special. The mat itself is drilled with a spiral pattern, in spite of this it rings like a bell which is a bit offputting.
Once fitted though and the turntable tweaked to accommodate the extra platter height, straight away the improvement in sound was breathtaking. This isn't a 'is it or isn't it' difference, it's apparent from the first few bars of music, greater clarity increased dynamics and an effortlessness that usually comes with a £1000 cartridge upgrade. Using the heavy weight Oyaide platter clamp also made a difference, but needed the suspension to be adjusted.

http://www.cheshireaudio.co.uk/acatalog/Turntable_accessories.html