Hexmat turntable mats

**Randy Myers** · August 31, 2021, 08:42 AM

I have had my Yellow Bird mat from Hexmat for a while now. I feel it is the best sounding mat of the various ones I have, leather, acrylic, wool, rubber, etc. That is until now. Hexmat is releasing a new even better mat called the Eclipse. They originally offered it to current Hexmat owners but should be for sale on their website soon. People can e-mail the company directly to purchase it at this time. I do not believe any of the distributors have received the Eclipse as of yet.

I received my Eclipse yesterday and was very surprised of how much improvement it made. More detail, more openness, huge soundstage and imaging improvements. I did not expect that there would be much, if any improvements. I was wrong!

Stereo (235).JPG Stereo (236).JPG Stereo (237).JPG Stereo (238).JPG

**Mikado463** · August 31, 2021, 10:44 AM

Good news Randy, I still can't help but think your yellow one looks like a 'Big Mac' awaiting some relish and Ketchup !

**Randy Myers** · August 31, 2021, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by Mikado463

Good news Randy, I still can't help but think your yellow one looks like a 'Big Mac' awaiting some relish and Ketchup !

So the Eclipse is a burnt crisp Big Mac

.

**nicoff** · August 31, 2021, 08:25 PM

Hexmats? Are we getting into magic stones or green marker territory again!

**Randy Myers** · August 31, 2021, 08:50 PM

Hey, my avatar heard that and since it has had a Hexmat pictured a long time it will probably hex you

.

Hexmat are actually highly regarded turntable mats (they call them record isolation mats because that is truly what they do). They are definitely on the expensive side (especially the new Eclipse), but they do a real good job in my view.

**XV-1** · September 1, 2021, 09:49 AM

What's the research behind the hexagon shape?

**Randy Myers** · September 1, 2021, 10:55 AM

I would invite you to read about it on the companies website. The claim is (and I am sure I am not remembering it 100% correct) that he has been investigating these technologies for many years. He also states that he made many (over 100) prototypes investigating various materials and designs. I have no idea why he choose the hexagon shape although my guess is purely cosmetic reasons

, I do believe that the shape itself is probably not critical because the record and the mat both rest on the small "dimples" I guess you would call them. This makes the affective surface contact to both the platter and the album extremely small, much more so than any of the other methods that have been attempted over the years. He does state that the material itself and the design are important... so maybe the hexagon shape actually is important

.

I do know, to my ears the improvements with the Yellow Bird compared to my other four mats is nice. I also know that the improvements with the new Eclipse are not subtle.

Here is from one of the several reviews on their website:

"Created by Zsolt Fajt, an engineer from Budapest in Hungary, he has studied the issue of vibrations and noise in and around hi-fi and has developed his own philosophies to tackle them. For a vinyl record, “I tried to get the size of the contact surfaces close to zero. The total contact surface of a record is several decimeters square. Using the Hexmat isolator, this surface is close to zero, just 1-2 square millimetres and the disk is almost floating.”

With its internal structure and coating, the Hexmat isolator isolates, “…these damaging vibrations from the recorder, generating full power transfer between the platform and the disk and utilizes the vibration damping properties of the spherical form. The Hexmat isolator is a clamping mechanism that separates the record from the vibrating mass it contacts and allows the vinyl to have its own fairly good damping properties.”

One of the benefits of this system is, according to Fajt, “Less noise due to more accurate groove tracking.”

And the man has been working hard on this thing, from what I hear. More than 100 prototypes of this mat have apparently been made with a variety of material compositions including a variety of polymers, stabilised wood species, tropical trees pieces, industrial metals, ceramics, gold, silver, crystals, gemstones, various coatings and, apparently, many more besides, “During this time, we have experienced what works, what does not and how to produce it. The range of variations is almost inexhaustible. Because the combination of materials used has a dramatic impact on sound, we are planning to release several product variants. Our current product is a first series entry-level device.”

Now I did try to get more information from Fajt about the exact materials used, the shape of this mat, the nature of the blisters on the mat that push the vinyl record vertically up and away and more. What I received in return were polite deflections and, to be honest, I can see why. Revealed build secrets will open up the mat to copying by others which will then kill Hexmat stone dead, stopping Fajt’s income and taking him out of the game. So, I can understand is reticence. I’d be the same, to be honest. "

Here are his conclusions... there are several other reviews reporting similar results:

"With the Hexmat in place, the sonic response was intriguing indeed. I considered this test a tough one because I have used the wholly excellent Origin Live mat for some time now. Its a simple looking mat but uses some exotic materials within. I’ve had no cause to doubt it but this, admittedly more expensive, Hexmat added something...

...Despite the relatively high price, the over-riding effect of the Hexmat was to clean your music. That is, the enhanced sense of clarity was superb. The effect smoothed the upper mids towards your ears, added precision to treble and tonal accuracy to bass. For jazz, this included an intriguing analytical sense to the accuracy of the presentation.

The reduction of noise and the added precision that reflected that also added bass impact and weight giving rock movement and a sense of power. While rock vocals created a new sense of urgency.

I fully expected to be underwhelmed by the Hexmat. Oh how wrong I was. It is, in fact, a little cracker."

**anx** · January 21, 2022, 05:14 PM

Hello Randy,

I want to thank you for the information you shared regarding the Hexmat platter mats.

You have found them to be a very positive benefit to the SL-1500C, I believe?
Would you be able to tell me if the Eclipse mat will completely cover the two platter holes on the 1500C?

I, too, have an SL-1500C, and I was unsure if the Eclipse would be a wise addition. I read Paul Rigby’s review of the Eclipse a while back. Your experience adds greatly to that, being specific to this turntable. I contacted Hexmat regarding this question of the platter holes. They were kind enough to respond, saying they were not sure, and sending me a photo from their customer gallery where the mat partially covers the holes, just as in your photos. It looks to me, from their photo, that if the mat were turned a bit, it might actually cover the holes. I can’t tell if the two ‘dimples’ would clear the holes, however. Hexmat did say the exposed holes would not affect the function. But, I have a lot of desert type dust here sometimes, and I am trying to decide if the mat would be a good thing.

I have the silver edition. I do love the look of the black, as well. That black tonearm, I guess… all the blackness… very striking.

Thank you, again, and thank you for your time.
jette

**Randy Myers** · January 21, 2022, 05:30 PM

Hey Jette,

I actually use the Eclipse on my Rega RP8 and the Yellow Bird on the Technics. I believe they are the same size. I do not believe that any holes on the plater are visible when using the Hexmat. Here is a photo from Hexmat's website that I sent them. I think you can see enough of the tables to see that holes do not show.

Hexmat.jpg

**anx** · January 21, 2022, 06:08 PM

Randy, Thanks very much.

**Randy Myers** · January 21, 2022, 06:31 PM

You are welcome sir

.

**a.wayne** · January 22, 2022, 06:36 PM

The mat is very critical for good TT sound ..!

Regards

**Randy Myers** · January 22, 2022, 11:09 PM

Agreed... surprising the difference a good mat can make!

**Randy Myers** · March 30, 2022, 02:23 PM

Hexmat will be releasing the Molekula clamp very soon. Looking forward to getting one! Not much information yet, but I have been told they will work great with the Rega table in conjunction with my Eclipse mat!

Hexmat.jpg

**Randy Myers** · March 30, 2022, 02:28 PM

I also just noticed that Music Direct is now listing the Eclipse along with the Yellow Bird. It looks like they have already sold out

.

**Randy Myers** · April 4, 2022, 08:44 AM

Hexmat new record clamp is now available for pre-order:

HEXMAT - Phono Record Isolator

My experience is that they are very good people who make both a unique and a very fine product. A platter mat and an appropriate clamp can make a big difference in sound quality and stability on a table.

I have never been a fan of a large weight on a table. In my view excessive weight is a point of vibration in a vinyl setup, let alone the wear on the tables baring's. Hexmat has developed a unique approach to total isolation of your vinyl records.

Although on the expensive side, their products work well!

**Randy Myers** · April 21, 2022, 12:19 AM

The Molekula has finally started shipping. Looking forward to seeing what improvements there are.

**Randy Myers** · May 25, 2022, 08:53 AM

Here is with the Molekula and Molekula Mini (designed for short spindles, ala Rega's).

Stereo (272).JPG Stereo (273).JPG Stereo (274).JPG Stereo (275).JPG Stereo (276).JPG

**Kingrex** · May 27, 2022, 11:24 AM

Those mats look like a pad with silicone dots you put on the inside of a drawer so they don't bang when shut.

When you said expensive, I thought you meant $5K or so. There was some matt they were in love with on Audionirvana priced up there.

I have seen a well known audiophile take 3 pices of electrical tape cut into 3 different small lengths. Think all under 1 inch. Then put on the platter all at varying distance from the spindle. It's pretty expensive to do if you decide to be fancy and buy 3 different color roles. 😉

**Randy Myers** · June 13, 2022, 12:03 PM

Not sure your question. What are you asking?

Hexmat offer's a few accessories. Their original Yellow Bird mat, the newer step up Eclipse mat. Their newest products are the Molekula and Molekula Mini record clamps. The Molekula is best for most turntables, while the Molekula Mini is designed for short spindle tables such as the Rega's. They also have a very nice alignment gage. Solidly made, not the typical cheap paper type. They currently are including an alignment gage with Molekula purchases.

Pretty straight forward. I mention them because I use them. I think they are among the finest in the product types that they make.

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